BIRDIE | NH |

THIRTEEN

Niall

"That's fine."

With a pen in my hand, I scribble the date of the business trip in Italy, one that hovers around the same time as Jenna's wedding.

But honestly, fuck that wedding.

The more I see Wren pour into that and the way her sister treats her in return, the more it makes me want to tuck her away and show her exactly how important she is.

George Finley hums under his breath. "Will you be needing any extra accommodations?" As the person in charge of setting up every aspect of the event, I can't help but smile at his grumpy nature. "Usually you just need passes for one."

"Two." I say without thinking. "I'll have someone with me this time, Wren Jacobs."

Silence settles over the call, everyone else knowing that not once have I ever requested added amenities to a stop on any of the tours that I've attended.

"I've got that taken care of." His gruff voice comes through the receiver before he checks on everyone else. "Does anyone have any questions?"

Sitting at my desk, I turn around in the chair and look out of the floor to ceiling windows of my office that overlook the course as the call ends. It's hard not to want to just get lost in the view when the rolling hills stretch out forever and the clouds paint the skies in the most perfect ways.

Something cold presses to my hand only to be replaced by soft fur and the tiniest little growl, pulling my attention away from the view and to the dog in front of me.

"Does someone need some attention?" Scratching under his chin, I smile when his back foot hits the hardwood flooring. "Yeah? Did I get the right spot?"

"Niall?"

I know it's Wren before I even turn around. Her voice is soft but it reaches into every part of my body even from where she stands at the door to my office.

Cal abandons me, running across my office and sliding to a stop at her feet, tail swishing back and forth along the hardwood floor like a dust mop. "I swear he would pick you over me every single time."

"Hey there, cutie." Bending down, Wren smiles as she holds a couple folders in her hands but makes it work in order to pet him. "Do you like me more than your mean, old daddy?"

Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I do everything in my power not to focus on the way that last word sounds coming out of her mouth. Or how much I wouldn't mind hearing outside of this office.

"I am not mean or old." Crossing my arms over my chest, Wren looks up at me. "Thank you very much."

She hums, standing up and straightening out her skirt that makes me want to do the exact opposite. "That's to be determined. I was bringing you a couple of things for the spring marketing ideas. You'll just need to look over them and finalize whichever you would prefer."

Cal decides that the two of us are boring, retreating to the oversized bed next to my desk, resting his head and looking up at the two of us with those big brown eyes.

"I'll add it to my list of things to do." Stepping closer to her with a smile on my face and grabbing the folders, I let my fingers trail across her skin and relish in the way it feels. "You look beautiful today."

The apples of her cheeks flush the perfect shade of pink and she pulls back, crossing her arms around her waist. "I can't stand you."

"Are you sure about that?" Crowding into her space, my fingers reach out and tug on one of the loose curls framing her face before letting it slide through the tips of my fingers. "Because I feel like that's a lie."