Page 119 of The Protective Gryphen

“Well, that was amazing,” Ian said. “It was also not the kind of touching I was referring to, but who am I to complain?”

But guess what?

The women were no longer ogling him. Never let it be said a Marine didn’t solve problems on the fly. It was clear he wasn’t going to pay them any attention, so they focused on anything else but them.

As they finished their hot chocolate, they were content with their sweet snack.

There was a town to explore.

“Shall we get that trinket for Elizabeth’s tree, and then some kilts,” Gryphen said.

Hell!

Yeah!

Who was he to argue that?

Together, they stood, and both men pulled on their peacoats. Once they were back in their gear, Gryphen held out his hand. When Ian placed his in Gryphen’s, they headed out.

Oh, there was no doubt that people talked as soon as they were gone, but Ian didn’t care.

He was happy.

In the next store, they walked in to find all kinds of trinkets that one couldn’t pass up.

There were ornaments.

Wind chimes.

Crystals of all colors.

Going to one part, Ian searched for the perfect thing. As he did, Gryphen kept an eye on him, but did a little shopping himself.

As soon as he found it, he bought it for Ian.

“Can you wrap this as quickly as possible, and when he purchases something, slip it into the bag without him knowing?” he asked the lady.

She nodded.

He paid her, and then touched his finger to his lips as he walked away.

As he’d pulled off the surprise, he pretended to join in the hunt to look for something for Elizabeth.

“How about this?” Ian asked, pointing at some crystal windchimes that hung from a display nearby. “I always hear her talking about windchimes, and they have a few sets on their porch.”

Gryphen liked them.

“I think it’s perfect. Good choice.”

On his way to the register, Gryphen pretended he was just checking out the things there.

As Ian had the woman wrap them up, Gryphen saw when she covertly slipped the item he purchased into the package, doing what he asked.

He grinned.

Paying for Elizabeth’s gift, he and Ian took the windchimes, and headed out. It didn’t take long to find the kilt place that Graham suggested.

“It opens in ten minutes,” he said. “Why don’t we go toss a coin into that fountain over there and maybe we’ll both get lucky?”

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