Page 20 of Illicit Temptation

Her eyes flutter in aggravation. “I know. They should be landing with Kieran’s helicopter in twenty minutes.”

I steer her to the parking lot and open the door to the backseat of her SUV. I set the nav on her dash to the airfield and ease along the one-lane road while Shea makes calls to secure an Airbnb and rental car for Lachlan and his new wife.

“Thank you so much, Raymond.” Her flirtatious cooing pours gasoline on the flames of jealousy smoldering in my gut.

I don’t know who’s on the phone, butRaymondis toast if he touches her. She’smy wife.

Shea clears her throat, still on the line with the dosser. “Oh... Tonight?”

My body tenses, and when I look in the rearview, she’s staring right at me. With one hand, I lower my shades so she sees my pissed-off look.

“Can’t. Sorry. But thank you for setting me up with the beach house. And sending a car over there.” She ends the call without another word, her gaze lifting back to mine.

“Trace!” she shouts.

“Fuck,” I mutter, swerving away from oncoming traffic.

“Do you even know how to drive on the right side of the road?” she pants.

“I got it, wife.” I loosen my tie, getting my heart rate in check.

“And do not call mewifein front of Lachlan, or you’ll be roadkill.”

“We agree on something. See, we’re already getting along as a married couple.” I settle into the seat and keep my eyes on the road.

We arrive at the helipad as the O’Rourke helicopter is landing. The Enforcer steps out and swings a delicate blonde wearing a yellow sundress off the top of the airstairs.

She looks strong and poised for someone who just came face to face with an active shooter. I hang back from them, remembering my place.

Shea scrambles my head, and I sense how difficult this will be. To guardmy wife.All while not letting on that we’re secretly married.

While Shea speaks to Lachlan and his wife, my mind cranks into overdrive. Getting married was a joke. We were goofing off, having a grand ole time. I honestly didn’t think she’d go through with it. Or that I would.

Yet, there we were, saying our nuptials. Then there was the kiss when we were pronounced husband and wife that stopped my heart. I’ve not been the same man since.

Shea chirping Archer’s name to her brother, and how Lachlan went to the scumbag for his wife’s diamond, draws my gaze to the conversation happening a few feet from me. The way Lachlan calmly reacts suggests no one knows about Archer.

Lachlan also barely registers my presence. His focus is entirely on his wife. It’s a stunning transformation fromthe bloodthirsty killer I’ve known all these years to a gentle and loving husband. It eases my nerves that I’m not being irrational with my feelings for Shea.

Only, I have a lot of time to make up for.

CHAPTER TEN

Shea

Ibreathe a sigh of relief when Soren shows up on Monday morning, and I watch Trace strut to his Mercedes, dressed in yet another sharp suit.

Back-to-back parties over the weekend kept my mind busy and my body tired. I ignored Trace as much as I could. With Lachlan in town and able to knock on my door at any moment, Trace wisely tamped down his pursuit of getting me back into bed.

Soren settles into the guest cottage, where all my guards stay while on duty, and I double-time it to the driveway to catch up with Trace before he leaves. The sound of my heels on the asphalt turns him around.

“You had all weekend to come to my bed, princess. It’s a little late.” He folds his arms.

My heart rate ticks up. Damn, I missed that flirting. But it’s for the best. “About our divorce,” I say to him. “The longer it’s out there, the more of a chance someone will find out.”

His jaw muscle jumps, giving away his concern that my brothers could be that someone. “What do you suggest?”

“I worried about going to a lawyer.” I fidget with a scuffed cuticle on my nail. “I don’t suppose you know a discreet one?”

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