Page 92 of The Fox

"Shhhh. They're starting to play a different set." I ignore his remark, focusing on the band playing. It's a quick little melody, something that several patrons seem to know, based on the singing breaking out across the room. "They're really good, Rhodes."

The redhead beside us turns, a smile on her lips playfully turning into a smirk. "Don't let them hear you say that."

I chuckle to myself as she continues. "The dark-haired one, that's my husband. I'm Norah."

"Ames. This is Rhodes, my husband."

"Are you visiting? Everyone seems to end up here, much to Paddy's amusement." She nods toward a grandfatherly figure talking to a customer, his beard more salt than pepper, and a gleam in his eye that tells me Paddy is quite the schemer.

"We leave tomorrow." Rhodes says from behind me. I lean into him, the warmth from his body soothing. Rhodes makes me feel safe. This pub feels safe.

"Ah. Well, you'll have to have a pint before you leave, yeah? Maybe a bowl of Irish stew?" Norah slightly turns, yelling toward our bartender. "Alicia!"

The music has died and I see Norah's husband come up from the corner of my eye. Rhodes flexes his hold, a gentle reminder that he has me.

"Aye, love. Who is this?"

"This is Ames and Rhodes. They're in for a visit. I was just getting ready to have Alicia pour them a pint."

The man reaches his hand out to Rhodes. "I'm Eamon, this spitfire's husband. Hopefully she hasn't asked Alicia to line them up yet.”

Rhodes doesn't move and I know it's to keep me steady. "She was about to, I think." He says, humor coating his voice.

Something tells me that Eamon is very versed in his wife's antics because no sooner does Alicia reach us, he holds a hand up. "Do not line up a single glass, Alicia. All they need is a pint or two, yes?" Alicia smirks, spinning on a heel toward the Guinness tap head.

"Eamon," Norah starts, her eyes lit with mischief. Oh, I like her.

"Uh huh, Norah. We don't challenge strangers, do we?"

Norah winks at me, and I watch as she faces Eamon fully; her lip begins to pout and her eyes soften. She takes her hands, weaving them through his dark hair before sighing.

"But asking Alicia to line them up is so fun."

I see him pull her in, ducking his lips to her ear, and whatever he whispers has Norah's cheeks blushing. They pull apart, lacing their fingers together. Alicia returns, placing two pints and a heaping bowl of stew before us. It smells divine. I close my eyes, soaking in every last drop of this good moment.

"We're going to head out but you two stay! Enjoy the last night of your getaway." I lift my head to see Norah standing now, Eamon tugging her toward the door. "It was really nice to meet you!"

Before I can say anything in return, she is pulled out the door, her laughter lingering.

"They're cute," Rhodes says as he sits where Norah was, pulling his pint toward him.

"They were, weren't they?"

We sit in silence, enjoying our meal, before settling our tab and heading out the door. I glance back and catch a glimpse of the old man again, this time a smile beams from him as we lock eyes. I nod his way and as the door closes, he tips the brim of his hat.

Rhodes squeezes my hand, pulling my body into his, and tucks my hair behind my ear. "Come on,kochanie. I want my dessert now, but I cannot consume it the way I want in public." His voice is a whisper, calling to the submission deep within my bones. I lose myself in his oceans of blue, the heat curling in my pelvis.

Smirking with a knowing glint in those blue eyes, Rhodes turns and I jump on his back, wrapping legs around him as he carries me.

Rhodes Alexander will always carry me, come the heavens above or the demons below.

PARKER

There was a flutter I didn’t recognize and then it was gone, taking my world with it.

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