Page 364 of Lodestar

“We’re not kink shaming.”

“The US public is. That’s what we’re relying on—a bunch of prudes.”

“It’s our Puritan souls. We can’t handle foot fetishes.”

“It’s not even that big a deal.”

“You got something you want to tell me?”

His grin was a wicked slash that tempted me to kiss him. “That I like you in heels and boots?”

“Good to know,” I teased. “Shall I let Vana drag me to a salon for a pedicure?”

He hitched a shoulder. “Sure. Go for bright red.”

“Blood red?”

“Like I need the reminder you’re more of an assassin than anything the developers ofAssassin’s Creedcould come up with.”

Snickering, I shoved him in the side then picked up another paper.

Boston congresswoman claims terrorists are behind recent influx of headlines that are ‘destabilizing the nation.’

“How right she is,” I crooned, skewering her in the face with my fingernail.

“How many more reveals?”

“At least ten.”

“On top of these six?”

“Yup. Vana’s helped me stagger them. We’re keeping the cops plenty busy, and if the politicians start whining about these privacy infractions being a terrorist attack, then that’s where the alphabets will shift their focus.”

“A job well done?”

“Uh huh. Aoife hasn’t heard from her dad?”

“Finn didn’t say anything to indicate Davidson had been in touch. That he isn’t photographed on any of the front pages is telling in itself.”

“He’s keeping his head down,” I agreed. “Smart man.”

“Ish. He dumped Aoife for a chance at the White House. That was a dumb move.”

“Men rarely appreciate something until they’ve lost it. He was cut up about meeting with me and not her.”

He cupped my shoulder. “It’s between them. Don’t meddle.”

I arched a brow at him. “Who said I was going to meddle?”

“I can hear it in your voice.”

I sniffed.

“That only confirms it,” he retorted. “Anyway, the car will be here in five. Are you good to go?”

Though I nodded, I released a yawn. We’d arrived late last night and though our alarm call had been for ten AM, my circadian rhythms didn’t agree.

Dumping the paper I’d been reading on the dinner table, I stretched. “I’ll be glad when this is over with.”

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