Page 47 of Pints & Potions

He appeared befuddled. “For what? I almost got you killed.”

“Youdidn’t. And I’ve no doubt you’d have found a way to rescue me from the cavern had Knox not come along.”

“You give me too much credit, darlin’. I’d have tried, but I was near to losing my mind when you decided to take a nap back there.”

The colorful way he painted her encounter with death caused a bubble of laughter. Leaning close she lowered her voice. “I’ll tell you a secret; we Thornes, for all our enemies, are a lucky lot. Maybe it neutralizes your bad luck.”

“Your mouth to the gods’ ears.” His gaze dropped to her mouth and grew heated. “Speaking of mouths…”

She met him halfway and opened to him. The kiss was delicious. A lazy exploration of a potential lover—her favorite kind. His body pressed hers against the wall, and Piper would’ve stayed where she was to make out with him all afternoon if the sound of a man clearing his throat hadn’t penetrated her pleasurable haze.

With a girly sigh, she pushed Cian away much to both of their disappointment if his groan was a good indicator.

“I thought I’d have to throw a bucket of cold water on the two of you,” GiGi said from her place beside Ryker. Using her hand, she fanned herself. “Or perhaps take a cold shower myself.”

Piper laughed and moved to pass Cian, but he held her back to let Ryker and GiGi go by.

“We’ll catch up,” he said.

Ryker’s lips twitched, but he didn’t comment.

Once the others were gone, Cian tilted Piper’s chin up and kissed her again. The degree of heat wasn’t the inferno of the last one, but it was enough to warm her blood to boiling.

“I can put a meal together and we can head to the park behind the house, if you’ve a mind,” he said huskily.

“Is it wise with the threat?”

“It’s my family’s land, and we’d be within sight of the house.”

“Okay. But let’s see what, if anything, Dad discovered first.” She couldn’t resist running a hand over the hard plane of his chest. “Then I’d be happy to share your meal, Cian O’Malley. You’d better make it good, though, because I’m starving.”

“And isn’t the question what are you starvin’ for?”

She couldn’t prevent her sultry smile, and she tweaked his nipple through his shirt. “Brownies make me happy.”

He grunted and tucked her arm through his. “Sure, and I was hoping you’d have other appetites for me to satisfy.”

As they enteredthe sitting room, all heads turned their way. Cian wasn’t necessarily uncomfortable under all the curious stares, but he didn’t exactly enjoy it either. After escorting Piper to a seat, he left to pour her a glass of wine and himself a four-fingered shot of whiskey.

Once he’d handed off her drink, he perched on the arm of her chair. “Please tell me you’ve uncovered our threat.”

Their faces ranged from frustrated to angry and told Cian they hadn’t discovered shite.

“Grand,” he muttered and chugged his whiskey. “What’s our next move?”

“Don’t know,” Ryker said. “But we can’t have whoever this is going around creating earthquakes and making attempts on your life at every opportunity. Others are going to get caught in the crossfire.”

“We still aren’t positive of the target here,” Cian reminded him.

Piper placed a hand on his thigh to gain his attention. “What if it’s directed at both of us? Had anything strange happened before I arrived?”

“Other than our standard bad luck? Nah.” He smiled down at her. “But to be sure, good fortune blessed me the day you walked into our pub, Piper me love.”

She rolled her eyes and jabbed him in the side. “You’re laying it on thick again,Cian me love.Your put-on accent gives you away every time.”

He chuckled at being called out and didn’t challenge her comment. “What has you questioning the time before your arrival? Do you think you were followed to Ireland?”

“Maybe.” Her expression turned thoughtful, and she rose to her feet. “Be right back.”

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