Page 29 of Rivals & Revenge

“It’s—wow.” I struggled to find words for this moment.

“My house and property have safeguards; layers of safety.”

“So, not just the dogs, then.” I quipped.

“No. Not hardly.” He said, a lazy smile breaking across his lips.

“Thermal shields and lasers confuse thermal imaging and all the windows are bulletproof.”

“Damn. That’s impressive. Do you think we can do my house next?”

That earned me another dark chuckle and an answering pulse of heat in my core.

“Moving on,” he continued. Leaning against the glass wall behind him.

“All four of these walls can be lowered completely or, if you prefer, there are several port holes for lack of a better term, that run the length of the walls. They can be opened just enough to allow the muzzle ofa rifle and still maintain your protection.” his hand swept across the wide expanse, stopping on the small round cut outs.

“This is unbelievable.” I murmured as I walked along the long floor to ceiling window. “I bet on a clear day you can see—shit, a mile or better in every direction.”

“More like three,” he corrected.

“I’m sorry.” I said, a humorless laugh escaping me. “I thought we were close. That I was somehow nipping at your heels because I managed to take a few marks from you. But in reality, I’m nothing more than a nuisance.”

My eyes found his, and he offered me a small smile.

“I never thought of you as a nuisance. A pain in my ass some days, sure.” he pushed off the wall and began pacing, his eyes focused out the window as he spoke.

“If anything, you challenge me. Every time.”

“Is this where you tell me you see yourself in me, or some other bullshit?” I asked, cocking my head to the side and arching my brow.

He shook his head, his meandering footsteps carrying him around the room until he stopped inches from me.

His fingers ghosted across my face, brushing away a stray lock of hair that had fallen in front of my eye and tucking it behind my ear. “No. What I saw—see in you, is a fuckton of potential—limitless.”

Chapter 18

AHREN

I fucked up. I almost kissed her. Our lips had been close enough to share our breaths. My fingers tangled in her hair. When the door slammed and Connor’s voice drifted up the stairs.

“Ahren!”

“Tierney!”

She stepped back out of my hold and quickly made her way down the stairs without a backward glance.

My eyes locked with Connor over Tierney’s shoulder, and she nodded, her silent message clear: I’ve got her.

“If it’s ok with you, I’m going to get dinner started.” I called out.

Tierney nodded, mumbling her assent.

“As much fun as it is babysitting the two of you, I can’t stay.” Connor quipped. “I’ll be back day after tomorrow to check on her wounds.”

“Thank you.” I said, my voice void of the usual snarky banter that was the hallmark of our relationship.

She nodded, a small smile curving her lips.

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