Page 11 of The Locksmith's Promise

Drawn like a magnet, I took a hesitant step toward him then stopped.

He was a grown man now, comfortable in his skin.

God, his skin.

I flashed back to that first night.

His hot mouth trailing over my stomach.

His hand grasping the back of my knee and wrapping my leg around his lean hip.

His heavy thighs spreading mine wide as he slowly entered me for our first time.

My first time.

Braced on his elbows, hands cupping my face, his eyes held mine as his long body rolled against me.

His deep voice.

“Okay, baby?”

Maxine elbowed Miller sharply in the ribs and tore my mind from the past. “You could have given me a heads-up!”

“Ow,” he frowned down at her, rubbing his ribs. “It wasn’t my story to tell!”

She rolled her eyes. “How’s that working out for you right now?”

I met Baxter’s intent, curious gaze and flushed hotly.

Miller glanced up at me and offered a crooked grin. “I’ll just take the missus and give you some privacy.”

With that, he ducked. Popping his shoulder into his wife’s gut, he threw her over his shoulder.

“Oh my gosh,” she scoffed, hanging upside down. Slapping his ass, she laughed. “You are such a neanderthal.”

“You love it,” he asserted.

Pushing off his back, she lifted her chin and leveled Baxter with her gaze as Miller carted her up the short set of stairs to their bedroom. “Don’t you scare her away! I need news from the outside—”

Miller slammed the bedroom door, cutting off the rest of her words.

I couldn’t even be upset with Miller. The truth is nothing could have prepared me to see Baxter again.

I released a shuddering breath and offered Baxter a tentative smile as I nervously tucked my hair behind my ear. “Looks like he found his perfect counterpart.”

An ancient pain flashed across his face and disappeared.

I swallowed tightly and forced myself to keep my eyes on his face.

Approaching me slowly, as one would a skittish colt, he held out both of his hands.

God, he looked so good.

He’d changed so much. Bigger, thicker, more muscular, but somehow taking up less space than he used to.

Tall and strong and no longer as haunted.

My heart ached for all he suffered, all we lost.

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