Page 13 of Song Bird Hearts

“Your babysitters,” the taller one grumbles.

I raise my brows. “Okay, grumpy. Do the babysitters have names?”

“As far as you’re concerned, we’re Thing One and Thing Two,” he growls. “We need to go.” His eyes flick to Kevin. “What is that? No one mentioned a pig.”

“This is Kevin Bacon,” I offer. “He prefers to be addressed by his name and not ‘pig.’”

His brows furrow. “We’re not taking the pig.”

“I go nowhere without him,” I say, my eyes narrowing. “If I go, he goes.”

“Fine,” and then he turns like he’s going to leave.

“Now, hold on there,couillon,” the second man says in a voice thick with the swamps of Louisianna. I blink in surprise at him as he trails into the room and studies Kevin. “He’s got a certain charm. I say he comes with us.” He grins at me, and offers a hand. I look at it before slowly letting him shake my own. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,cher. Big fan.”

“Uh, thank you?” I say, glancing between him and the other guy standing grumpily at the door. “Are you Thing One or Thing Two?”

He grins. “You can call me Gilden actually. Gilden Boone. As for the other one over there, Thing Two is perfect. It’s his kink. He really likes it.”

Thing Two scowls in annoyance and I decide I immediately like Gilden. It takes everything inside me not to laugh. “Nice to meet you, Gilden.” I stand up. “So, I take it you know where we’re going?”

But when I stand up, Gilden stumbles back, his eyes going up to me. He’s an average height man, probably around five nine, but compared to my six two, he’s forced to look up. I’ve encountered many men who are intimidated by my height, who immediately go from flirty to insecure in a heartbeat. Gilden though? He just whistles and looks me up and down appreciatively.

“Hot damn!” he says, his eyes sparkling. “They didn’t say nothin’ ‘bout you bein’ that tall. Gon’ need a step ladder and a prayer to reach you.”

I snort and then cover my mouth and nose to try and hide it. I fail. Gilden’s eyes light up so bright, he might as well be the sun. “Short guys usually don’t react so positively to my height,” I offer as explanation. “You just surprised me is all.”

He grins and I know the next words out of his mouth are gonna be as wicked as the look in his eyes. “You might be a little outta my reach, cowgirl. . .” he says, with a wiggle of his brow. “But I’m damn good at climbin’.”

My checks flame. I can feel the blush crawl up my neck and to my cheeks, the heat of it immediately making the room feel too hot. “I, uh?—”

“Enough,” Thing Two growls. “We need to leave. Now.”

Gilden winks up at me, the cheeky bastard, before gesturing for me to go ahead of him. “You first,cher. Stay between us and we’ll get you to safety.”

“And Kevin?” I ask.

“And Kevin. Can’t have my favoritecochongetting hurt,” he reassures me.

The moment we exit the coffee shop, my heartrate kicks into high gear. “You two aren’t gonna get me killed, are you?” I ask.

“We’re gon’ keep you alive,” Gilden reassures me. “You have my word.”

“How much is the word of a sweet-talkin’ Cajun worth?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder at him.

He shrugs and flashes another signature smile at me. “Guess you’re gon’ have to find out,cher,” he teases.

“I’d feel a little better if I knew Thing Two’s name,” I murmur, glancing at the stoic man leading the way. He scans everything around us, and moves like he’s ex-military. Judging by the tattoos on his forearms, I’d say that’s exactly what he is. The man belongs in a war movie. Dressed in black jeans that look pristine and ironed, and a clean, black button-down shirt, it only highlights just how attractive he is. His hair is trimmed neat and short, the brown locks almost black in the shitty coffee shop lighting. His beard is more scruff than anything else, like he hasn’t shaved in a few days. And those piercing dark eyes? The man’s looks could kill.

At my words, he glances over his shoulder and pins me with those eyes. He seems to war with himself on if he should say anything, but after a moment, he grumbles, “Knox.”

“Nice to meet you, Knox,” I say, flashing him a smile that only makes his frown deeper. “I appreciate the help.”

“It ain’t help,” he grunts. “It’s a paycheck.”

My smile falls. “Yeah. I get that a lot.”

He glances back at me roughly, and something eases a little in his gaze. But I don’t want to address it and gesture for him to continue. “Lead the way, Thing Two,” I encourage. “The faster I get out of this city, the faster I can put this all behind me.”

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