Page 46 of Waiting For A Girl Like You
She laughed, her eyes dancing. It was good to see that glimmer of happiness in them again. The bookstore had been closed since the Firewater Halloween party—quietly shuttered for the off-season. No one questioned it. The tourists were gone, leaving only the locals meandering around Firewater until the quickly approaching holidays. By now, Annabeth should be lost in the throes of prepping for the upcoming shopping chaos.
But this year, it wasn’t possible. Not with everything happening. The loss of routine had left Annabeth mourning her little store, and Rowan was actively trying to figure out ways to get them over there for a visit.
“I like naughty ideas from you,” she purred. “They usually involve me being naked and sweaty.”
God, he loved this woman.
“I can block the security system for about twenty minutes. It won’t be able to read anything. No visuals, no biometrics. Nothing. We can go for awalkin the forest.”
Her finger traced the shamrock tattoo on his neck. “And what can you do to me in twenty minutes, Mr. McIntyre?”
The shiver started in his spine and shot straight to his dick. No longer caring that there were eyes on them, he grabbed two handfuls of her perfect ass and pulled her hard against him. “You’re gonna find out exactly what I can fucking do.”
Annabeth’s giggle mixed with the tinkling of wind chimes blowing about in the midday wind. Rowan often wondered if she ever realized how enchanting she could be. Her smile quite literally knocked the breath out of his lungs. And her laugh? Her laugh could linger in his mind for days.
“Fucking being the key word?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He dropped into his full Texan drawl. “It’ll be one of those save a horse, ride a Rowan kind of things.”
They were both grinning when she kissed him again.
“Tell me what your aunt said,” she murmured, nipping his bottom lip. “It looked serious in there.”
The color drained from his face, and he released his hold on her. “You were listening?”
She could do it. Annabeth knew his passwords. They were a team, and she had access to all points of the security system.
“I wasn’t. Not really.” She frowned at the sudden change in him. “But I did peek in once or twice.”
“She knows what happened,” he said quietly. “And is… concerned.”
Annabeth stepped back, arms crossing as if to block out a sudden chill in the eighty plus degree weather. “There’s more.”
“I thought you weren’t listening.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t.”
He believed her. But fear still clawed at his throat. Vivian knew a plan was in place, but she had no idea its full scope. Killian would never have told the whole truth, even under interrogation. That wasn’t how it worked.
Vivian was a McIntyre that had once walked among the Fairweathers. As she said in the kitchen, she knew the rules. She knew the power of secrecy. Annabeth didn’t, and she wouldn’t like being left in the dark. She’d push for the whole truth when really, the less she knew, the better.
Hell, the less he knew, the better.
“They didn’t like me, is that it?” Annabeth turned away from him, stalking down the porch toward the curve of the railing. “She thinks I’ma waste of your time. That being with me is ridiculous, and that I’m trying to trap you here with me.”
He couldn't help the surge of relief. Thank God she had her back to him, or she really would get angry at the smile on his face.
“No, sweetheart. Viv doesn’t think that at all. And if she did, I wouldn’t give a shit.”
“But I bet your mother thinks that.”
“My mom believes in doing whatever the hell makes you happy.” He tugged playfully on the back of her shirt. “And you make me happy, Annabeth.”
She let out adismissive littlehmpf,and moved to walk inside, but he spun her around before she could escape. Out on the lawn, the agents were drifting back into view after finishing a perimeter sweep. If he didn’t wrap this up soon, their little spat might end up in someone's incident report.
“I love you.” He gripped her chin, holding her gaze. “I love you here or there, or any–fucking–where.”
She jerked free of his hold. “You sound like Dr. Seuss.”
