Page 9 of Believe in Me
“You can’t imagine the perks I get,” Mike said, winking right back. Ignoring the two of them, Trish walked away leaving Mike to play catch up.
“Come here often?” Trish asked a bit shortly.
“Actually, no. I’m a frequent visitor across the street though. They have some of the best… hottest… ser—coffee around,” he teased, making Trish shake her head and laugh. She reached for the first bag and started pulling out the box lunches they’d packed, laying them on the counter along the wall. Organizing could come after they were all out of the bags.
“Let’s get this all set up so we can both go back to what we need—” A loud bang cut Trish off. “What was that?”
“Get down,” Mike commanded as he pushed her to the ground and covered her with his body.
“Mike! What the—”
“That was a gun shot. I can’t see what’s going on but there is no way I’m letting anything happen to you.” Mike shifted them until they were at the end of the counter.
“A gun shot? Here? But—” Trish wasn’t sure that she’d heard him correctly. Why would there be a gun going off in the bank? Holy shit. “Do you think someone is robbing the bank?”
“Possibly? I’m calling 9-1-1 in case someone didn’t push the button out there.” Mike pulled his cell out and put it to his ear. “Hello? I’m at Bank Happy over on North Walters. Someone is shooting in the lobby. I can’t tell what they have but it’s a small caliber based on the sound the round made. Cars are en route? Stay on the line? I’m hiding in the break room with one other person. Yes, ma’am. We’ll stay put and keep down.” Mike clicked off the phone and turned to Trish. “So tell me about yourself?”
Trish narrowed her eyes and looked at Mike. “Did you hit your head? We need to get out of here,” she said as she went to stand. Mike grabbed her arm and pulled her back down. She overbalanced and ended up in his lap with his arms around her.
Mike mumbled something that she couldn’t understand and closed his lips over hers.
§ § §
Mike’s mom hadn’t raised a dummy. Kissing Trish hadn’t been on the top of his to-do list for the day but when opportunity falls in your lap — literally — you had to grasp it right? They weren’t going to start something hot and heavy with a bank robbery going on outside the door but distracting Trish from storming out into the middle of whatever was happening was something he could do.
Trish wiggled in his lap for a few seconds before she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him back. Man, could the woman kiss. She took command of his mouth, from lips to teeth to tongue, nothing was left unexplored. Mike wasn’t normally a passive participant, but he sensed something in Trish that said she needed this. He had a feeling that no matter what this woman wanted, he would gladly provide it.
Shifting his hips, he got Trish to straddle him making it easier for them to reach each other. Mike glided his tongue against hers and pushed it back into her mouth. He explored Trish’s mouth just as thoroughly as she had his.
Mike pulled his mouth back and rolled them over, putting Trish under him, as a loud crash sounded from the front. That snapped his attention back to the present. Christ, making out in the middle of a bank robbery? Yeah, not his smartest move.
“Are you okay?” he asked as he pushed Trish’s hair out of her face. Mike watched her nod and just as she closed her eyes, he would swear he saw tears in them. “Seriously, are you okay?”
“Yeah, it’s just— can this be something we talk about another time?” she asked quietly.
“Sure.” Mike moved off Trish and helped her sit up as a disembodied voice called out.
“All clear. If everyone in the bank can move into the parking lot so we can take everyone’s statements that would be appreciated.”
Standing, Mike held out his hand to Trish. “Let me help you.”
She stared at his hand for a minute then put hers in his. “I think I’d like that.”
Chapter 7
Mike had taken the coward’s way out of calling the heptad after everything that had been going on. Apparently starting the group text with “Hey I was in a bank robbery” followed by “I’m pinning on 8” got him out of the ass chewing for everything with Denise… well at least temporarily.
Mooney and Debbie had been planning a vacation, so they tweaked the plans and were going to visit Mike before heading to Galveston for a week. Debbie’s roommate from college owned a timeshare that they were going to use, right on the beach. Mike was sure the twins would keep them running. He loved those little boys. Knowing that at some point the heptad would visit, he’d fixed up his spare room for guests. It was a decent size and knowing Debbie, she would have something up her sleeve for the boys to settle down at night.
They were due to arrive any time now. He was sure that Mooney would corner him while they were here on behalf of all the guys. Mike knew they had his best interest in mind but he was still sore over everything Denise did. Thinking back to Trish in his arms the other day had him questioning whether he really was that hurt.
Slamming car doors had Mike heading outside. Just as he cleared the front door, two tiny balls of energy came running across the lawn. It was so cute to watch the twins. Their little legs and arms pumping away as they raced each other. When they saw him they started yelling for him too.
“Unca Mike!” one twin called out.
“Here!” the other twin announced. Mike was the clueless uncle. He hadn’t been able to tell them apart yet. Cam and Cal were still so close in appearance to him. Danny had told him that Cam started the trouble more often than not but Debbie and Mooney said that wasn’t the case. They both liked to get into things they shouldn’t.
Kneeling down, Mike had his arms full of wiggly little boys. “Cam, Cal. I missed you,” he said as he gave them each a kiss on the cheek. “Have you been good for your mommy and daddy.” Both boys shook then nodded with big smiles on their faces.
