Page 31 of Assassin's Heart
Either the man was in the same business as Remi and his brothers, or something very close. That eagle look in his eyes, the body built like a brick wall—he haddangerouswritten all over him.
Abby moved to Charlotte’s other side, gesturing the couple up the steps. “Leah.” A bright smile lit her face. “Let me introduce you to my good friend, Charlotte Alexander. Charlotte, our…houseguest, Leah Marrone.”
Nice save.I moved to shake the woman’s extended hand, keeping a sharp eye on the Viking’s tense muscles. “Nice to meet you.”
“And you, Leah,” Charlotte said, her voice both formal and warm at the same time. “This is my fiancé, King Moncrief.”
A large hand with long, elegant fingers came my way.
“Of course,” I said, shaking the man’s hand. “It had to be either Viking or royalty; I wasn’t sure which.”
One side of King’s mouth turned up. Charlotte’s rich laugh pealed out between us.
“She does have you pegged,” Abby said, smirking. “You have to admit.”
“I admit nothing,” the blond god said, eyes lightening with amusement. He gathered Charlotte close once more and urged her toward the door. “Where is your other half?”
“Right here.” Levi was descending the staircase as we entered the house. I’d never seen the man in person in anything but T-shirts and fatigues, but now—holy cow. The suit he wore fit him like it had been molded to his body, the fabric smoothing over his muscles like silk. But if he looked delicious, the man descending behind him was a gourmet meal ten times over. Remi was taller and broader than his brother, and the navy-blue fabric of his suit set off his coloring to perfection, somehow soothing his ragged edges while enhancing the power his big body naturally projected. Where Levi wore a silk tie, Remi had left his white dress shirt open at the throat, the vee of darker skin making me want to bury my face there and taste the rough texture, nip at the hard edges of his collarbone.
I squeezed my thighs together as unobtrusively as I could. Remi’s eyebrow arched, and I knew he’d caught the gesture.
Beautiful bastard.
“We won’t be gone long,” Levi was telling Abby when I was finally able to notice anything but Remi. “Eli’s downstairs.”
“I expect you to rest,” King said to Charlotte. “And call me if you need anything.”
Charlotte cupped his face, her look indulgent. “I won’t lift a finger, promise.”
“I won’t let her,” Abby chimed in.
“Better not,” the Viking growled before leaning down to give his fiancée a kiss that sent a blush burning across my cheeks.
Levi nudged Abby back from the crowd, his broad shoulders blocking any view of his goodbye to her. That left Remi and me standing awkwardly alone. Did the other couples’ open affection make him as uncomfortable as it did me? Would he march out the door without a goodbye?
Did I want him to?
Remi moved into my space until I couldn’t see anyone but him. “A couple of hours. If you hear anything, have Eli call me. Promise.”
Not a question, a demand. And yet it soothed me instead of irritating me. Remi was as concerned about Brooke as I was.
“Promise,” I said.
Without warning Remi reached up to grasp my chin, holding me steady for a quick, hard kiss. “Back soon,” he muttered, and then he was gone, leaving me standing in the middle of the foyer with a stuttering heart and confusion clouding my brain.
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Chapter Thirteen
Leah —
Abby brought tea to a room at the back of the house that I hadn’t seen yet, a library. The long, soft couch was the perfect place for Charlotte to put her feet up. I helped her settle while Abby set up the refreshments.
“Do you mind me asking about your injury?” I gave her midriff a nod. “I’m a nurse.”
Charlotte gave me the soft smile that I was quickly coming to associate with her. “Knowing that might’ve made King easier about leaving me.”
“He’s as territorial as Levi,” Abby put in.
