Page 186 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Sounds good. Thinking about it makes me hungry. Do we have anything to tide us over?”
“I’ll make us a few slices of toast.” Rod strolled into the kitchen. “Grab a couple of those bananas and peel them.”
“Got it.” Wyl reached into the fruit bowl.
After the light breakfast, they showered, dressed, and headed out for their shopping.
* * *
Back in the flat, they chatted as they worked on brunch.
“It was strange seeing MacGowan and Knowlan yesterday at the racecourse,” Rod said. “I never expected that meeting to happen so soon after we arrived in Ireland.”
“It surprised me too.” Wyl grabbed the plates out of the cabinet. “They seemed like a friendly couple, but Declan sure had a look about him that made me uneasy.” He set the table. “He was pleasant but with a sinister undertone that was hard to miss. They both seemed a little, I don’t know, forced.”
“Yeah, almost like their close couple routine was fake,” Rod said. “I don’t trust either one of them.”
“That is healthy, Rod. You are essentially an undercover agent now, so you should trust nobody if you want to stay alive.”
The knife he used to stem the strawberries clattered into the sink. Rod white-knuckled the counter edge and rasped out, “Stay alive?”
Wyl wrapped his arms around Rod, nuzzling his ear. “Sorry, babe. You promised to melt in my arms for our second Christmas on the ranch, our first Christmas as husbands. We can’t do that dead.”
“Dead?” Releasing his death grip on the counter, Rod rotated to face Wyl, eyes wide and mouth agape.
Wyl tightened his embrace, hoping to ease the angst he could hear in Rod’s voice and see in his body language and expression. “You’ve known since the beginning that this mission is dangerous. My job is to make sure nothing happens to you.”
Rod tightened his arms around Wyl. “It is not me I worry about losing.”
Wyl whispered in Rod’s ear. “We’ll be fine.” He kissed the ear and nibbled his lobe. “Now relax. We have guests coming.”
Rod took a deep breath before releasing his embrace. “Sorry, I freaked. The thought of death frightened me. In the back of my mind, I know it’s possible, but hearing the words sent me into a panic.” He stroked Wyl’s cheek. “Never stop telling me we’ll be fine.”
Wyl planted a fiery kiss on his husband’s lips, a sure way to pull him out of his panic. Rod melted into the kiss as he opened for Wyl’s tongue.
Wyl pulled away. “Better?”
The faraway gaze in Rod’s eyes told himyes,and he nodded and smiled.
“Good, now those strawberries aren’t going to stem themselves. Need me to beat the eggs or something?”
Rod took a deep breath and regained his composure. “Sure. Use eight eggs, and add a bit of cream as you whisk. Sprinkle in a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, and about half a teaspoon of sugar.”
They worked together in the kitchen preparing breakfast, nudging each other playfully to maintain the needed body contact.
At eleven o’clock, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” Wyl checked the peephole and saw James Pearson and another man he had not met, whom he assumed was James’s partner, Glenn, the other British agent. He opened the door.
“James, good to see you again.” Wyl extended his hand. “Please, come in.”
James accepted the handshake, then turned to the man beside him. “Wyl, this is my partner, Glenn Cross. Glenn, this is Wyl Sterling.”
“Hi, Glenn. I’m pleased to meet you.” Wyl offered his hand.
“Blinding to meet you, too.” Glenn had a noticeable Cockney accent. He shook Wyl’s hand, and they entered the flat.
Wyl closed the door and whispered to James, “Blinding?”
