“As soon as we settle things with Mac, I’ll be on the first plane.” The love shining in his eyes is so bright, it lights up the room. “I promise.”
“You make it sound simple. Like everything is easily fixable. But you can’t just walk up to the Irish mob and sayHey, let’s let bygones be bygones.” My brow crinkles. “What if you get hurt? What if—”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me.” His words are adamant as presses a lingering kiss to my mouth. “Now get your ass out of bed, pull on some clothes, and put on a pair of those damn sexy shoes that will no doubt give me a hard-on for the next week.” He slides off the bed, bends to scratch Boo behind the ears, and struts into the kitchen, naked as the day he was born.
Holy frack.
“Phoebe!” he calls a moment later, when he catches me staring.
“Yeah?” I gulp.
“My eyes are up here.” His voice is thick with amusement. “Now get changed.”
I lift my glaring eyes to his and hop out of bed.
***
“You have everything?”
I shoot him a look. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were stalling because you don’t want me to leave your lair.”
His lips twitch. “We’ve been over this. It’s not a lair.”
“Uh huh.” I sling the strap of my duffle over one shoulder. Boo’s leash is tight in my other hand. “Have demon-dog, will travel.”
He takes a step closer, eyes warm on Boo. “I admit, I’ll miss the little rascal.”
“Just him?”
His eyes flash up to mine. “And you.”
“Good answer,” I murmur, smiling as I lean into his chest and brush my lips against his.
“Almost forgot,” he says, pulling away. He reaches into the pocket of his leather jacket and pulls out a pendant. It’s shaped like a sun and looks almost exactly like the one Cormack took from me – the twin of Gemma’s – except a fraction larger and silver rather than gold. “This is for you. Happy birthday, Phoebe.”
My breath catches in my throat as he moves behind me and slips it around my neck. His body presses into mine as his large fingers fumble with the clasp.
“How did you know?” I ask.
“I knowyou. I know how important that necklace was. So, I had another made specially for you.”
“Nate…” My voice cracks. “I don’t know what to say.”
He pulls my hair up, drops a kiss on the nape of my neck, and squeezes my shoulders. “Don’t say anything. Just keep it close to your heart until I see you again. And remember I love you, little bird. Forever.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
There are still people out there who use
actualcoinsto pay at the tollbooth.
What is this, the Dark Ages?
Phoebe West, feeling grumpier than
usual during Boston rush hour.
“This doesn’t feel right.”