Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I slapped his arm, and he pulled me close. “Now, I think someone mentioned hot sex with one of those mobsters? The impatient bastard.”
“Sully, we can’t.”
He ran his mouth down my neck, swirling his tongue at the juncture. “Think of it, lass. I doubt this place has ever had someone defile it. Totally sexless.”
“It’s a care home, you pervert,” I muttered, trying not to laugh.
“The counters in the kitchen look pretty sturdy. We could baptize them.”
He was lifting me, even as I protested. Even as my hand yanked on his belt. I couldn’t resist him. I wasn’t sure I ever could.
Sully stood in front of me, his voice low and serious.
“You keep in touch with Finn and Niall.”
“I will.”
“The girls want to help. You let them.”
I nodded.
“You don’t go anywhere without Davey. Not even the corner store. You keep your phone with you.”
“Okay.”
“You use the numbers I gave you or call Niall when you’re ready for things to go. No lifting heavy shite and hurting yourself.”
I tried not to roll my eyes at that one, but I made a sound that seemed agreeable.
“You call me every goddamn day. Twice a day.”
“Twice?”
“If I don’t hear from you by ten in the morning and three in the afternoon your time, I’m sending someone in.”
“That’s, ah, not necessary.”
“I disagree, and I will not be moved.”
My throat suddenly got tight.
“Okay,” I whispered.
“And you’ll wear this.” He slipped a hand into his pocket, holding up a pretty necklace. It shimmered in the light, a Celtic symbol with a central ruby that gleamed a deep red. It was surrounded by tiny diamonds and other rubies—delicate and beautiful.
“I know you don’t like bracelets, but you wear necklaces.”
“Yes,” I whispered. “Is that a tracker like the girls wear?”
“It is.” He turned it over, showing me the back. “That flat piece there—you push it, and it sends a signal.”
“To whom?”
“Finn and Niall. Evan. Davey. Me—at least for now. Once I’m overseas, it won’t reach that far. But this makes me worry less.” He paused, meeting my eyes. “Will you wear it?”
“Yes.”
He put it on me and studied it with a satisfied nod. “Beautiful.”
Then he made me press the button. His phone pinged and almost instantly rang. He answered quickly. “Evan—yes, just the test I told you I would do. Yes, tell them to stand down. Davey too. It’s working. Thanks.”
“Evan was meeting with the boys and they all got the alert, so I know it works,” he explained.
“Okay.”
We stared at each other. Emotion welled in my chest, and I had to look down for a moment, worried I would start crying.
His voice suddenly became thicker. “You come to me as soon as you can.”
I lifted my head, meeting his eyes. “I will.”
“Take care of yourself, mo fhiadh beag. Don’t forget to eat. And if you need me, I’ll get back as soon as I can.”
“I love you.”
Instantly, I was in his arms, his mouth on mine. He kissed me until I was breathless.
“I will miss you, Autumn, and count every day until you come back to me.”
“I’ll hurry.”
He stepped back, and I knew he had to go. Our gazes held, and I saw the love we shared in them.
He picked up his coat and tugged it on, then headed for the door.
He turned when he got there. “If you take too long, I’ll come back for you.”
“Promises, promises.” I tried to smile, ignoring the tears running down my cheeks.
“Don’t test me on this.” He gripped the door handle. “I love you. Always.”
And he was gone.
Later that week, I sat in the boardroom at the office, my boss across from me. “I’m sorry?” I asked, unsure if I had heard correctly.
My boss, Marvin, smiled, crossing his ankle over his knee, looking relaxed. “I think you heard me. I understand you want to move to Scotland. We have decided we want you in that office, so we are prepared to help you with your paperwork and the Skilled Worker visa. On one condition.”
“Which is?” I asked.
“In the future, we may want to send you to another office briefly if we need to repeat this sort of overhaul. We’ve had nothing but glowing reports on the way you’ve handled this process. We may need it again.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. He continued to talk. “We noticed how much vacation you had in the bank. We would like you to take some of it now in half days. There are some odds and ends you need to finish here, but they could easily be done in a couple weeks, I think? That gives you lots of time to wrap up your personal life and be able to move.”
“That works.”
“We hate losing you here, but it is good to know you will be part of the team over there.”
“Thank you, Marvin,” I murmured.
“How is your aunt?”