“Yes. Yes, you do. You should have an email with all the details sent to you very shortly.” Franklin clears his throat. “I’ll assign two agents to follow you when you touch down and while you are driving to the meeting point. They’ll keep a low profile but just know they’re close by should anything happen. There will also be agents with the others.”
“Got it.” My phone vibrates against my ear with what I assume is the email he referenced.
“You’ll have to fly to one city and drive to another. It’ll be a little bit of a drive. But it’s the safest option. Lessens the chance of anyone figuring out where you two will be.”
“I don’t care how far we have to go to make this happen.”
Franklin exhales audibly. “Just don’t get stupid. Stick to the plan. Things will still be a little hot for a while since the verdict has just been announced.”
“You don’t need to worry about me. The last thing I’d ever do is be stupid with Maggie’s safety.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. But my ass is on the line, so I gotta say it.”
“I understand. Thanks again, man. I’ll let you know if anything changes or happens.”
“You better.” He disconnects the call. Just a few more days. Nerves and excitement roll through me. I’d do anything for this woman. Planning this surprise is the least of them. All I can hope is that everything goes off without a hitch.
I walk back into the bathroom just as Maggie is finishing putting lotion on her face, and she smiles at me through the mirror. “Who were you talking to?”
Wrapping my arms around her waist, I pull her backinto my chest. I don’t like lying to her, but in this case, it’s necessary. “Jack called to ask me something about work.”
My lips press against her neck, my teeth grazing her skin before my tongue soothes my bite. Maggie’s low moan travels through me from where she’s pressed against me. I turn her around gently and lift her up, setting her on the counter between the sinks.
“Ian.” Her words are breathy with need.
I drop to my knees as I push her thighs apart and attempt to relay all the feelings I struggle to put into words as I worship at the altar of her body.
37
Ian
“Ian, are you sure this is safe?” Maggie grips my arm and pulls it tight to her chest as we walk into the airport.
“I promise, we have Franklin’s blessing to take a little trip. He agreed you needed some time away.”
She looks up at me skeptically and stays clinging to my side as we step up to the kiosk to check in. I’m not going to admit this to her, but I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t a little nervous about taking this trip. It’s difficult, but I have to trust that Franklin did everything he could to keep her safe, and I trust myself more than anything. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe.
But sometimes, the unexpected happens, and that’s what scares me.
On this trip, my main objectives are to keep her safe and make her happy. No matter what.
By the time we make it to our gate, she’s slightly more relaxed. I buy her a cup of coffee to help ease her nerves a little more.
The only thing I need right now to keep me calm is her head on my shoulder, and our hands are clasped, resting on my thigh. My phone rings, and I shift in my seat to pull it out of my pocket while also doing my best not to jostle Maggie.
When I see it is Franklin, I kiss Maggie on the forehead and tell her I’ll be right back.
Once I’m far enough away, I answer. “Franklin. Everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah. Just fine and dandy. Car rental is ready for you. I’m sending you directions to where you need to go. It’s about a three-hour drive to get there. My guys will be following you.”
I roll out my tense neck. “Roger that.”
Disconnecting the call, I pivot on my heels, and my gaze immediately finds Maggie. My jaw clenches, and I inhale my annoyance. There’s some business-traveling douche talking to her. She’s smiling at him, laughing, and it pisses me off. Though I can’t blame the idiot for wanting to talk to her, that shit isn’t happening.
When I get back to where Maggie is sitting, any annoyance completely dissipates when she looks up at me, and her face lights up so much it’s almost blinding. Deciding to abandon the plan of intimidation, I drop into the seat beside her and slide my hand over her thigh, settling it on the inside, a little higher than would typically be acceptable when surrounded by strangers and families.
“Hi, baby,” I draw out.
