As he enters, I’m forced to step back. Without a word, he catches my face in his hands and kisses me. He tastes of liquor and sweet soda. Apparently, his work assignment wasn’t as bad as I was imagining.
I kiss him for a second, then shove at his chest until he releases me. “I need an explanation, James.”
“James, is it?” Amusement colors his features for a moment. “There’s a sure sign we’re getting serious.” He winks and turns to flip the security latch. When he faces me again, the lightness in his expression is gone. “I ran into a bit of trouble.”
My brows furrow, and my voice lowers. “What kind exactly?”
“Not the Connecticut kind,” he says softly. “But I thought it might go that way.”
Balling my fists as though I could punch his bosses in the throat, I say, “For you or someone else?”
“Me.”
That causes my stomach to drop like I’m falling. “But everything’s okay now?”
“It is, yeah.”
“Did War bring me here for them as leverage to force you to do something? Or was he really doing you a favor?”
“Favor.”
“Well, he fucking sucks at being a bodyguard because I thought he was kidnapping me.” Rubbing Jamie’s arms, I exhale a shaky breath. “I was so worried about you. I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks.” He pulls me into a tight hug and kisses the top of my head. “Sorry I worried you.”
“Seriously though, you need to give me a heads-up the next time War’s going to be my designated getaway driver. When I was hesitant to leave town with him, he locked me in the back of the SUV with the rest of the cargo. If there had been a trunk, I’m positive he’d have put me in it.”
“Jayzus.” Jamie shakes his head with a grimace, his thumb stroking my jaw to soothe my nerves. “For a barbarian, he’s a surprisingly good mate. But a light touch he is not.”
I exhale a small amused sound that’s more born out of relief than real amusement. “Why did I need to leave your cousin’s house?”
“That was just a precaution in case anyone was overzealous.”
Holding his sides, I stare up at his eyes, trying to fill in the holes he’s not. “I don’t understand. I need you to explain what happened tonight.”
“I’d like to, sure. Maybe one day, but not right now. Here’s the thing you need to know. I work for some dangerous people. They’re not all bad, but I can’t walk away.”
My heart thumps harder in my chest, and I feel the uneasiness rising again.
“And through no fault of your own, you’re in this with me, Sauce. Do you want me to try to get you out? Well and truly? It would mean moving and hiding.” He sucks on his lower lip as he stares at me as though he’d like to hear my deepest thoughts.
“What? When you say moving away and hiding, do you mean me alone?”
With a grim expression, he nods.
“You swore I wouldn’t be alone.” I slam my palm against his ribs. “You fucking promised.”
“I know, and I meant it. Still do.” When I start to hit him again, he grabs my wrists and shoves them behind my back, stepping forward so our bodies touch and my hands are pinned behind me. “If you plan to stay with me for good, you’ll never be alone again. But for the next few years, we’ll be here in the States. Not living some happy fairy tale in Ireland that I was peddling outside the Hearth and Stone. Before Connecticut, I owed less than a year to this work. Could’ve gone home next fall term if I wanted. That’s not the case anymore. So now, this is the life you’d be signing on for. Where I might go out in the middle of the night without warning to do dangerous work.”
“And you expect me to do what? Roll with being shoved into car trunks? Visit you in jail?”
“Maybe. Yeah. Being with me from here on, it’s not for the feint of heart. It means staying, come hell or high water.” His expression is gravely serious now. “I love you, and I don’t want to let you go. But the bright future you’ve been working toward might be leveled. Collateral damage.”
Tears burn in my eyes. This is the choice. Him. Or trying to follow in Celine’s footsteps—the Allendales and politics and a marriage to someone like the guys I dated in school. Bland. Boring. Blue-blooded, yet bloodless.
Swallowing, I shake my head. “Is that why you took me to your cousin’s? To tempt me with the huge, gorgeous house and adorable children?”
“To show you, yeah. That there are good parts.”
