“Like a shark senses blood, ye are,” I say sourly.
“I canna help if my training and natural genius allows me to tunnel deep into the souls of my fellow man. Let’s start with your new life as Mrs. Lucas Stewart.”
“Hmph. Maybe he’s taking on the mantle of Mr. Lucas MacTavish, have ye thought of that?” Finishing my halibut, I move on to the fried Snicker’s bar. No reason to worry about my cardiovascular health. If I canna get this antidote sorted, I’m sure Dubois will go after my family first with a dose of his fancy new C-1161, the spiteful cow.
Kenna howls with laughter. “Not that man. I was there when he turned Uncle Cormac down. Your Da was all emotional and shite and telling him any position he wanted was his. Lucas very politely told him to bugger off.”
“No!”
“Aye, Uncle Cormac was a bit gobsmacked, especially when Lucas told him he was opening a private security firm.” Grinning evilly, she leans closer. “Ye want to know the best part?”
“Aye?” I’m motionless, the fried Snicker’s bar melting down my arm.
“Lucas has already poached three of the best guards from the MacTavish security division.” She slaps her leg, howling with laughter. “Kai told me they all came to Lucas, asking for a position with him. Uncle Cormac is fair, he canna begrudge them the opportunity.”
“Ye know I love Da, but he deserves this. Lucas is a proud man. He served his country, he served our family, but he’s past that now. He wants to create something of his own.” I’m gleeful and not sorry for it, even if it is at my father’s expense. “Though I’m surprised he dinnae tell me any of this.”
“Between christening every flat surface in that charming cottage of his and your lab work, I dinnae think there’s been much timefor conversation.” She’s desperately trying to smother a laugh and fails.
“Oh, my god, stop!” I groan into my dessert.
“Ach, please, hen. With the BDE Lucas radiates like a beacon of sin, I knew he had to be legendary in the sack,” Kenna continues, enjoying my embarrassment.
“Hush it!” I snap. “We’re not talking about my husband’s dick size!”
“Back to business.” Kenna finally changes the subject. “How close are ye on this antidote?”
“When I was right there, in Dubois’ custom lab-”
“That mangled apricot hellbeast!” Kenna snarls.
“I was making mad progress. There’s a molecular deficiency in my current formula and if I had access to that lab…”
Piling all the scraps in the takeaway box, I dust the crumbs off the desk. “I couldn’t download the full formula for the poison, C-1161, before Lucas got me out. I’m missing a couple of compounds, I know that’s why my trials are failing.”
She takes a deep breath. “What are ye saying?”
There’s a rap on the door and Lucas is there with a bag from Real Foods Grocery and I know it’s full of organic delights. He looks disapprovingly at our fried rubble, “Ach, I thought I’d bring by lunch, knowing ye have not had a bite sincebreakfast, which was…” He pointedly consults his watch, “Ten hours ago?”
“She told me to get the fish and chips!” Kenna instantly throws me under the bus and then backs it over me. “I told her she needed to take better care of herself.” Throwing me a kiss, she hurries out of the lab. “Wewillbe finishing this conversation tonight, aye? Lots to walk through, I’m certain.”
“What’s that about?” Lucas slides his hand into my hair, giving me a long, lingering kiss with lots of tongue. He still tends to be somewhat formal with others around, but when we’re alone, he’s tender and loving.
When he’s not being sexy and bossy as feck.
“We were talking about the trials for the antidote.” I rub my cheek against his rough hand. “I bolloxed another one. It’s driving me mad.”
“You’ll get it.” He gives me another kiss. “What can I do to help?”
“Says the man buried under a mountain of paperwork, bullets and overly-muscled military types.”
There’s a silvery sheen to my husband’s eyes when he gets turned on, and they’re practically glowing right now. “Never too busy to service my bride.”
Ilovethis part of him.
We’ve settled into a little routine at home, running together in the morning before he delivers me to the lab, where my new bodyguard is waiting. I still do my weight lifting and yoga at the fancy new MacTavish club. But running time is just for us, no phones, no cousins, or guards clamoring for our attention. Just digging our heels into the sand, breathing in the salt-tinged air and skirting the clumps of sea grass… It’s something I never knew I wanted, and now it’s something I would never want to let go.
He cooks sometimes, or his mother pops in and out like some kind of super maternal ghost with prepared meals. And damn her, Kenna is correct. In every spare moment, we’re going at each other like rabid badgers.
