“All that het stuff,” he repeated with a big smile.
“Yeah, I don’t know, you know, like having children and making friends with other families, where all the conversation is about preschool and where everyone is vacationing during the break.” As I said the words, thoughts came flooding back from when I’d been working in an office where those exact conversations took place. A shudder ran through me, almost making me leap off the fence into Jacques’s arm.
“Is killing for love part of that het stuff?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Maybe, I don’t know. I hope not. I think that’s just anusthing. And I hope you don’t have to kill more people.”
“I’ll doanythingto keep you safe,” he said, staring me in the eyes. “Anything.”
“Maybe we should get that smoker,” I said. “Get some hobbies.”
“And what will you do?” he asked, holding my face to keep me staring at him.
“I’ve got legal prep and stuff to do,” I told him. “And I’ve been mapping the town. A list of places I want to visit when we’re in the clear.”
He kissed me on the forehead. “That won’t do, but we’ll find something to keep you occupied—and no, not my dick. I know your filthy mind went there.” He kissed my forehead again. “I can read your mind.”
It wasn’t my immediate thought. I giggled. “I do like to read, and there’s a bookstore in town.”
“A couple more days kitten, we’ve just got to wait.”
15. JACQUES
I bought everything I needed to set up the ultimatedadpad. I had a smoker, a grill, and basically everything else the internet had recommended to me in order to make the best meat. We’d been in town a few weeks now and nobody was looking at us sideways. In fact, nobody looked at us at all. Maybe they’d already had their fill of gossip from the couple who’d approached us that first day, but people were treating us like we’d been living in town for years—and maybe some of them truly thought we had been
Ezra was able to go out into town alone, as long as he kept the tracker active on his phone for me. He checked in every half hour and I’d let him know if it was time to come home. According to the tracker, he went between the library, the bar, and the ice rink. He would come home and tell me about his day and the people he met. Tonight, he’d brought me a case of beer, and some veggies for the meat I’d spent all day cooking.
“It smells delicious,” he said, appearing in the double doors from the kitchen to the back, facing me. “I got supplies. You want a beer?”
I nodded, already holding out a hand for the beer. “How was your day?”
He popped the cap and walked it over. His face was all flushed. “I took the bike again,” he said.
“Take the car, it’s safer when it gets darker,” I told him.
“I like to bike it around the bay,” he said, popping a second beer cap. “And it’s just nicer to have something not actively adding to the pollution.”
I glanced toward all the plumes of smoke coming out of the smoker, all the wood burning to give the meat it’s smoky flavor. “Well, I’ve added to it enough,” I told him. “Neighborscame over again today. I forgot their names. They smelled the food. I think they were trying to get an invite.”
“Did you?” He handed me the beer as I got a better view of the rosy spots appearing on his cheeks.
“No, I’d never do something like that,” I said, taking his hand and pulling him into my arms. I pressed my nose to his nose, feeling the warmth radiating right off him. “So, what else did you do today?”
“I met up with my new friend, Jenny. She works at the bar,” he said. “And I only had one beer. Plus, then I went to the cupcake place. I think those three guys who work there are in a throuple.”
I kissed him, my hand on his lower back, and pushed his hips in deep to my body. “I love you,” I whispered into the second kiss on his lips.
“I love you too,” he said. “How long is it gonna be until dinner is ready?”
“Well, you’ve only just got back with the vegetables, so however long that takes,” I told him, giving him another kiss. “Also, did you check in with the team today?”
“Yes, yes, this morning,” he said, rolling his eyes. “The PR person is doing their best.”
“Riley,” I said. “Yes, they are. I also got a call from them. Apparently my name is out there a little more than it was. I think they’re going to begin a manhunt for you, and say I took you.” And if we were speaking on technicalities, then sure, I did take him. “Were you going to tell me what they said?”
“I was gonna tell you, but I know it’s nothing to worry about,” he said, looking all innocent with those big eyes and pout. “I promise, they said it was handled. But we’re probably going to have to go to New York soon. There’s a hearing coming up.”
I nodded. “Yep, they told me.”
