“Feel free. As long as you don’t share any pics in public. Or with the coven.” His hands were now in her hair and she had a feeling that at some point soon he’d be tugging on that hair when they weren’t in public.
He gave a quiet sigh. “I havegotto go in there. There’s another sack of presents to pick up. And before I take you where we’re going, I have to do a job—I was wondering if you’d help.”
His eyes were twinkling, making her forget about today’s non-event and running a hotel and anything else because nothing else right now was significant, except him. And it had been too long since anyone had made her feel that way.
“What’s the job, Maynard? I know better to agree to something without the fine print,” she said. Her fingers were under his T-shirt now, feeling his taut skin and the warmth of his body.
“It’s on our way. It involves carrying one of these bags and I can show you something amazing.” His smile was amused and happy and he was looking at her as if she was the only thing that mattered right now. Almost.
“That sounds like something a stranger would say to get a small child home with them.” She eyed him. “Not that I think you’re a creep or anything.”
“Good job.” He still had hold of her.
“You should probably do what you need to do in there,” she said, amused with his reluctance to let go.
“I’m not sure I’m willing to let you go in order to be eye-fucked by at least two members of the coven,” he said. “It sounds too much like some sort of sacrifice.”
“When you put it like that, I’m not sure I’m willing to let you go in there and be eye-fucked either,” Sorrell said, gripping just a tad harder round his waist. “How about I come in with you?”
His grin turned a little shit-eating. “Needing to make sure there’s something left of me afterwards?”
She laughed, feeling her sex get a little tighter, her body a little closer to his. “They know we’re going on a date today.”
He kissed the top of her nose. “I mentioned it. I may have mentioned it to a few more people too. It’s Severton: secrets don’t exist here.”
“Gotcha,” she said. “Let’s face your audience.”
Chapter 18
Sorrell had noticed two filled bags next to the counter when she’d handed over her parcels to Gran, but she hadn’t paid much attention to them. They were, however, what Zack made a beeline for.
“All ready to go,” Zack said, picking both up.
“As per your instructions. Are you taking them there today?” Gran tried to look serious. Tried.
He nodded. “Jake and Lee sorted out a Keter shed in the trees nearby so we can store stuff in there. We can use it for these now, and then as a place to put the climbing and diving equipment after.”
“How’s the fundraising?” Gran said. Her gaze was less predatory than what Sorrell had expected.
“Almost enough to get the helicopter,” Zack said. “Then Alex’s childhood ambition will be fulfilled.”
Sorrell’s head snapped round fast enough to give her whiplash. “Alex can fly a helicopter?”
Zack nodded. “He learned in the police. God knows how he persuaded them. But he always wanted to fly the ‘copters that went over the peaks. We’ve had to borrow one from the Lake District in the past and he couldn’t fly that. But this one will be his baby, unless he’s involved on a case. And then Jonny will fly it.”
“What if Jonny’s tackling a fire?” Sorrell said. These sounded like plans that were well laid.
“Rayah,” Zack said. “My cousin is an adrenaline junkie. To be honest, she’d be co-piloting with whoever anyway. School would let her out in case of an emergency.”
“Or piloting,” Sorrell corrected. “Why wouldn’t she be the main pilot?”
Zack shrugged. “She could be.”
“She will be,” Gran said. “Once you boys realise it was a long time ago since she did that jump. And she learned from that.”
“What jump?” Sorrell said, looking between Gran and Zack.
“A small one she did off a huge cliff into a tarn from the top of one of the peaks. Resulted in a couple of broken legs and Jonny in hospital for a week. We don’t generally talk about it now. She can get nasty if it’s mentioned,” Zack said. His hand was on Sorrell’s waist, keeping her close. She liked it; there was something about it that felt right and safe, as well as making her think about later on that night, or earlier, maybe.
