Except his warm hand was still holding mine.
I merely couldn’t see it.
“Oh, my goodness!” I shrieked, patting thin air until I found his invisible chest. “That is awesome!”
A snicker came from above me. “It does have its advantages. Like, I’m looking down your top right now, and you don’t even know it.”
I smacked his chest again—a little harder. “Play nice. I’m just immortal.”
His body returned into my vision, tall and muscular. A god-man. With eyes the color of the sun.
My cheeks pinched from smiling so much. “That is really neat.”
“And useful. I’ll probably use it tonight.” He bent and kissed the top of my head, the elevator door finally opening. “It’s amazing what people discuss when they think no one is around.”
Our joined hands swung back and forth between our bodies while we strolled to the glass front door. My eyes were caught on his, and I allowed myself to fall into them—a little. I asked candidly, “Do you have a plan for how you want to take him and his businesses out?”
“I do. I just don’t know the location yet.”
“We’ll figure it out. His boxing rings are all over the city. Just figure out the time and which place, then we’ll tempt him.”
“That’s the idea.” He smiled down at me and opened the front door. “Ladies first.”
I giggled and hopped out onto the sidewalk. I glanced at him over my shoulder, winking and showing my minimal curves to their best advantage. “You’re such the gentleman.”
He growled playfully deep in his throat and lunged toward me.
I shrieked with laughter as he caught me around the waist and lifted me off my feet. I swatted at his shoulders, staring down into his face. “Let me down! Let me down!”
“Megan, is that you?” A voice from my past interrupted.
Rune froze with me in his arms, his impish grin falling from his face like whiplash. He turned his body gradually, and we both peered at the man standing next to us on the street—outsidemyapartment building. From my lifted height, I could clearly study the bald spot on top of his head that he had forever been trying to hide. My fingers dug into Rune’s shoulders. He wasn’t letting me down. Rune knew who the man was, but he asked with complete casualness, “And you would be?”
“Will Marshall,” he stated, a friendly smile on his face. “Megan’s father.”
The edges of Rune’s eyes crinkled in happiness, and he smiled full out. He lowered me slowly, my body sliding down his until my feet touched the ground. He held his hand out to my father, stating cheerfully, “I’m Rune Mason. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Marshall.”
My dad shook his hand, his blue eyes glinting in the light. “Call me Will.”
“And you can call me Rune.” He snapped my father’s shoulder with excitement. His arm slid around my waist and pulled me against his side. Rune glanced down at me, admonishing, “You didn’t tell me your father was coming by for a visit.”
“It must have slipped my mind.” My lips barely moved. The heart inside my chest was beating in a frantic rhythm, all my senses screaming at me to run. Fear and anxiety made my hands shake, and I quickly crossed my arms across my chest so my father wouldn’t see it. My blue eyes, identical to his, turned to stare him down. “What was the reason for your visit again?”
This man… Thishorribleman ruined everything. He was always one step ahead.
“I’m taking you to dinner. Don’t you remember, hon?” My father motioned to the private train a block down the street. “I’m sure your friend can come with us too.”
Rune’s brows rose. “Where did you have in mind? I’m sure it beats where we were headed. The scenery there is appalling.”
I shut my mouth and attempted to calm my nerves. Rune was rolling with this change in plans, obviously eager to see what kind of scheme my father was up to. I needed to do the same.
But, damn, it was so hard whenhehad always won.
It was a kick to the vagina every time.
You think you know what you’re doing?
Kick.
