He did as she’d hoped, bracing his weight as he went, attending to her with his heavenly kiss along the way. The exchange shifted then, to slower movements. Long, lingering kisses. Teasing, drawn-out tastes, and a tenderness that made her whimper and yearn.
Gone was the urgency he’d first kissed her with. Replaced by a series of kisses that ebbed and flowed like the ocean’s tide.
Love didn’t need to be rushed. Those were the words that ran through her mind as she indulged in the bliss of his affections—patient, slow, and all the more thrilling.
Soon they would bring the exchange to an end and sink into the world of sci-fi and aliens. But for now, she’d indulge in the moments of bliss a little longer. A small voice in the back of her mind warned that—with their relationship getting serious—perhaps she should at least hint to the secrets of her past. After all, Andie didn’t want to keep things from the man she was in love with. And if they were thinking of having a future together, he should really know what brought them to Haven Hills.
But how would her brothers react if they found out she’d shared a secret that, in essence, wasn’t hers alone? One that could, if put in the wrong hands, put them all at risk?
Chapter 19
Andie looked over the array of fresh fruit before her, wondering which she should start with. The sun was bright, her spirits were high, and Mr. Sandman had brought her some very nice dreams last night.
In truth, the real-life events from the night before were like a dream. Better, because they’d actually happened. Trenton had said that he loved her. And Andie had confessed the same. How could she have possibly known a relationship could be so good?
“Morning, Andie,” came Richard.
A sliver of dread threatened to pop her bubble. “Morning.” Hopefully he wasn’t planning to lecture her about something.
Richard came up alongside her and reached for a plate. Andie expected him to wander over to the protein and pile it high with meat and eggs like he normally did, but this time he shuffled beside her next to the fruit instead.
“I hope you haven’t been talking about things we’ve all sworn to keep private,” he mumbled low so no one would hear. Not that anyone was around to hear. It was just the two of them, as it often was this early at breakfast.
“I haven’t,” she assured. A wave of guilt pushed through her. Not because she’d said anything, but because she’d been seriously considering it.
“I’m trying to let you live your own life, Andie, I really am,” he continued, but Andie put up a hand and glanced around the dining area.
“I’m going to take my food to the outdoor tables. Why don’t you meet me out there once you get yours?”
Richard gave her a curt nod and moved over to the heated food. Andie exhaled an irritated breath as she completed her fruit bowl and headed out back. For someone as paranoid as Richard was, she’d have expected him to know better than to bring up the topic indoors. They were getting to know the staff, after all, and well she knew there were ears and eyes all around them.
Andie picked a table resting in the sunlight, the one next to the rundown shed Trenton built with Milt. It was furthest from the porch and fire pit, not that anyone was seated in either area.
Richard was quick to join her, glancing over his shoulder as he sank onto the bench.
She reached for a distraction from their prior conversation. “Have you decided what you want to add onto this place yet?” she asked. “I have a few ideas myself…” She died off there as Richard gave her the dismissive shake of his head.
He leaned over the table. “Don’t get me wrong,” he said as if their prior conversation had simply been on pause. “Trenton’s a likeable guy, he is. But that doesn’t mean you can trust him with your life. Withallof our lives. Remember what they told us about selling names…” He drifted off there and stabbed a heap of eggs with his fork.
He was referring to a tidbit given by the detective himself—sometimes people sold details to the mafia. Names and locations of people in hiding. It was a terrifying fact, one that made Andie very glad they’d wound up where they had. She had no doubt they were safe here in Haven Hills, North Carolina.
“That’s not going to happen here,” she said.
“You don’tknowthat,” he snapped. “The whole point is that we don’t only have to watch out for the mafia. We have to watch out for shady criminals who are trying to scratch up any cash prize they can get their hands on. We’re probably on some black market list or something.”
“If that’s true,” Andie replied, “then so are millions of other people. The chances that anyone would ever find us are microscopic. The detective said so himself.”
“As long as none of us breech the contract,” Richard said.
Irritation flared hot at his words. “You and I both know that the biggest part of that contract—the most important piece—is that we never contact people from our past. Trenton’s not part of my past. But Iwanthim to be part of my future.” She felt vulnerable saying it aloud. Heck, she’d only just confessed her love for him the night before. It was still new for her to admit that type of thing altogether. But to let someone like Richard know…
Her brother’s face went hard as he set his fork down and narrowed a warning look at her. “You’re going to get your heart broken. I hate to say it.”
The mere words forced a beat of panic to rush through her. “Why do you think that?”
“I don’t know how it could be any other way. Trenton doesn’t know who you are,Andie.Have you told him that that’s not even your real name?”
“Shh,” she hushed. “YouknowI haven’t.”
