Heart bursting.
Being manhandled has never felt so swoon-worthy.
“That’s it, Babygirl.” He reads my glistening eyes. “This is why they call it ‘Being swept off your feet.’”
“God.” I laugh. “You’ve been waiting all night to say that, haven’t you?”
“Even shined my shoes for it.” He leans down for a kiss, unrelenting with his romance, but his phonepings.
It’s odd.
Loch usually leaves his ringer on silent.
Setting me down, he yanks it out of his jacket pocket, turning his head as he grumbles, “Yeah?”
Over the music and crashing waves, I can’t hear who it is. I just catch a man’s muffled voice barking, “Burned” before Loch clips, “Copy,” and hangs up.
“Who was that?”
His glare narrows, suddenly scanning the beach while he stammers, “Uh… my uh… brother. Our mom, um… burned herself with some hot coffee.”
“Oh no, is she okay?”
“Yeah.” He looks at me, forcing his focus. “Just another thing with my family. It’s okay.” He grabs my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
I let him lead me out of our party. “But where are we going?”
He glances back, winking. “Atlanta. Tonight.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
LOCH
The moment Charlestonis a hundred miles behind us, I exhale.
And the next time I see one of my brothers—I don’t care which one—I’m punching him just because.
Because this is a mountain of bullshit I’m not in the mood to hike.
No, I’m too busy lying to the woman I love, my future wife. And keeping her alive.
That whole Seattle story about my brothers? Bullshit. Axel, having a son in NICU? Bullshit.Thankfully.My mom, scalding herself with coffee? It happened years ago, but it’s bullshit now.
At least I use my family’s real names with Alena. I have to. There are too many damn lies to track otherwise.
And don’t get me started on what I’m going to do for our wedding.
If Nash would just let me tell Alena that we’re burned. That one of the crazed traffickers we’re after knows who we are—well, who Nash is—then I wouldn’t have to lie to Alena. She’d know thedanger we’re in.
Nash’s house isn’t safe now. They know where he lives. They’re chasing him. He inadvertently had Vale with him, and now they’re hiding out. All the kings and queens are on high alert because we’re being hunted.
So my hot night in Atlanta with Alena is turning into two.
All the while, she’s excited.
Like wet-pussy excited.
And what man in his right mind kills that kink for his woman?
