Page 56 of Taylor’s Warrior

Rhys quickly cleared everything up and stowed it back in the cool box. “My pleasure. I enjoyed it too. Especially the company.”

With the cooler pushed to one side, there was nothing between them. Rhys made himself comfortable beside her and joined her in gazing at the bright blue sky between the leafy branches arched over them. He shifted to get more comfortable. “Next time, I’m bringing pillows.”

She chuckled again. “I like the sound of that.”

“Pillows?”

“Uh-huh. And doing this again. Especially when the situation with Pops is resolved.”

She couldn’t help herself. Taylor hadn’t intended to spoil their interlude by bringing up the reason for her “house arrest” at the ranch, but the words slipped out before she could stop them.

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Rhys murmured. “I’m planning to make a trip back home before the end of the year. By then, this will be settled. How do you fancy coming with me?”

Her heart nearly skipped a beat. What did he mean by home? If it was just back to the UK, she was all for it, but if he meant “home” as in going to see his family, that was a whole different ball game. She erred on the side of caution.

“Rhys, I… I don’t want to intrude. Time with your family is special, especially when they’re thousands of miles away and you don’t get to see them often.”

He lifted the hand he was holding and pressed the back of it to his lips. “A flying visit, just to say hello and show my face. We can tour the country for the rest of the time.”

When he put it like that, she couldn’t really object. “Okay,” she agreed cautiously. “So long as the situation with Pops is cleared up, and… hey, I could always stay at a hotel while you see your family.”

Rhys rolled onto his side, resting on his elbow. “You’d really do that?”

She wouldn’t like it, but she’d do it to make his life easier. “Well, yes⁠—”

“You’d really make me face my mother’s wrath on my own because I left you at a hotel? You don’t know many Welsh mothers, Ms. Markham. I’m not having that, and I know for a fact she won’t have it, either.”

Taylor wasn’t sure whether his stern expression was for real or not. “We could see how it goes,” she offered. “I mean, meeting your family would be lovely and all, but it’s a serious move, if we’re still seeing each other by then.”

“Oh, we will be,” he stated unequivocally. “No doubt about it.”

His confidence gave her a warm feeling inside. The visit could be months off, and yet he was so certain they’d still be together. Her lips curved into a small smile. “I like the sound of that, too.”

“Good.” He resumed his former position. “So do I.”

Silence settled around them, apart from the sounds of nature. Taylor wished her mind could be as calm, but she couldn’t stop trying to analyze all the ways the situation with her father’s kidnapping might work out. Most of them weren’t reassuring.

“Okay, spit it out. What’s on your mind?”

He was that tuned into her? “I know Special Agent Livingston told us to be patient, but I can’t help wondering what’s going to happen and when. I’m frustrated about not being allowed to check the mailbox. What if there’s something waiting there? What if it’s a message from the kidnappers, and there’s a deadline? What if⁠—”

“What if you slow down, take a breath, and switch off the worrying?” Rhys leaned in for a soft, sweet kiss. “First of all, an unauthorized visit to the post office could screw up whatever the FBI are planning. Second, you know the post office has been instructed to contact the Feds if anything arrives; if and when they need you, they will contact you, and if and when they do contact you, I will be by your side every step of the way. The Las Vegas field office is working on the kidnapping as we speak, and don’t forget—it’s not just any kidnapping. There are factors that could impact national security, so that will give added urgency to the case. Like I said, as soon as they have any news, or there’s anything they need from you, they’ll be in touch.”

Taylor sighed. “You’re right. The last thing I want is to make things worse.”

“That’s better. All we need to do is sit tight and wait. I understand how frustrated and worried you are, and how much you want this to be over, but the only way we’re getting there is with patience.”

“I know. And I’m sorry to bring it up again.”

“Hey. None of that.” He kissed her forehead. “Better to get it off your chest. We both know this isn’t going to be easy, but it won’t go on forever. It can’t.”

He caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Now, how about if I make good on my promise to distract you? Like this?”

He opened with a deep kiss. At the same time, he flicked open her shirt buttons and palmed her breast over her lacy bra.

She hummed with pleasure. “Good idea. Distract me some more.”

CHAPTER 17