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I feast my eyes on this amazing, brilliant, prickly woman who has agreed to live with me. Praying that we might make this relationship work and find our happy ending. Thinking about the surprise I have planned for our time in Scotland and the threat from Nasim Faez that I can’t bring myself to reveal, a frisson of nerves runs through me. Hope I’ve judged this right.
Fire lights up her eyes as she moves closer, and puts her hands on my shoulders. Balancing on tiptoe, her tongue caresses my lips. With a sigh of pleasure, I pull her closer, and move my tongue against hers, deepening the kiss. And time disappears.
ChapterSix
Max
When the bell rings, I saunter to the door. Cress is taking a shower after the kitchen cleanup. Through the glass doors, I spy JL. He leans against a column.
I glance at my wrist to check the Codebreaker watch Cress gave me for Christmas. The stainless-steel case glints, highlighting the white stitching on the rich blue band made from the same leather used for the seats in Jaguars. This watch is the very embodiment of me—spy and racecar enthusiast—as well as the family connection through my great uncle, Munro Innes. “Aren’t you a bit early?”
He raises an eyebrow. “I assumed you would want me to be here before the lovely Amy arrives.” His French-Canadian accent is strong tonight.
I grimace, then gesture JL inside and take his coat. “What about Amy?”
He shrugs. “Elle est parfois difficile a supporter.”
I nod. “True. She can be a bit bolshie. Not sure what Erik sees in her.”
A wide smile creases his face. “Sex.” He rubs his hands together. “I thought I could be a buffer tonight. I hope this doesn’t blow up in our faces.”
“Where’s Micki?”
“She’ll be here in…” He pulls out his cellphone. No fancy watches for him. “Half an hour. She had to go into work for a bit.“
“She’s been working late all week. Her firm has a big court case coming up.” Cress’ comment rings out from the kitchen.
“It’s unfortunate. Many times, I have to feed her at midnight.” He yawns ostentatiously.
I clap him on the shoulder and move into the lounge where Cress waits, holding out two flutes filled with prosecco. A smile makes her hazel eyes sparkle. She rolls her R’s like Piaf as she hands him a flute. “Bon soir, mon cher, JL. Cette une belle soirée.”
“Bien sûr.” JL kisses his fingers and wafts the kiss over to her.
“None of that. Save your romantic gestures for your own woman and leave mine alone.” I take my glass and slump into the armchair.
“Are you two an item?”
“An item? Like in a newspaper?” He grabs his flute and gulps down half, sputtering a bit from the bubbles.
“I’ll grab my glass.” Cress slides around JL and runs off to the kitchen. I appreciate the view of her arse until she turns the corner.
JL hasn’t looked up from his drink. “Not yet, but maybe soon? She’s definitely not ready to commit. And Sam…” He bares his teeth and growls.
“Sam is still in the picture?” After the incident last December, I can’t imagine she’d have anything to do with him. “Cress hasn’t mentioned anything.”
“He keeps himself in the picture. Filthy text messages. Showing up at her place. I’ve asked her to stay with me so I can protect her, but of course she refuses.”
“We both love independent women.”
“Love? I don’t know if I’d take it that far.”
“After that Valentine’s Day karaoke fest?” I drain my glass and fold my arms across my chest. “Keep telling yourself that.”
The cats stalk in and sniff at JL’s shoes. “Did you step in something?” I ask.
JL ignores me.
“Who are you talking about?” Cress stands in the doorway, sipping her wine.
