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“Uh, some kind of sword, right?”
“King Arthur’s sword. My son will love me again when I give him that.”
I frown, not sure how to respond. After what his son said about Eli’s absent fathering methods, I’m not sure he’ll ever forgive him. At least if Eli returns the jewelry, he might not threaten him again.
“Oh…” Eli stops, smiling at the dog sitting just off the side of the path. The dog looks intelligent, maybe a Belgian Malinois, but I’m unsure. Its ears perk up as Eli approaches, hand raised. “What a pretty boy you are.”
“Maybe you should hang back, Eli,” I murmur. “We don’t know if he’s friendly.”
Suddenly, the dog turns and darts across the park. He ducks under a bench and springs across the field, then leaps off a fallen log and right into the arms of my man. I laugh in delight as I watch Sam cradling the dog to his chest. The laughter causes Sam to turn, and then he grins, putting the dog down and walking over.
The dog walks at his side without a leash. Almost glued to his hip, he’s so close. Sam is wearing a shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his smile even more alluring in the day’s light, the spark in his eyes more intense.
He stops just short, glancing at Eli. “Hello, sir.”
“Eli, this is…” I pause. “Sam.”
Eli beams, looking at me, then looking at Sam, then looking at me again. “I’ve half a mind, some say, but I can see. I can see, girl. This is the watcher, aye? The cameraman. The red light shining. Am I wrong?”
“No, you’re right. Sam is the one who gave us the apartment. I mean, loaned us.”
The bad thing about the daylight is I feel much more seen than in the dark or over text.
“Eli’s the name,” Eli says, offering Sam his hand. Sam takes it, and they shake. “So tell me, Samuel, how long did it take for you to fall in love with Katy?”
CHAPTER 19
Sam
While watching Katy, I never stopped to think about how awkward it would feel to see Eli and Angela in the flesh. I haven’t watched them, really, but they’ve been there in the background. Now, Eli’s just asked me how long it took to fall in love with her.
A second, I could tell him—less than.
It was the first time I saw her photo. If love is anything, it’s this hunger dominating my every move and thought. This fierce certainty holds onto me tightly, never giving me time to doubt if she’s the one. There’s no space, no desire for space, just a steamy, loving world with my woman.
Katy looks downright perfect. Her hair is down in soft waves. Her dress has bright colors, but the material makes me almost savage. It settles against her body, dappling her breasts, belly, and hips. I wonder if anybody’s checking her out, cautioning myself to calm down.
Her mouth is open. Shock registers in her eyes. “Uh, Eli…”
“A fair question to a fair knight,” the older man says, chuckling with an endearing quality as he leans against his cane. “Or is that not love I see in your eyes, eh?”
“I’m sorry,” Katy says, shooting me a look. “Eli loves to joke.”
But there’s no joke here, and part of me wonders if she knows it. She can sense the feelings radiating from me. What I feel shouldn’t be possible. It’s fueled mostly by text messages, but I don’t give a damn.
After a pause, Eli places his hand on his chest. “I’m guilty of the charge, I’m afraid. I’d ask you to arrest me, but I don’t see any handcuffs.”
Katy’s face turns pale. I’m not sure what to say. Eli isn’t being pervy or suggestive. He has a playful, almost detached tone. Anyway, he can barely walk. He must be pushing ninety.
“Why are you turning into such a ghost?” Eli asks Katy.
“It’s… uh… I thought… nothing.”
I turn away to hide my smirk. Katy was thinking about last night and the handcuffs. I can still hear them rattling against the bedframe as she strained against them, her pleasure twisting through her.
“Alas, I have overstayed my welcome,” Eli says. “On my journey goes. I shall bid thee goodbye.”
“Wait.” Katy steps forward before he can leave. “You’re not really going to ride the subway for three hours alone, are you?”
“Excuse me?” I step forward, shaking my head. “Eli, sir, I can’t allow that.”
The older man grimaces up at me, eyes narrowed. For a second, I see a glimpse of the young man he was. “You shall neither allow nor disallow a single action of Private Elijah Woodsworth.”
I nod. “I understand, sir, but… Listen, I know you could do it. I know you’ve got the grit to ignore the aches and pains in your body and get through it. Believe me. I went through BUDs. I know.”
