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“Penis straws?”
“I’ve got enough sisters back home to know what birds get up to.”
We stand there, watching her climb to the top. She stands, balancing on the rock. Holding her arms out to her sides in a way that makes me cuss under my breath, she shouts, “I’m queen of the world!” Shoving her hands in her pockets, she looks out over the ocean, a wide smile on her face.
“See,” he says. “She’s fine.”
“Rowan, let me ask you something,” I say.
“Shoot.” He keeps his eyes trained on her.
“What do you think of her?”
He glances at me. “Paisley?”
“Yeah.”
His voice is low. “I think she’d better stay out of the woods at night from now on.”
“You saw that?” I thought I’d picked a spot out of view, where it would just look like we were talking if we were seen.
“I was watching for it. I know you really well. I’ve picked up on you two vibing. Careful there, mate.”
“Shit. I’m sorry. I’ve crossed some lines, but it won’t happen again.” I want to rub the back of my neck but it’s freaking freezing out here. I shove my hands deeper into my coat pockets.
He changes the subject. “What do I think of our Paisley? She’s a nice girl. Pretty. Seems to be helpful back home. I’m more focused on these other bastards and keeping the younger ones from drinking on the job.” He raises a suspicious brow at me. “What do you think of her? That’s the real question.”
I shake my head, feeling stupid. “It’s nothing.”
“Too late. Spill it.”
“I just,” I say, “when she almost fell from the rock?—”
“You mean when her boot slipped a quarter inch?” he jokes.
“Yeah. I thought I was having a heart attack. I had pain in my chest.”
He stares at me for a moment. Finally, he lets out a long, drawn out, “Oooh. Shit.”
“What?”
“Aww, mate. I’m sorry.” He’s shaking his head, his full attention now on Paisley as she stares out over the sea.
“Why? What does it mean?” I ask. “Is there something wrong with me?”
“You’re in over your head, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know. I can do the job. I’m just—overly anxious this mission.” I tell him the truth. “I’m thinking of asking her to cut this whole Dora the Explorer bit short and get to Italy already.”
He continues to shake his head. “There’s nothing you can do. Even if you get away from her.”
“What do you mean? If I go back to New York and she’s in Italy, this will be over.” I take a deep breath, imagining this strange feeling inside of me subsiding. “Things will be back to normal. I’ll be focused.”
“Nope,” he says, still not looking at me, but staring at her instead. “‘Fraid not.”
“What are you trying to say?” I grab his shoulder, forcing him to face me. I instantly regret it.
There’s a look in his eyes I don’t like.
