Page 92 of When Annika Met Thom

“Got it,” Thom said, then handed her a motorcycle helmet instead. He reached for Percival’s cage. “Hold that and I’ll get the rest.” When she hesitated, he almost smiled and the sight shook her world. “Only room to lock up one helmet.”

Annika took the helmet, then Thom transferred the cage to his other hand, holding it along with the smaller suitcase. He caught her around the waist and lifted her out of the train, retreating to the middle of the platform where her other bag had been placed. He smiled at her, his satisfaction evident, and she kicked her feet happily as the whistle blew and the train pulled away. The wind from its departure made her hair sweep around them, but she didn’t care.

There was only Thom. Thom and his arm locked around her waist. Thom and his smoldering stare. Thom and that sexy little smile curving his mouth.

“Hi,” she whispered.

“Hi. You look good.”

“You, too. You shaved your beard.”

“It comes and goes.”

“I like you like this.” She ran her fingertips along his jaw, watching how he caught his breath at her touch. She leaned down to touch her nose to his, inhaling deeply of his scent. “You could put me down.”

“Not a chance.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“I thought you were coming home.”

Annika smiled. That was exactly right. “Yes, I’m coming home to you.” She brushed her lips across Thom’s then, loving the taste and the feel of him, savoring this first caress. And then she slanted her mouth over his, deepening her kiss, loving how he gripped her more tightly and kissed her back.

They were breathless when she lifted her head and her vision was glazed with tears. Thom put her down with obvious reluctance, then the bags. He framed her face in his hands and wiped away her tears with his thumbs, then kissed her again. Annika felt cherished and happier than she’d been since she left town.

The platform was empty by the time Thom picked up her bags and the cage and started toward the exit.

“You don’t have to carry everything.”

“Indulge me.”

“I know I shouldn’t have called so late but I thought you might not want to hear from me.”

She got a hot look for that, one that made her toes curl. “I’ve been waiting.”

“Really?”

“It’s sixty days today since you first arrived at Leo’s apartment. I had a feeling you’d turn up today.”

“Because I’m officially out of the rebound zone.”

His smile broadened and his eyes glinted. “Officially.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what was in my head. I should have said thirty days. Maybe ten.”

Annika laughed and he led her to the vintage motorcycle parked at the curb, then secured her bags to the carriers on either side of it. Annika smiled that he seemed to have anticipated her luggage: there was even a bracket straight out the back that was the perfect size for Percival’s cage.

Thom bent down to look at Percival. “Hey buddy,” he said softly. “How was the trip?”

Percival clearly recognized Thom because he barked happily and ran a lap around the cage. The way he barked always made Annika smile—it sounded more like a chirp.

“Home soon and you can check it out,” Thom told the ferret. “Cerberus knows something is up so she’ll be waiting.”

Annika closed the covering so Percival wouldn’t be buffeted by the wind.

“You got your bike running,” she said, trying to hide that she already knew that.

Thom nodded. “I found a mechanic in one of the forums who had a parts bike. Same make and year. I bought a lot of parts from him and he even talked me through some of the work. Great guy.”

“Oh, where does he live?” Annika asked innocently.

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