Page 56 of Johnny Gun

But our prez isn’t involved.

Blade told him. I think Deacon doesn’t believe him. He’s riding anyway.

What about the Wolves? Are they standing down?

No idea.

Find out whatever you can. I’m blind and deaf down here. I depend on you for info.

Count on me. You guys okay?

Yup. Good place.

Cool. TTYS

Johnny dropped the phone into his shirt pocket. Now deep in thought, he resumed his climb. Deacon heading to the mother house with a few Dalton guys in tow was a surprise development, but it shouldn’t affect his and Isolde’s situation. Until Johnny got confirmation thatthe Wolves had given up on their plans to hurt Isolde, he was keeping his and her heads down.

For the time being, they were safely hidden, thanks to Barron’s genius idea to come this far south. Not even Viper or Stew would suspect Johnny had taken Isolde to Florida. Most likely, both men surmised he’d chosen from the list one of the safehouses in Tennessee or northern Georgia.

He wanted them to keep thinking that way and made every effort to cover his and Isolde’s tracks. This included calling Sydney with a burner phone, giving her a hint of their location and nothing more. The poor woman had a lot of questions, but he’d advised Isolde to hold her answers to a minimum and promise future communications.

Since his girl understood the gravity of their situation, this conversation, however short, had been enough to pacify her. She’d stopped giving him anxious looks and asking,“When can I talk to Sydney?”

When he reached the steps to the house and glanced up at the porch, Isolde was waiting for him.

“Done with breakfast?” he asked, climbing the steps.

“Uh-huh. Washed the dish and spoon. You don’t mind, do you?”

He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “’S’okay. I didn’t tell you not to do it. Let’s go inside.” He kissed the tip of hernose, then put his arm around her shoulders. “Before we go in the canoe, I’m covering you head to toe with sunscreen. There’s no canopy. I want your legs covered, so change to jeans. I found a hat you can wear. At least it’s not too hot, but we can’t take chances with the sun down here. It’ll burn anyone to a crisp. The river water around us makes it worse.”

“Really?”

“Yup. Acts like a mirror.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve visited the Florida Keys through the years, and you learn a thing or two. A bad sunburn isn’t fun. It’s not a good look on anyone, plus it hurts like hell. Your skin is so silky and delicate, I’ll bet you turn lobster red in minutes.”

Isolde flipped her head away, but she wasn’t fast enough. Johnny still caught the tense line of her lips and a slight gathering and release of her eyebrows.

“Don’t do that,” he growled.

“Do what, Daddy?” She smiled sweetly.

Oh, she was good, and her responses were fast. All her years with Deacon had trained her in the art of hiding her true emotions behind a pretense of innocent shyness. But he was onto her.

“I’m not buying this cutesy act.” Grasping her shoulder, he held her firmly in place as he bent forward and got so close, he peered into the stunning emerald variations in her eyes.

She blinked. “What?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Isolde lowered her long, dark eyelashes. God, she was so beautiful and perfect for him. His mouth tingled with the urge to kiss her eyes and silky cheeks, taste her full lips as his tongue invaded and savored her warm depths… She enchanted him to the edge of sanity and control, but this time, he kept his head.

“Stop that. I want your eyes on me. Now. I mentioned the Keys, and your expression changed. Come clean. All of it. Don’t even try to lie to me or hold anything back. You won’t like the consequences.”

“I can’t help it, all right?” Isolde spat out. Folding her arms, she pursed her lovely mouth. “You mentioned the Keys, and I thought of all the women in your life before me. Beautiful women. Experienced women. And there’s me over here, totally inadequate. How can I compete against their memory?”

---