Page 101 of Game Changer

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, remembering how soft her lips were, and how his entire being reacted to every accidental touch.

And the deliberate ones.

“You seem calmer.”

“I feel it.”

“It would seem the closer we get to her, the more at ease you get. Coinkidink? I think not.”

“How can you be so smart in some moments, yet use words like ‘coinkidink’ the next?”

“I’m an enigma,” Jeremy beamed. “Excited yet?”

AJ nodded.

I am excited. When I’m here, I’m not Mr. Britt. I’m Mr. Lisa. People here don’t know I’m fake-married. We can just be ourselves, together, and I love it. I’m looking forward to being a couple, without the wife-drama.

***

A voice announced that they had arrived in Newry and the train slowed to a stop.

This is it,he thought as he pulled his case off the luggage rack and stepped off the train onto the platform.

As soon as the train pulled away from the station, he saw her on the platform, her eyes frantically searching for him.

Beautiful.

Shit. You’re kidding me, right? I have to lug this case up and over that bridge? I feel like this is a major design flaw.

Right. Don’t grumble. Your girl is waiting across the station for you. You’re a big boy, you can carry your case – just try not to fall on your face.

He glanced at Jeremy who clearly hadn’t yet realized he was about to carry his case up a flight of stairs.

“Aw crap.”

And there it is.

“You’re kidding me.”

“We could race?”

“Or, you could go up with your case and come back for mine?” Jeremy asked, hopefully.

“Nice try, Captain Hoser. Get your ass up there!”

“You’re not the boss of me!”

AJ grinned, lifted his case by the handle on the side and started the climb. Jeremy grumbled loudly but wasn’t too far behind him.

There she is,he thought as he descended the stairs.My lovely lilting leprechaun.He grinned.Never tell her you call her that. She’ll kill you stone dead with her Irish witchcraft death-glare.

Her face broke into a beaming smile when she saw them. It was infectious. He couldn’t help but return the grin.

She’s so happy I’m here!

He picked her up, spun her around and kissed her.

Feels like home.

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