Page 25 of Swan

That I wouldn’t get more time with him.

It still made my breath catch that this was reality.

He really was sitting next to me.

“Swan, what do you say?”

“Sorry?” I asked.

He smiled. “Your mum offered for me to stay here again tonight before I go back to Melbourne tomorrow afternoon. I was hoping you’d come for a drive to the hotel to grab a few things?”

Mum did? My belly fluttered at the thought of being alone with him.

I glanced at Dad and found him staring Mum down while she ignored him.

Dad suddenly stood, which had Mum cursing at him since she got bumped. “We’ll all go,” he announced.

“What? No!” I shouted and then covered my mouth with my hand, my cheeks flaming.

Mum patted Dad’s arm. “He’s joking.”

“I don’t think he is,” Nicky commented, smirking.

Mum glared at him and looked to us. “He is. We’re not going anywhere.”

Dad’s jaw clenched before he unlocked it to tell Mum, “They’ll need security.”

“I have security at the hotel. I’ll call them on the way and let them know we don’t want to be seen,” Lockland offered.

Dad slowly turned to glare at him. “It could still happen.”

I stood. “It doesn’t matter if we are.” Reaching down, I picked up Lockland’s hand and tugged it until he stood too. “We’ll be back later. I have my phone and my keys.” Dad opened his mouth. “Yes, Dad, I have my illegal Mace. Not that I think I’ll need to use it.” I pulled Lockland out of the room, calling, “Bye.”

“Bye,” Mum yelled.

“Later,” Nicky said.

And I was sure I heard a grunt from Dad, which was better than nothing.

Once outside, I looked up at Lockland. He was already staring down at our clasped hands. I quickly dropped his, not realising I still held it.

“Sorry.” I tried for a laugh. “I just didn’t want to leave you behind while we escaped.”

He grinned, which made my stomach roll pleasantly. Then it happened again when he tucked some of my hair behind my ear. “Thanks for the save.”

I nodded.

Lockland retook my hand and led me to the hired car he’d come in. I presumed it wasn’t his since he lived in America.

I swallowed.

He lived overseas.

He wouldn’t be in Australia for much longer.

I was going to lose him again.

Pressure pressed down on my chest.

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