Page 46 of Kiss Me, Darling

I appreciated the hell out of it now.

First she removed her shirt and shorts, then the bra went and the panties were changed out. I memorized every curve. All the places normally hidden from everyone else. Then she grabbed a light robe and wrapped it around her body, tying it closed at the waist.

“Come here.”

She smiled as she climbed across the bed and lay down with her head in my lap. “It’s nice just to be alone, isn’t it?”

I ran my fingers through her hair because yeah, just being in the same place was a gift. “I never realized how much I would miss the little things.”

“Like what?”

“Like getting to see you naked.” I grinned down at her while I not-so-sneakily snuck my hand into her bathrobe to cop a feel.

“Is that all?” she teased.

“Not in the least. I’ve missed pizza night. Cuddling around you in the morning.”

“I definitely miss that.”

“Good.” I gave her breast another squeeze, then smoothed the robe back into place. “Your terrible shower singing.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Why on earth do you miss that? I’m awful.”

“You really are, but if you’re singing, I know you’re happy. You’re not self conscious at all. You’re just...having a good old time.”

“I miss lunch at the office. Take out food all over the table, projects laid out, storyboards on the wall, and you and me debating character motivations.”

I gave her scalp a light massage. “I miss that too.”

* * *

I woke up at dawn,like usual.

Also like usual, I made my way downstairs to begin meditation and yoga. The coffee was already going and Esther was yawning.

“Good morning. I’m headed off to get some sleep. Volk and Mariah have been briefed and are taking over.”

I gave the new pair a wave. “Is it okay if I go out on the deck.”

“Yeah,” Esther yawned again. “We just did the perimeter check. You’re good to go.”

“What about the motion detectors?” Volk asked. He was tall and blond and definitely looked like a bodyguard.

Mariah had a severe bun that looked like it hurt.

“Something was tripping them all night so Joe deactivated them until someone could take a closer look.”

Volk and Mariah nodded to each other. “We’ll get it taken care of today.”

The motion detectors were set up at the driveway and each of the entrances. They tried to put more around the property but there were too many animals setting it off, so they reduced the number. The driveway alarm went off all the time, but it was easy to check the camera and verify it was just one of the Assholes.

So I went out on the deck and got to my usual schedule. I took a deep breath and let it out, then closed my eyes and did it again while specifically searching out the sounds of the water lapping up onto the beach. Everything inside me settled, all my muscles relaxed, and thoughts of motion detectors and perimeter searches faded into the background.

Until I noticed a pecking sound.

Or was it a clanking? Whatever it was, it kept going. Not in a pattern, but definitely repetitive. I opened my eyes and looked around before zeroing in on the source. It was coming from the driveway gate. The same gate where the motion detector was turned off.

What the hell was going on?

---