Page 50 of The Devil and the Dancer
She wrinkled her nose. “Dead?”
“Cold. No breath. It’s not attractive.”
She shuddered. “I’m sure I’ll get used to the idea eventually, but right now I can’t imagine.” She snuggled against him. “I hope you don’t have to go anywhere tonight.”
He shook his head. “I took the night off.”
“Nice. I switched shifts with someone at work without telling my boss. I hope he doesn’t fire me.”
A laugh rumbled in his chest. “Me too. I’ve heard you talking about him. Sounds like a right dobber.”
She looked up with laughing eyes. “He’s not so bad.”
“Let’s hope not.”
“I packed three boxes today. Abe will have to help me move them. And most of my clothes are packed in my suitcases. I borrowed a couple of Ben’s too.”
Satisfaction. Warmth.Victory.
He’d keep quiet about the sense of victory. “I can also help. I’m quite handy at carting around objects as long as I have access to roofs.”
Her eyes went wide. “You are, aren’t you?”
“You just realized I could take you flying, didn’t you?”
Chloe’s cheeks flushed. “Ahhh, yeah? But I’m not sure I want to.”
He pinched her bottom. “We’ll work up to that.”
“Do you have a harness… or something? Like one of those skydiving things they use for tandem jumps?”
Gavin burst into laughter. “D’ye think I’m going to drop ye, lass?”
“I don’t know!” She slapped his shoulder. “Maybe?”
He pulled her mouth to his. “I’d never. Never ever.”
“Okay. Just put it down to my own nerves, okay? I told you I wasn’t adventurous.”
His heart gave a soft, quiet thump. “Just adventurous enough to love me.”
She crossed her arms over his chest and set her chin on them. “You’re not a risk, Gavin. I’d say you’re a solid investment.”
He twisted a curl around his finger. “Love you, dove. More than I can even tell you.”
“It’s nice to be told.” She reached for his hand and knit their fingers together. “It’s even nicer to be shown.”
“D’ye love me, Chloe Reardon? I’ll never get tired of hearing it.”
“I love you, Gavin Wallace. Let me show you how much.”
Epilogue
Gavin looked up from the trade magazine he was reading. “What’s that sigh?”
“Oh nothing.” Chloe shook her head and set her tablet down. “Nothing really. I have to stop opening these emails.”
They were sitting in the apartment, and a dance competition show was on television, but Chloe was checking her email during the commercial break.
