Page 34 of New Storm Rising
“Are you sure?” I asked in a low voice, sending a look my dear husband’s way that made certain he knew who would be sleeping in the dog house tonight. Now, if only we actually had a dog house.
“Utterly.”
I looked back towards the poster.
“Is that so…?”
WANTED
— Dead or Alive —
Mr Boom Boom Thriller Killer
Suspected Real Name: Victor Linton
Reward: $25,000
Wanted for attempted murder, multiple counts of property damage, grievous bodily harm, and illegal gambling
If seen, immediately contact nearest US Marshal’s office
“Illegal gambling?” My eyebrow twitched. “Really?”
“Look at it this way,” Mr Ambrose pointed out, “you will not have to pay taxes on your winnings.”
I jabbed a finger at the number with far-too-many zeroes on my wanted poster. “That, Sir, does not make me feel particularly better!”
“Indeed?”
“Yes, bloody indeed! And another thing! Why the heck am I the one on the poster!Youwere the one who blew up three streets!”
Leaning towards me, he gazed down at me. Before I could move, he had captured my face in his hands, forcing me to look away from the poster and into his deep, dark, sea-coloured eyes. “Ah, but you are much more beautiful, Mrs Ambrose.”
I blushed. “Don’t you think you can sweet-talk your way out of this!” Then I blushed even deeper. Dammit!
Cocking his head, he moved closer until I could feel the heat of his breath on my lips. His thumb began stroking my cheek, making heat rise up inside me.
“Why can’t I, Mrs Ambrose?”
I swallowed. “Is…isthiswhy you had that blasted scarf covering your face?”
He leaned towards me, his eyes intent. “Mere coincidence, I assure you.”
He was so close. So close and yet still too far away to touch. If only I could just lean forward and…and…
No! Bad Lilly, Bad! You can’t just cave in because he asks you to, and he has the most beautiful face in the history of mankind, and is about to kiss—
I shook my head, trying to break out of his spell.
Which, unfortunately, just happened to lead to my lips colliding with his.
Oh, to hell with it! I’d just gotten the first bounty put on my head! I deserved a little honeymoon time—and I was gonna get it! Grabbing Mr Rikkard Ambrose by the short hairs, I pressed him against the wall, just next to the deviously smirking face of Mr Boom Boom Thriller Killer.
“You want to play games, Mr Ambrose, Sir?” I whispered, the corners of my mouth lifting in challenge. “As recently proven, I’m good at winning those. Are you sure you can take me on?”
His eyes seemed to darken as he bent down towards me, crossing the last bit of distance.
“Anytime. Anywhere.”
