Page 55 of For Wrath and Redemption
“What are we going to do?”
Jonah laughs, but he doesn’t answer. I sigh and follow him toward a tall man wearing shorts and a polo. I can tell by his smile that he’s been waiting for us, and that elevates my already sky-high curiosity. A friend? I didn’t think Jonah had friends. Apart from the band, anyway.
When we stop in front of the man, he shakes Jonah’s hand, then mine.
“Claire, this is Davi, our tour guide. Davi, this is Claire. She’s my nanny.”
I ignore Jonah and give Davi a smile. “Nice to meet you, Davi.”
“You as well.” He looks back at Jonah. “Are you ready?”
“We’re ready.”
“Great.” He claps his hands together once and smiles. “We’ve gotthree stops today.Mosteiro dos Jerónimos,Padrão dos Descobrimentos,Torre de Belém. That’s the Jerónimos Monastery, the Monument to the Discoveries, and the Belém Tower. We will be walking. It’s a little over a kilometer, but there will be stairs. Are you up to it?”
Jonah laughs. “Claire’s up to it. She runs treadmill marathons before breakfast.”
I snort out a laugh and look up into Jonah’s playful eyes. “We might need to carry Jonah, though. He’s pitiful and out of shape.”
“Hey, I’ve been training.” He nudges me with his elbow. “But if I need a piggyback ride, I’ll let you know.”
“You’ll let José know. There’s no way you’re getting on my back.”
“We’ll see.”
His lips curl into a devious, sinful smile, and I know his comment was suggestive. My cheeks heat, and I look back at Davi. I clear my throat and then nod with a forced smile.
“Ready when you are.”
Davi takes us to Jerónimos Monastery first, and it’s fascinating. The Gothic architecture is beautiful, and as Davi tells us the history of the site, I become even more enthralled.
“This place is older than our entire country,” I whisper to Jonah as we walk through the halls, and he laughs.
“Most places over here are.”
“I never thought I’d be here, though. It’s different experiencing it in person.”
He catches me off guard by throwing his arm over my shoulders. I flinch and stiffen, his bodywash and deodorant engulfing me. I don’t move away, though. I’m too stunned. It’s taking all my focus just to put one foot in front of the other.
“Stick with me, and you’ll experience a lot more.”
A laugh bubbles out of me, so loud that it echoes off the centuries-old stone walls. His grip tightens around me as he stifles his own laugh.
“That line can’t possibly work for you.” I elbow him lightly, then shrug away. His arm drops to his side, but his smile remains fixed on his face.
“I’ll let you know.”
I shake my head, a blush once again creeping up my neck. My ears heat with the blood rush, and I look away. I don’t speak to him for therest of the monastery tour. Not even in the Church of Santa Maria, despite my desire to share my awe with someone.
Withhim.
I don’t like how quickly he’s disarmed me today. Am I that starved for affection that one kind gesture turns me into a blushing idiot? This man is horrid. He’s repulsive, and I shouldn’t be blushing over him. I must have lost my damn mind.
Jonah breaks the silence on the way to the Monument to the Discoveries, and it irritates me. While I don’t want to experience all of this alone, it’s easier to ignore my mixed feelings regarding him when I can pretend he’s not here at all.
“So?”
“Sowhat?”
