Witness Pursuit (Bodyguards #1)

“In the southern quarter.”


“Well, that narrows it down to a quarter of Auckland’s population, what three-hundred thousand?” He frowned. “Why so secretive?”

“Sorry.” She’d try harder, and keep to the subjects she could. “Of all my siblings, I’m the youngest, and my birthday’s tomorrow. I turn twenty-one.” A burn of need raced through her to tell him more, but she shoved it down. “To be honest, I’m not after anything long term.”

“What do you want?”

“However long we’re on board this ship, but no more.”

“You’re saying what happens here, stays here?”

“Yep.”

“What if I want more?” He leaned in, his gaze dropping to her lips. “That is, after I kiss you.”

“Kiss me, and you just agreed to my offer. It’ll seal the deal. Otherwise don’t.”

“And I thought you were nervous.” He grinned and kissed her, long and slow, with stealthy precision. Oh, she was in trouble. Then he continued to deal, deepening their kiss and turning the heat in her blood to fire. Every inch of her sizzled, burned, and throbbed to get closer.

She pushed him back and slid over him. “I liked the look of your bed earlier.”

“I saw, and I wanted you in it.” He tightened his hold on her, and kissed her, until her heartbeat thumped like thunder in her ears.

“I like how you kiss,” she whispered against his lips.

“Closer, Lee.” He pushed one of his legs between hers, locking their bodies tight. “Ahh, much better. What?” His head jerked up. “No way.”

She stiffened. Was that footsteps? “Is someone coming?”

“Yeah, we’re about to have company.” He fixed her top, which had ridden up with his explorations, then eased out from under her. “Sorry, let me sort this.”

He headed for the door as it opened and Liam strolled in. “There you two are. Look, Nico, I found Uncle Tyler and Lydia.”

Nico chased through under his father’s arm.

“Found, but now you need to get lost. We’re busy.” Arms crossed, Tyler tapped one foot. “Like very busy.”

“This is a public room.” Liam glanced at the screen. “Nico’s after a movie, and to watch one with Lydia.”

“Right now?” Tyler narrowed his gaze. “What don’t you understand about busy?”

“Daddy, what about the smurf movie?” Nico already had it off the shelf.

“Check with Lydia if she’s seen the smurfs.”

Her body hummed with want, but Nico’s face glowed with childlike delight, and she couldn’t turn him down if he wanted to watch a movie with her. “If it’s the latest one, I haven’t. Put it on, Nico.”

Tyler held up a waylaying hand. “Hey, hey. I’m sure I said we were busy.” He frowned at her. “And stop encouraging these two.”

Liam slapped his shoulder as he passed him then dropped onto the other couch and kicked up his legs. “No encouragement needed. We’ll happily stay.”

Oooh, if looks could kill. She was glad she wasn’t on the receiving end of Tyler’s glare.

“I swear, thirty-two years as your brother has been plenty.” Still he helped Nico load the new DVD.

Nico bounced off toward Liam and snuggled up in front of him.

Tyler returned to her and plopped down. “This is ridiculous.”

She nestled into his side. “But it’s family time. That’s more important than anything else in the world. And look, there’s Smurfette. She’s cool.”

“Cool? How’s that?” he grumbled.

“Smurfette has ninety-nine brothers.” She chuckled. “That’s how it works. All the other smurfs in the village are her brothers. Don’t you love that?”

“I have three and that’s plenty.” Pointedly said. “But I do like the concept of having the only girl in the village all to myself.”

She slid her hand over his thigh. “Later. I promise.”

Her agreement had him leaning in, his voice a rough whisper in her ear as he said, “No interfering brother of mine will keep me from you, or at least not for long.”

She popped a kiss on his cheek. “To being on board.”

He shifted restlessly. “And to deals being sealed.”

Oh boy, she couldn’t wait to live.





4




“It’s such a warm night.” Lydia brushed the sides of her summery yellow dress. Knotted lightly around her neck, cotton ties tickled her back from the breeze coming through the dining room windows behind where she sat.

“We’re only a half day out from the islands. Did you enjoy the meal?” Tyler, like his brothers, had dressed formally for dinner in dark pants and a tie. Opposite her at the table, he grinned.

“The fish melted in my mouth, and I’ll stake the chef if he doesn’t give me the recipe for the white sauce. Not that I can cook, but Saria can.” So delicious, and he still had a spoonful of the raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake left on his plate from desert. “You want to share that?”

“You already had double servings.”

“You’re keeping count?”

“I keep count of everything.”