“And if you check, you’ll find they have clotted cream as well.”
“You really do pay attention to small things.”
“I’ve found over the years, it’s the small things that end up meaning the most.”
She nodded. “It’s funny the things you miss.”
“About Damian?”
“No, actually, when I was in the shower, I thought I liked it better when you were in it with me, which is weird.”
“How so?”
“I always like showering alone. I’ve never once invited a man to share a shower with me, but I missed you being there this morning.”
He kissed her neck. “I’ll make sure to be there when I can.”
Zara went to hop up to sit on the counter and was reminded immediately why that was a bad idea. “Sonofabitch!”
He laughed and deflected the half-assed blow she directed at him.
“Give it a couple of days, and don’t do it again. I could put you on your belly on the counter and kiss it to make it better.”
“I thought you said we don’t have time for that.”
“We don’t, really. I could just tell Thom to stay outside until I’m done having at you.”
“Will you ever truly be done?” she teased.
“Doubtful. I’ll probably be hounding you even after I’m dead.”
He started preparing the filling for an omelet.
Zara’s heart clutched. “That’s not funny, Noah. Please don’t say things like that.”
“Shhh, sweetheart. I have no intention of getting myself killed. I am one hard sonofabitch to kill, and now, I have you to make me want to make it back home. Does it bother you to think about Damian?”
“Not really, and I feel bad it doesn’t. It isn’t that I didn’t love or care for him, but we lived such separate lives in so many ways. Does it bother you if I talk about him?”
Noah shook his head. “If something were to happen to me, I wouldn’t want you to stop thinking or talking about me. I would hope your memories would help you push through your grief and find your way back to happiness. I’m not afraid of Damian’s ghost.”
“And there you go being all kind and sensitive. It really was much easier resisting your charm when you were tranq’ing me in the ass and beating me.”
“I don’t beat you, and you know it. As you said earlier, resisting me was a losing proposition for you even then.”
“You think you’re irresistible?” She rolled her eyes.
“No, I think you and I were inevitable. And I think, for you, I’m catnip for your very greedy pussy.”
The heat of her blush spread across her cheeks. What was it about him that called to her in such a fundamental way? He was a primitive force of nature yet could make her feel shy and unsure of her own footing.
“And what am I?”
He turned from the cutting board and bussed her lips.
“I told you… you’re my everything.”
“I’m going to remind you of that the next time you have me facedown over your knee, spanking me.”
“Sweetheart, I’m never more aware of it than when I have my hands on your ass.”
Zara laughed in spite of herself. He really was insufferably arrogant and incredibly wonderful. She left him in the kitchen, intending to sit on the couch. Thinking better of it, she went back into the bedroom and returned with the two bed pillows. Noah turned around and cocked his eyebrow, the hint of a smile playing across his lips.
“Not one word out of you.”
“Not a peep. By the way, I notice you appropriated my sweater this morning. I have to tell you, I rather like that you seem to keep doing that.”
They shared breakfast, and Noah went over some of the safety protocols already in place. He also showed her where all the guns were kept in case of an emergency.
“I’ll double-check with Thom, but my guess is this vintage-looking seeded glass is actually bulletproof.”
“You think they could have had all the windows replaced in that amount of time?” she asked.
“You’d be amazed what a little flex of reputational muscle and a lot of money can accomplish. Thom is the best at wielding both. We may have had this place in the works for a while. That’s more on the operational side, something I avoid like the plague.”
“Do you think Mac might be willing to sit down sometime for an interview?”
“Doubtful.”
“Not any kind of exposé. I think people would be fascinated by all you guys do, how Mac put the team together… that kind of thing. I think it would be great advertising.”
“I hate to burst your bubble, but we don’t need the advertising. Mac picks and chooses what we take on. We have a lot more business than we can handle. In fact, we’re always on the lookout for another operative. But again, that’s operational, and you’re welcome to ask him. By the way, thanks for cleaning up the kitchen. You didn’t have to.”
“I know, but I figured turnabout was fair play. You cooked it, so I tided up. Given your prowess in the kitchen, that’s a deal I’m happy to make.”
“I didn’t think it was my cooking prowess you enjoyed.”
“What can I say? I’m a lucky girl. I got a man with both. Do you think we might go for a walk on the beach?”
“I think I can arrange that. Let me finish dressing. You might enjoy seeing me half-naked, but I’m really not Thom’s type.”
“Good to know because I don’t share.”
He pulled her tight and kissed her with a dizzying intensity that made her weak at the knees.
“Neither do I.”
She watched him walk away. He really was delicious eye candy.
Noah showered and was pulling on the loose-knit cotton sweater as he re-entered the sitting room. She saw him notice the flowers he’d picked for her on the coffee table and smile. He stretched his hand out to her, and she took it as they headed outside.
The property was truly inspiring. Noah pointed out its strategic location and setting. She enjoyed hearing what he had to say and liked that he was so willing to share things with her and not try to keep her at arm’s length from what he did.
“It’s too bad they don’t have a boat,” she said.
“I’ve been wondering about that. For an escape, you’d want something with a motor, but to accommodate that, we’d have to build a dock. I plan to ask Thom about it. It might prove useful. Do you like the water?”
“I do. If I didn’t live in the mews in London, I’d be somewhere with water close at hand. I love this place and the one in Wales as well. Just beautiful. You go trail riding? I try to indulge myself at least monthly with a private cruise up the Thames. Very peaceful and serene. I find I can gather my thoughts there and get centered. How about you?”
“I like the water, but I’m more of a whitewater kind of guy. It’s like a very wet roller-coaster. A bit like fucking you.”
She batted at him. “You’re such a jackass.”
“I can’t be a jackass.”
“Oh, but you are.”
“No, Croft is the jackass. Ask Finn. He says he now thinks of it as her pet name for him.”