Soaring (Magdalene #2)(145)

“Hey,” I said into it.

“Hey back,” Mickey replied. “Almost on our street.”

“Okay, honey, I’ll be over at your place. Quick kiss then you can hit the sack.”

“See you there.”

We rang off and I stared a little guiltily at the fire I’d left burning and fell asleep in front of (though, who would have imagined I could ever fall asleep waiting for Mickey coming back after fighting a fire). I shut off the gas, waited for the flame to die out then slid my feet into my slippers that looked like they were made of sweater material, with sequins on the knit and a fluffy trim of fake fur. They were warm but they also had a plastic sole with traction.

Then I took off, dashing down the hall and out the front door.

I slowed my step as I made my way down the walk.

I speeded it up as I saw the lights of Mickey’s SUV coming down the street.

I darted in a half-jog, half-walk up Mickey’s drive, doing this following his SUV.

I slowed again as he got out of his truck but only because I was nearly upon him.

I didn’t wait for him to close the car door before I threw myself in his arms.

As mine closed around him, his wrapped tight around me and I could feel his breath stirring the hair on top of my head.

“Fuck, you smell good,” he murmured.

“Took a bath before bed to relax,” I replied to his chest.

“Mm…”

I felt his sound through my cheek and it vibrated deep in my belly.

We held on a while and when Mickey stated gently, “I’m good, Amy,” I tipped my head back to catch his eyes.

“Yeah,” I whispered.

He cupped my jaw with a hand. “You worried.”

“I was terrified out of my mind,” I told him the absolute truth but did it in a quip and then delighted in his chuckle.

He thought I was joking.

And he would think that, forever.

I would never lie to Mickey about anything else.

But so he could do what he loved to do to protect the citizens of Magdalene without a thought of the worry it caused me, I’d hide that from him for as long as he gave his time to the MFD.

Then he said something to me that, not with his words but with the strength he assumed I had in sharing them, was one of the biggest compliments he could give me.

“It was arson, Amy.”

I stared up at him. “Really?”

“Chief’s callin’ in an investigator. We don’t have one workin’ for the county because we don’t need one. But it was not one fire that spread. We found fire origin in three of those shops. We saw it. We know it. Bobby wants someone to make it official so Coert’s got everything he needs.”

“Who would do that?” I asked.

“No clue,” he answered. “Could be some issue with those shops or that development. Could be we got a fire bug.”

Oh, God. No.

I hid the panic at the very idea of that and what it would mean to the boys of the MFD, primarily Mickey, when I saw the fatigue gathered around his eyes and said, “Okay, honey. It’s out now and all’s good. But it’s late so I need to let you go so you can get some rest.”

“Okay, baby, kiss first.”

I nodded, rolling up on my toes as he bent into me and we shared a quick, sweet kiss that was a little wet since, during it, he touched his tongue to mine.

I rolled back and whispered, “Glad you and all the guys are safe, Mickey.”

“Me too, babe.”

I gave him a squeeze and ordered, “Go to bed.”

“Right,” he muttered, bending in for another lip touch before I pulled away and moved away so he could get out of his car door and close it.

“Sleep well,” I told him, grabbing his hand and leaning back into him.

“Will do. You too.”

“Will do. ’Night, honey.”

He tightened his hand in mine before letting it go on his, “’Night, Amy.”

I grinned, turned and walked away only to stop and turn around when he said loudly with great humor, “Jesus, darlin’.”

“What?” I asked.

“Only my heiress would have fluffy slippers with sequins on ’em.”

I loved it that with the night he had, he was smiling and I’d done something to make him do it.

Thus I went for more.

“There’s not much I do to keep up the Bourne-Hathaway name, but I feel it’s a moral imperative to wear appropriate heiress slippers.”

He shook his head and ordered, “Go home.”

“You got it,” I replied, turned and strolled back to my house.

This time, I didn’t do it letting Mickey watch me in my yoga pants and sequined slippers.

I did it turning once and waving hard, with a big smile.

He also had a big smile and he jerked up his chin.

I didn’t hear the garage door go down and I would see as I was closing my front door that Mickey waited at the rear bumper of his SUV for me to get home safely even though I lived right across our usually sleepy but at that hour, now totally comatose street.

My guy was a good guy.

I locked the door and then jumped a mile when I heard, “Mom.”

I turned, hand to my chest, heart hammering, to see Olympia in the shadows.