Soaring (Magdalene #2)(152)

I looked at him. I looked in those beautiful blue eyes that were now bruised. Worried about his girl. Wanting to fix things. A provider. A protector. Powerless against ugly memories that were still being made.

I wanted to tell him I loved him. I wanted those words to be the magic words I could say that would sweep away the pain. If even for a brief flash of happy, take it all away and send him soaring.

But it was too soon. Neither of us had gotten anywhere near that. In our one-step-at-a-time relationship that included us building it at the same time taking our positions in each other’s families, which would ultimately lead to blending those families, I was spending my first night in his bed under his roof with his kids there.

That was enough for now.

So I gave him that, pushing forward and putting my hands to him, then my weight to him as I kissed his chest, lifted up and kissed the base of his throat and finally snuggled close.

He curved his arms around me.

“The good news is she opened up to me. That means, maybe I can see where that will lead and get more,” I remarked.

“Yeah, that’s the good news.”

He didn’t seem fired up about it.

Then again, he had to see that candle every day probably dozens of times a day and do it knowing what it meant.

I decided to change the subject.

“Thanks for taking care of me tonight.”

He straightened his legs and turned, drawing me closer before he tangled us together, one of his hands gliding up and into my hair to cup the back of my head so he could press my face to his throat.

When he was done doing that, he muttered, “Somethin’ else I can give you.”

“Something you’re good at giving,” I told him. “It was a terrible day. But it was good night.”

“Yeah.”

“Though, in all honesty, you don’t get all the credit. Peanut butter Rice Krispie treats with chocolate chips did a fair amount of the work.”

I heard the smile in his voice when he asked, “A fair amount?”

“However, I must admit to being alarmed Mrs. McMurphy knew about my secret coding machine.”

His body started shaking with his chuckles.

I cuddled closer and kissed his throat.

I settled in and shared, “But you did help. A little bit.”

“Good I could help…a little bit,” he replied, still lightly chuckling.

“And you may be the only man on earth who notices toiletries and has the courage to brave the cosmetics section of the mall to buy his girlfriend moisturizer,” I remarked.

I felt him shift and tipped my head back to see him looking down at me.

“Selfish,” he stated.

“I’m sorry?” I asked.

“Break this seal, can’t be resealed. And it’d suck for you since you’re gonna be in my bed a lot to have to drag your shit back and forth all the time. So now that won’t suck for you.”

Oh my God, he was right.

The seal was broken and now…now…

Now I got more time with Mickey.

His tone lowered when he noted, “Nighties, you can tuck in your purse then shove in my drawer.”

He was okay with my shoving stuff in his drawer!

I shivered even as I smiled, big.

He saw the smile but I knew he felt the shiver when he said, “Fuck you in the morning, baby, when I know the kids are out.”

“Okay, Mickey.”

“Now kiss your guy so I can turn out the lights.”

“Okay, Mickey.”

I did as ordered. It didn’t get hot and heavy, but like any kiss with Mickey, I liked it a lot.

Then he turned out the lights and re-tangled himself with me.

I lay in his arms in his dark room in his bed and realized he had really good mattresses.

Mine were good too.

But I could be happy sleeping on those mattresses.

Very happy.

Doing it sleeping with Mickey.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Obviously

“Nada. Zero. Zilch. Zip. Nothing.”

Robin was reporting back on what she’d found after studying Magdalene’s finances.

“No discrepancies?” I asked, rushing around my bedroom, finishing getting ready for the evening’s festivities. “Nothing fishy?”

“Nothing fishy,” she answered. “I did some research. You know, found towns of the same size, in the same region with around the same wealth distribution. Even looked up job descriptions and salary structures. It’s all copasetic. Except maybe Magdalene’s Fire Chief has a slightly elevated pay packet. But then again, as a coastal town and county, your wealth distribution is higher, as is cost of living, so that isn’t surprising.”

She’d really done the work. I was impressed.

I was also let down.

I didn’t know why, because I didn’t know what I expected to find.

Perhaps all the firehouses in towns like Magdalene had crappy microwaves, outdated kitchens and old TVs (until someone got new donated, that was).

Even though I didn’t know what drove me to check, I was glad I did it if only to know there actually wasn’t anything suspicious about it. That said, I wouldn’t have minded if there was something meaty to sink my teeth into so the guys would could demand a decent kitchen.

But it was what it was.