Starting a thought, then giving up, thentrying again, Payson tried to figure out how to ask without makinghim run away again. “I’d really like to know, where did you getyour scars? Between the scars and the PTSD, I’m just thinking thereis more to you than a computer programmer that was injured in atrain wreck. And, you completely ignored the computer-nerd magazineI brought; what kind of computer programmer are you?”
Ronan bit his lip, “The kind that doesn’tenjoy reading about it.” And he stopped talking. Brick wall forsure.
“And… the gunshot wounds? Scars?”
Pausing for a moment, he finally answered, “Iwas shot. It hurt, a lot. Yes, I have PTSD. I really didn’t likegetting shot.”
That she’d already guessed, so she hadn’tlearned anything new. “What about the bigger one?”
“Which one?”
“Which one? There are more?”
That sexy half-smile forming, he shook hishead and cussed, finally marking his page and putting the bookdown. “Could you be more specific than ‘the bigger one’?”
Payson scooted closer and pulled up his shirtto show him the scar she was talking about on his abdomen. “Oh,that one. Cut myself shaving.”
Laughing out loud, she jabbed him gently atthe wound, “You’re so full of shit.”
Feigning injury, he accused, “Last night youkissed them and made them better, now you’re jabbing at my wounds.Heartless wench.”
“So, where’s the other ‘big one’?” Shedemanded.
Ronan sighed and shook his head again. Heturned away from her and pulled his shirt over his head to reveal arough, furrowed wound taking up most of his right shoulder blade.Payson delicately ran her fingers over the angry burn scar, voicesoft, she asked, “Where did you get this burn?”
How had she not noticed it last night? Well,it had been pretty dark last night, and then in the shower thismorning they’d been facing each other. She hadn’t actually seen hisback. And what a nice back it was.
Turning toward her, he looked her straight inthe eyes, “Africa.”
Well, at least he might be telling the truththis time. Before she could ask more, he held her chin and pressedhis lips to hers. “Please. I want to say more, but I really can’t,not yet.” Without leaving her any room to object, he pulled heronto his lap. Palms gliding up her thighs, he slid her skirt up,shifting her panties to the side.
“Ronan…” She tried to argue, but she quicklygave in to his obvious diversion as his thumb rubbed her sensitiveclit, his fingers plunging in and caressing her from both sides.Tension building inside her, she tipped her head back and rockedagainst him.
20
After another amazing night and day of sex and videogames and spectacular French food, the storm was over. Lightfiltered in through the soft clouds as the sun rose on Mondaymorning. The sky was quiet, no more snowfall, the wind no more thana gentle breeze, the ocean calm. Ronan laid awake in bed, Paysonwrapped around him, sleeping soundly.
Back to reality. Reality sucked. He’d made ahuge breakthrough over the weekend and had felt more like himselfthan he had in a very long time. Anxiously, he anticipatedregressing a little when they returned to town. The hustle andbustle, strangers walking around who could be out to kill him, thenoise of the day and the isolation of night.
He’d have to call Sara for an update. Didthey have the asshole who shot him yet? They’d pronounced him dead,or at least, the him everyone but the select few knew. In alllikelihood, no one was looking for him, but he just couldn’t let itgo. Something didn’t smell right about the whole thing.
Young’s brother had known exactly where andwhen to find him. Had been waiting. Couldn’t have trailed him tothe flat, as the shooter was in perfect position across the streetseconds after he’d walked in the door. If he’d been one flat up orover, they wouldn’t have been able to make such an accurateshot.
His covers had been blown thanks to the intelYoung had gleaned, but that had been a newer identity. Where hadYoung’s brother, Connor, obtained that information?
Payson stirred, breaking him from the painfulmind games he’d tortured himself with since he’d first woken fromthe attempt on his life. “Can’t we just stay here forever? Thisplace is ridiculously relaxing.” Her eyes still closed, her voicesleepy as she snuggled closer, which he hadn’t realized waspossible with how tightly she’d clung to him already.
Gently brushing her hair out of her face, hesmiled softly, “I can’t say I would object to that. Might get a bitpricey though. And I’m not sure either of us could do nothingforever.”
“Good point.” She un-clung and rolled offhim, heading into the bathroom.
Watching her walk away, his heart did alittle lurch. Fuck. Didn’t matter what he did, he was going toscrew this up. It wouldn’t take her much longer to figure out hishistory and be furious with him for the lies. Not that he wastrying very hard to keep it from her.
She wasn’t likely to forgive him if he gotpulled back out on a mission. He’d promised Sara he was willing togo in for one last op if it meant tracking down those damn weapons.Worse, he still didn’t trust that the Young brothers wouldn’t trackhim down eventually.
If they did, would he be able leave and nevercome back - if it came down to that? If it meant keeping her safe,he’d have to.
Even if they didn’t, and he was just beingparanoid, what the hell was he going to do with himself? He wasenjoying working around Payson’s shop, but he couldn’t do thatforever, could he?
