Page 34 of Cherished By the Sinners

He put his arm around her, his hand landing on her hip.“I will need to addheat sourceto my resume.”

Darlene burst out laughing.“Make sure you put me down as a reference.”

Magnus smiled and laughed with her.When was the last time he had fun like this?Laughed like this?

He couldn’t remember.

His phone buzzed.He pulled it out of his pocket and looked at it.There was a message from Mason.

The two men with the cop are from England.Still trying to ascertain if they are with our British friends or not.

Magnus typed back.They don’t look like one of our British friends.

I’m running their names and faces now.

The sound of sirens trickled into the air.Getting louder and louder.The horn of a fire truck was loud enough that the patrons inside the restaurant turned their heads to search for the source of the noise.

Police and fire trucks have just pulled up in front of the hotel.Mason texted.They’re going into the hotel across the street.

See any evidence of a fire?

No, but it looks like a bomb squad truck pulled up.

“What’s going on?”Darlene asked.

“Something is happening at the hotel across the street.Police, fire trucks, and the bomb squad are all parked out front.”

A flurry of movement surged from the main hotel entrance toward the check-in desk.

Darlene hadn’t finished her meal, but he needed to see what was happening.He fired off a quick text to Anna, then got to his feet.

“I’m sorry, I need to see what is happening and if the first responders need anything from us.”

“Yes, of course.”She gave him a small smile.

He didn’t like how small she looked sitting in the booth all by herself.She rubbed her hands up and down her forearms.Right, she’d complained about being cold.

Magnus took his suit jacket off, making sure he’d pocketed his phone and hotel radio, and draped it over Darlene’s shoulders.“Will you wait for either Mason or myself to return?”

She wiggled her shoulders to settle the jacket over her.“Do you want me to?”

“Yes.Have some dessert when you’re finished with dinner.”

“Well,” she said drawing out the word.“If Ihaveto.”

He leaned down and kissed her on the corner of her mouth.Her skin was soft and she smelled wonderful.Like home.“I’ll be back soon.”He turned and strode out of the restaurant.