Page 87 of Crossing the Line

“Now, let’s go.”

“Wait,” I quickly say.

He looks concerned. “What is it?”

“What you said about your father, the conclusion you drew…”

“Yeah.”

“It’s very beautiful.”

Even though it’s cold and I’m still shivering, we smile faintly at each other. Hercules comes in for another soft kiss. The passion in my chest wants to explode as I taste his mouth, but my nerves won’t let it. Our lips part, and he asks if I’m ready. My head feels spasmodic when I nod. Then Hercules takes my hand and leads me to the house.

* * *

Before we makeit to the porch, I notice smoke rising into the sky. It wasn’t there when we docked. His grandfather must have just made a fire. So he is home.

The grass is emerald green. What a beautiful home Mr. Hugo Lord has. That’s his name. I remember that. I love how he lives. I would live this way, too, if I could.

“You okay?” Hercules asks as we walk up the steps to the wraparound porch.

I nod stiffly. My body won’t let go of its nervousness, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel safe and protected next to the man I love. Hercules rings the doorbell, knocks once, and then takes a key out of his pants pocket and uses it to open the lock.

I gasp and give him a look of disbelief. The “really?” eyes.

Hercules holds the door open for me to enter first. “PG, I didn’t know you were such a scaredy-cat.”

My feet are glued to the porch, even though Hercules was also right about his grandfather having breakfast ready at this hour. I smell the food saturating the air, and the scent reminds me that I’m starving. “What if your grandfather has a big gun with the barrel aimed in our direction, ready to fire at intruders?”

Hercules laughs. “That’s quite a picture you’ve painted. My grandfather doesn’t own a gun. This is Canada.” He winks as he points his head at the grand foyer. “Babe, my grandfather’s house is the safest place on Earth. Now, ladies first.”

I squish my face, frowning. “How about gentlemen first in this case?”

Hercules takes my hand, enfolding his fingers with mine. Then I’m against him, and his lips are on mine. But even a sensual kiss isn’t enough to ease my worry.

“How about we go in together?” he whispers, his breath hot on my mouth.

A woman gasps loudly. Hercules and I quickly turn in her direction. Now I gasp. I close my eyes tight and then open them again. Nope, she’s still standing there.

“Paisley,” the woman says, and her voice is too familiar. Yes, it’s her.

“Grandmother?”