Page 24 of Dangerous Affair (The Phoenix Three #2)
T he sun was peeking over the top of the mountain when Liam woke up.
He then spent the next twenty minutes watching Quinn sleep.
She was on her side facing him, both hands tucked up under her chin.
Her hair was a wild mess covering her pillow, and he took satisfaction knowing that he was the cause of that wild mess.
She had a smattering of freckles across her nose she said she hated. Why, he didn’t understand because he thought they were adorable. A slight smile was on her face, and her lips were moving as she murmured something unintelligible. Maybe she was dreaming about him.
He thought about waking her up for a little morning sex, but they’d been up half the night making love.
She needed her sleep. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek, then eased out of bed.
By the time she came downstairs an hour later, he had coffee brewed, scrambled eggs ready to cook, and bread in the toaster.
“Do I smell coffee?”
“You sure do.” He poured a cup and doctored it just the way she liked it, one sugar and enough cream to turn the coffee milky white.
She took the cup from him and brought it to her nose, inhaling the aroma. “You’re awesome.”
He was trying to be. “What’s the agenda for the day?” This was her trip, and he wanted to show her that he was cool with her being the boss.
“Since it’s summer and the kids are out of school, I’m hoping we can get some photos of kids playing in the lake. This afternoon is probably better for that. Let’s start with checking out the mill, get some pictures there, and if we’re lucky, of some of those drums.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
After breakfast, he googled the mill’s address, and when they got in the car, entered the address in the GPS. “Twelve miles from here. We’ll do a drive-by, get the lay of the land.”
The drive to the mill took them through Hope Corner.
Because they’d both been here, to help disguise their appearances, they wore ball caps—her hair tucked up under hers—and sunglasses.
Just tourists out to see the sights. Not that there was a lot to see.
But there were a dozen or so cabins for rent on the town’s only Realtor’s website, so they did get tourists.
“If we’re questioned, our cover story is that we’re on our honeymoon,” he said.
“Well, hello, husband.” She grinned at him.
“Hello, wifey.” He winked at her.
“Don’t you dare call me wifey in front of anyone.”
He laughed. “But I can in private?”
“No, you cannot. I have a name. Use it.”
“Yes, ma’am. Just curious, but what’s your aversion to pet names.”
“They’re silly. Like you’d want to be called a silly name.”
“I wouldn’t mind it so much if it was you doing it.”
“So you’d be okay with love nugget or pookie?”
He laugh-snorted. “I’d hope you’d come up with ones better than that.”
“What was your Marine nickname?”
“Irish, not very original.”
“Maybe that’s what I’ll call you.”
She could call him anything she wanted as long as she called him. “I guess I should stop calling you Little Marine.”
“For some reason I can’t comprehend since I have such strong feelings about pet names, I kind of like that one.”
“Good to know. Target coming up on the left.”
“It’s bigger than I expected,” she whispered.
“You do know you don’t have to whisper right now?” He grinned when she punched his arm. “Little Marine’s got muscles.”
“Damn straight.” She flexed her arm, showing off her muscles.
“We’ll drive by it. Maybe there’s a place to park nearby where the car won’t stand out.
” A few blocks past the mill, they came to a strip shopping center, and he pulled in.
“There’s a diner. Let’s get coffees to go and walk around.
” He parked between two other cars at the end of the lot, closest to the mill.
They walked past an insurance agency and a Laundromat before reaching the diner.
When they entered, the five people scattered around stared at them.
He tagged them as breakfast regulars not used to seeing strangers in their restaurant.
They would be remembered, but that was okay. No one would be asking about them.
“Good morning,” he said to the woman behind the counter. She looked to be in her sixties with gray hair held back in a tight bun and kind but tired eyes.
She smiled. “Good morning. Do you want a table?”
“No, ma’am. We’d like two coffees to go, and maybe a couple of those breakfast pastries. They look delicious.”
“I can rightly say they are, since I baked them fresh only a few hours ago.”
He put his arm around Quinn’s shoulders. “What would you like, sugar?” She ground her heel on his toe, and he bit back a laugh.
“Well, that cheese Danish looks amazing, but so does the apple muffin.”
“Then let’s just get you both, sweetie.” She elbowed his side, and he snorted, then coughed to cover the snort. “My wife will have those two, and is that a cinnamon coffee cake?”
“Cinnamon and walnuts, and it’s a favorite.”
“Awesome. I’ll have one of those and a dozen assorted doughnut holes.” He glanced out the window. “It’s a beautiful morning. Is there a park nearby where we can enjoy our breakfast?”
“There’s one at the lake,” the woman said as she poured their coffee. “You just go about a half mile past the mill, and you’ll see a sign on your left directing you to the park. You folks on vacation?”
He smiled at his lovely wife. “My honey bear and I are on our honeymoon.” He smirked, and she glared back at him. He was going to pay for this, but he did love that riled-up fire in her eyes.
“Isn’t my pookie the cutest thing ever?” She beamed at the woman as she stomped on his foot again.
The woman handed over their coffee and pastries. “The cutest thing ever is a puppy.” She studied him for a moment. “Now, if you said he was a handful, I’d have to agree with you. Good luck with him.”
Quinn laughed, and after they exited the diner, said, “You got that right, lady.”
“Hey now. Don’t be talking about your husband like that. Besides, you can’t be mad I called you honey bear. That wasn’t you I was talking to. It was my imaginary wife who happens to love my little pet names for her.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“What I am is the best pretend husband you’ll ever have, who just happens to be hot in bed. Go ahead. Try to deny that.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop a grin. “You have me there.”
“Here’s a secret.” He leaned his mouth close to her ear. “I’d like to have you here, there, and everywhere.”
“You’re starting to sound like Dr. Seuss.”
“Dr. Seuss wishes he could come up with lines like mine. But hey, if you’re not into cheesy rhymes, I can always switch to Shakespearean sonnets. ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’”
She was trying to pretend he wasn’t amusing her, but he could see the laughter in her eyes. He’d read somewhere that women loved a man who could make them laugh, and he’d take all the help he could get.