Page 36 of The Sunken Truth (Lily Larkin Mysteries #5)

Chapter Thirty-Six

From the living room window, Lily looked out for Flynn and rushed downstairs as soon as she spotted him ambling along the promenade in the fading daylight.

“Hi,” she said, opening the door. Expecting him to be drained after his conversation with Jago, his lazy smile caught her off guard, as did the way his gaze held hers for way too long.

“How did it go with Jago?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Okay, I guess. Trystan was there too. I think that helped.”

She nodded. “What’s going on with you?” she said, when he continued to gaze at her with his crooked smile.

“Nothing. Why?”

“Because you look…” She shrugged. “I don’t know… happy or something.”

“Don’t I usually?”

Not in the last week, he hadn’t. Her eyes widened. “Did you speak to the superintendent?”

“No. I’ll catch him tomorrow before he leaves.” His eyes fell to her lips and she had the vague notion he might kiss her .

He didn’t move, though.

“You’re pretty great at investigating, you know?”

She shifted her weight. “Yeah, I know.” Her tone was all false confidence. “The best on the Scilly Isles. Everyone knows that.”

His eyes twinkled as his smile widened. “You’re generally pretty great.”

“Obviously,” she said, keeping the light-hearted tone even as her heart squeezed.

These were the types of conversations they were supposed to avoid.

“Are we going to the pub, or what?” she asked. “I’m starving.”

“I see,” he said as they fell into step together. “Here I was thinking you were looking out for me because you were desperate to see me.”

She gave him a sidelong glance, wondering where all the flirting was coming from. “Shut up,” she muttered, swaying so she knocked her shoulder against his.

They continued in silence and were walking into the pub in no time.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” Seren said as she poured their drinks. “It’s all a bit sad though, if you ask me. Benji must have been really desperate for money to cut Ryan’s hose.”

Lily frowned and cast a quick glance at Flynn. Apparently the gossip mill was lacking some relevant information.

“Yeah,” Flynn said bluntly, offering nothing more. Presumably Seren would hear the full story soon enough. For now, it wasn’t their place to say any more on the subject.

“Drinks are on me,” Seren said, beaming at Flynn. “A little thank you for keeping the islands safe for us mere mortals. ”

“Thanks,” he replied bashfully.

“That seems unnecessary.” The deep voice sounded from the end of the bar.

Lily’s shoulders slumped at the sight of the superintendent and she caught the way Flynn’s jaw tightened.

“He did his job, which he gets paid for,” he went on bitterly. “I don’t think he needs free drinks on top.”

Seren smiled sweetly. “Then our opinions differ.”

“He didn’t even do a very good job,” the superintendent said, staring into his pint.

“It took him way longer than it should have done to figure out what had happened. And in the middle of it all, he locked up some guy with no evidence that he’d done anything.

” He pointed a finger at Flynn and his voice rose in volume so everyone in the vicinity turned to look.

“Sloppy police work is what it was. Which is about all I’d expect from PC Grainger. ”

Flynn’s cheeks blazed as he turned to Lily. “Let’s go somewhere else,” he said quietly.

“No chance,” she growled, not considering her actions for a moment as she marched over to the superintendent.

“What the hell is your problem? Flynn is a great police officer and if you can’t see that, then there’s something wrong with you, not him.

I imagine you’re only jealous of him being at the start of his career when you must be about ready for retirement. People like you are pathetic.”

“Lily,” Flynn said, tugging her elbow. “Let’s just go. It’s not worth it.”

“No!” There was no way they were going anywhere. She continued to glare at the superintendent, but directed her words to Flynn. “This is our local. I won’t leave because of him. If anyone’s leaving, it should be him.”

The superintendent lifted an eyebrow. “Needs a woman to fight his battles for him as well, I see. ”

A deluge of abuse bubbled in Lily, but Flynn pulled hard on her arm. “We’re going,” he said firmly.

“No!” She looked to Seren for backup before her gaze finally went to Flynn.

The look he gave her made her chest squeeze. “Please,” he said. “I want to go.”

“You’re a pathetic excuse for a man,” Lily shouted at the superintendent before letting Flynn lead her outside. Anger pulsed through her veins as she stood out on the road. “We shouldn’t have left because of him.”

“I told you he’s not worth it.” Flynn walked a little way along the road, then stopped and sank onto the curb, resting his head in his hands.

The sight of him so defeated tore at Lily’s heart.

“Why won’t you stand up to him?” she asked.

“Because it won’t make any difference.”

“Maybe not, but…” She trailed off as his gaze whipped to her.

“But you think I’m pathetic for not standing up to him?” he snapped.

“No,” she whispered.

“It’s fine.” He shrugged. “I think it’s pathetic, so I’m not about to argue with you.”

She sank beside him and trailed her hand through his hair before leaving her fingers resting at the back of his neck. “I don’t think that,” she murmured. “I would never think that.”

Tilting his head, he leaned into her hand.

Their eyes locked as his hand came up to cup her cheek, and his breath swept over her lips before he kissed her.

They weren’t supposed to be doing this.

She tightened her grip on his neck and kissed him hungrily .

He was leaving so they could only be friends. That’s what they’d agreed.

Kissing him felt too good though, and it suddenly seemed ridiculous that they were only friends.

“Flynn,” she whispered against his lips, forcing her eyes open. “What are we doing?”

“Kissing,” he said, his lips curving to a smile even as he kissed her again.

“I realise that,” she laughed. “But we said…”

He pulled back slightly and pushed her hair from her face. “I just got so sick of not kissing you,” he said. “And I keep thinking about what you said about your uncle and Maria.” He shook his head. “I don’t want us to end up like that.”

“I don’t either.”

“I’ll probably have to move back to London in a few weeks,” he said. “But we can figure something out – have a long-distance relationship for a while until I figure out a way to get back here. I don’t know how it will work, but I want to try.”

Since she couldn’t manage words, Lily just nodded and kissed him again.

When she pulled back, she trailed her fingers over the back of his neck. “I promise I don’t think you’re pathetic for not standing up to the superintendent. He’s the pathetic one, not you.”

A small smile tugged at Flynn’s lips. “I believe you mentioned that in front of the entire pub.”

“I may have let my mouth run away a bit,” she admitted sheepishly.

Flynn laughed. “You called him a pathetic excuse for a man.”

“I think it was an accurate description,” she said, feeling no remorse over it .

Glancing at the pub, Flynn’s smile faded quickly and he drew in a deep breath. “Maybe that’s where I get it from,” he said quietly.

“Get what from?”

“Being pathetic.”

“You’re not pathetic,” she snapped, then pulled her chin in as she registered what he’d said. “What do you mean – that’s where you get it from?”

“I mean, maybe it’s a family trait.”

“You’re related to the superintendent?” she asked, confused.

“Sadly, yes.”

“No.” Lily slapped a hand over her mouth and mumbled through her fingers. “No way. He’s not…?”

Flynn nodded. “Superintendent Brand is my dad.”

“Oh my god, Flynn.”

“I don’t know if you noticed, but he’s not my biggest fan.”

“ Flynn, ” she whispered, tilting her head as a wave of sympathy surged through her.

“It’s fine,” he said, with a dismissive shake of his head that didn’t fool her for a second. “He’s always been like this. I’m used to it.”

“That doesn’t make it okay.” She touched her forehead to his. “Why is he like that?”

“I think he’s mostly pissed off that I exist,” he said, his tone light as though he could convince her it didn’t bother him.

“I’m really sorry,” she said, before a small smile pulled at her lips. “You’re kind of amazing, you know?”

“Why?” he asked suspiciously.

“Because you have to deal with having him for a dad, and you’re still such a good person. ”

“You shouldn’t flatter me too much. It might go to my head.”

She kissed him again and reluctantly pulled away.

“I have a question,” she said.

“I’m sure you have lots, and I’ll tell you everything… just maybe not here.”

She grinned at him. “I was actually going to ask what we’re going to eat for dinner now that the pub isn’t an option.”

He slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. “I should have known you’d mostly be concerned about your stomach.”

“Always,” she quipped, before turning serious. “I’d also like to hear everything about your dad and how you ended up here.”

“How about we grab fish and chips and find somewhere quiet to eat them?”

She nodded her agreement. Entwining her fingers with his, she stood and pulled him up from the curb.