33. The World In My Arms
The World In My Arms
Fly
“Hardly, but I’ll accept the title of your charming prince.” How can she be so excited about such a small thing? I’ve given women diamonds and hardly seen joy like this. Yet Sheri is delighted by three little cups of chocolate milk. How would she act if I gave her diamonds?
“Good to know. What type of cookies did you get us?”
“I thought we could start with a sampler. To see which we liked better with each type of chocolate milk.” The next thing out of the cooler is a perfectly displayed platter and another thermos. “The final milk for our tasting pleasure is white chocolate.”
“You’re nothing if not thorough.” Sheri doesn’t reach for anything.
Maybe she’s waiting for me to try them first. I really don’t care about chocolate milk or cookies.
But for her, I can give them a try. Food will always just be food.
Well, maybe with the exception of the Cake Lady’s treats.
I probably should have picked up some for this date.
I reach for the milk chocolate milk glass and take a sip.
“Well, what do you think?”
The rich, sweet drink sits heavy on my tongue.
“Here, try it with a chocolate chip cookie.” She dunks one in the milk and holds it up to my lips.
The temptation is too strong for me not to kiss the tips of her fingers one by one. “Delicious.”
“I meant the cookie.” But she doesn’t move her hand.
Who would want cookies when they could be kissing you? I take a bite of the offered treat, chewing it slowly.
“Would it be weird for me to ask you what you’re thinking? You always seem so methodical. Like you’re evaluating everything.”
“That’s because I am. You’re surprisingly observant.”
“That’s what authors do. We watch people. Take in all the tiny details and then create stories around life.”
“How does watching people help you write science fiction?” I reach for a cookie of my own.
She shrugs. “Everything helps and nothing does, I guess. My stories aren’t real.”
The sun starts to set, and Sheri turns to the show in the sky.
“Did you know this was set up not just for eating, but also for enjoying the show?” I move everything to the side and lean back on the stack of pillows that are supported by a few boards in the back so they don’t go sliding every which way. “Care to join me?”
Sheri glances at me and smiles. “You set this up just to do that, didn’t you?”
“Absolutely. And it will be the best angle to watch the movie in the park in a few minutes.”
“What movie is it?”
Movie? Why didn’t I look that up?
“So all of this was to get me in your arms when the lights were low.”
Absolutely. Tell me your dream, especially when it comes to me holding you, and I’ll make it happen. “Do you mind?”
“Not in the least.” She scooches over, settling into my arms. “Just in case you were wondering, this is the best date ever.”
***
It turns out it was a double feature. First, we watched a family comedy, sharing a box of popcorn.
And now we’re in the middle of a cheesy old science fiction.
But Sheridan fell asleep over an hour ago, exactly like I hoped she would.
Not that I would have minded holding her when she was awake, but this is nice.
Sheri snuggles in closer, wrapping a leg around mine.
What she doesn’t know is that we moved past the first date planning into future planning the second she fell asleep.
That act alone showed me all I need to know about the trust she’s already placed in me.
Ignoring our physical attraction—which is almost impossible—there’s nothing about this woman I don’t like.
She makes me laugh. She doesn’t take herself or life too seriously, but she also isn’t flighty.
She runs, just for the pleasure of it, and she does it at the same time I do it.
We fit. We make sense together. What I need now is for her to see that. And quickly, because there’s no way she’s going back to Beach Haven. I need her to stay here and figure us out.
The question is, how do I convince her of that in the next week and a half? We could just start kissing and not stop until she agrees to all my demands.
That idea has merit.
My phone vibrates on my hip. Carefully, so as not to wake the bundle up in my arm, I lift it up and read the message.
Cyclops
Vandal’s party needs a clean-up crew. This is going to be an all-hands project.
What? Did he find out who The Ghost is?
Is it done?
Fly
My arms are kind of full now. Can it wait two hours?
Cyclops
Don’t think so. Prez and the VP just showed up. Will update you shortly.
No. This can’t be happening.
Not now.
Not during our first date.
Not when the woman who might be my whole world is sleeping in my arms for the first time. I’m going to shoot Vandal.
Wait, Cyclops said a clean-up crew. Are there bodies on the ground?
How many people are dead?
Fly
Vandal’s status?
Cyclops
Alive. No known damage.
Rogue
We need you in now. Sending a ride to take Sheridan home.
What?
No. She won’t understand.
Havoc
We’re assembling at Vandal’s staging point and making plans there.
Oh, no. That means one of two things: either the guns are coming out tonight, or we literally need to clean up a bunch of bodies. They wouldn’t call me for just one.
There’s a mess. And it’s going to be bloody.
What am I going to say to Sheri?
Rogue
Integer is 5 min out. He’s on a dump bike.
A dump bike means one that’s not tied to us. Something we can literally drop and walk away from if need be. There’s no VIN, but it’s factory fresh without a mark or a brother’s fingerprint on it. There will also be several clean weapons in the saddlebags.
That changes things again.
Fly
Will be waiting for his arrival.
Do I wake her up or just carry her into the car?
My instincts say wake her up and explain. But I can’t explain this, even in the vaguest of terms.
“Sheri,” I whisper to not disturb the other people around us.
She cuddles in closer, shoving her face deeper into my shoulder.
Carrying her back to the car would be easier anyway. Slowly, so as not to jostle her, I scoot out from under her, gently resting her body on the pillows. It’s hard not to stand there staring, imagining a time when that pillow will be mine, covered in her hair.
But now isn’t the time for that either. Integer will be here soon. I heft her up, cradling her in my arms. She’s lighter than I expected. Much lighter. Runners tend to be thinner but denser because of muscle weight. Sheri’s too light.
Like you know what a woman should feel like in your arms. They should feel exactly like this…
Integer pulls up just as I reach the SUV. He opens the passenger door and leans back the seat. I set her down and buckle her in, closing the door behind me. “You know where to take her.”
“Vex’s house.” Integer tosses me the keys.
“Why didn’t Leech come?”
“He’s on the way to the meeting point.”
Leech doesn’t fight, but he’s good at sewing someone up. “Got it. Drive safe. You have precious cargo.”
Integer nods. “I’ll protect your woman with my life. Don’t worry about her.”
“Don’t get dead.”
He laughs. “Message received.”
But does he truly understand just how bad it could be? Has Integer met Vex?
That’s going to be interesting.
Integer doesn’t ask the same of me. We both know I might be driving to my death. We’re about to find out just how bad the carnage is.