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When he straightened, Griff high-fived his small palm. “That was awesome, buddy. Shall we move on to the next one? It’s harder, but you’ll kill it with those arms of yours.”
Jamie grinned, flexing his tiny biceps.
“Yup, just like I said. Killer arms.” Griff ruffled his hair.
Jamie ran to the next start point and pointed to the glass wall separating the main climbing arena from a small café. “Someone’s waving at you.”
Jo.
Griff’s heart tripped and fell over itself like a goofy kid as she pushed through the glass doors. She crossed the mats in her socked feet, her laptop bag over her shoulder, shoes in one hand.
This had become their routine over the last few weeks as they adjusted to life without thinking they were going to die in the next minute. He’d teach Saturday afternoons and Jo would come write in the cafe, working on her book, a detailed expos on Raptor and Pharmasyn, and then they’d head back to her place for food, if they could keep their hands off each other—but more often than not, food came second after he’d gorged himself on her, and wrung every inch of pleasure from her body.
“Hey.” She gave him a shy smile from under her dark lashes and bumped up against his hip.
“Hey, yourself.” He slid his arm around the sweep of her waist.
She tilted her head and rested it against his chest. That simple gesture. It made his heart clench. He pulled her close and lost himself for several long seconds in a kiss that would leave her in no doubt how he felt about her now and forever.
A youthful voice giggled. “Smoochie, smoochie.”
Jo lifted her head and laughed, her cheeks flushing, the same way they did when he pleasured her. Griff swallowed a groan. Around her it was an effort to keep his thoughts from sliding into X-rated and it didn’t seem to be abating. He suspected it never would. She was his. His soul mate. His forever. His Jo. Mine. The primal thought echoed in his brain.
Jamie grinned at them, his lips puckered.
Griff shook his head, shoring away all the hot thoughts for later when he and Jo were alone. “Shall we get back to the climbing?” Griff fired an imaginary gun at Jamie.
“Yes. And I’ve got some words to get down.” Jo released him. She bumped up on to her toes and kissed the tip of his nose. “I’m going to get a coffee and one of those amazing sticky buns.” She waved at Jamie. “See you later, kiddo.”
She turned, shooting Griff a wink over her shoulder before she disappeared into the coffee shop. Happiness lit up her gaze. She was happy. He was happy.
Their discovery of the proof that Raptor had used Pharmasyn as a shell company to continue manufacturing microchips had made headlines around the world. The press were falling over themselves to interview the brilliant journalist who had blown open Raptor’s plan to resurrect their illegal research. Luke would be proud of his sister. Now, he could rest in peace.
Griff turned his attention back to Jamie, who was dusting up a storm with the hand chalk. Griff swatted at the white mist and coughed. “Think you might be overdoing it a little there, buddy.”
48
Jo twisted her hands in her lap. The afternoon’s gloomy cloud had ruptured into rain when they set off. The cemetery appeared intermittently between the windscreen wiper’s frantic motion.
Griff killed the engine, the wipers coming to a squeaky stop. “You sure about this? We can come back another time if you’re not ready.” He tucked his calloused fingers under hers and lifted her hand to his mouth. Her body’s reaction was instantaneous, combustible, as his stubble scratched deliciously against the back of her hand.
“I’m here for you.” His voice was a soft murmur above the rattle of the rain. Warmth blossomed in her chest. His steady presence gave her strength. Previously, she’d chosen an isolated life, even more so since Luke’s death, but Griff and the rest of the team at Guardsmen Security had made her feel like family. Like she belonged.
“I know.” She kissed him on the lips, the taste of him liquid desire on her tongue. In mere weeks, her feelings for this complex man had eclipsed anything she’d known. With him by her side, she could weather any storm. “I need to do this.” She clutched the bunch of white tea roses tighter and climbed out into the cool rain.
Luke’s grave called to her. She’d been unable to visit before, the injustice inside her too raw. But now, with the truth exposed, she could finally lay her grief to rest beside her brother.
Despite the rain, the distant mountains were breath-taking. She’d chosen to commemorate her brother here, in Norway, because he’d spent his last few years working here and he’d spoken often of how much he loved the untamed wildness of the countryside. She wanted his memory to be marked in a place he loved.
And one she could visit, now that she had moved her meagre collection of belongings out of storage in London, here, to live with Griff.
She made her way to the simple headstone she’d had commissioned.
Luke Smith.
Beloved son and brother.
She ran her fingers over his engraved name, remembering his easy laugh. His willingness to be part of something bigger, to share his heart with the world. She rested the roses against the base of the headstone. Water beaded on the softness of the petals like tears, but Jo’s eyes were dry. She’d cried all her tears over Luke. Now was the time for remembering the best of him, for ensuring his memory was not forgotten.
