Page 102 of Loyalty

“Mmhmm. What were you doing when I called, anyway? Work again?”

“No, cleaning.”

Siena’s smile faded a bit. “Your house is spotless, John.”

He shrugged. “Gotta do something to keep my attention focused.”

“You could focus on me.”

John laughed, dark and husky. His hand skimmed up her back, and tangled in the ends of Siena’s hair. He tugged gently, and leaned in to capture her mouth with another one of his kisses. A hotter, and harder kiss. One that left his lungs aching with the need to breathe, and made her pupils blow wide while she stared back at him.

He pulled away.

But not because he wanted to.

“Trust me,” he said, “the only thing I plan on doing for the rest of today is focusing entirely on you, Siena. Whatever you want to do, and wherever you want to go. That’s what we’re going to do, love.”

Her smile softened and sweetened. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“You are a little different today. Something, anyway.”

John chuckled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, donna.”

She winked, but gestured between her eyes, and his. “Just know, I’ve got my eyes on you. Don’t you try anything cute on me.”

“Hey, as long as somebody’s watching out for me. That’s all that matters.”

Lately, he trusted her way more than anybody else in his life. The funny thing was that he knew her for a fraction of the time he knew all of them.

Still, something told him …

Something inside said she was gold.

Precious.

Pure.

Priceless.

That couldn’t be ignored.

John didn’t know what exactly to make of it, or what it would mean for him. He would figure out all of that later.

Now wasn’t the time.

CHAPTER TWELVE

SIENA GRINNED when John dragged her closer, and engulfed her in his embrace. He rested his chin on the top of her head, while she buried her face against his chest. The busy theater ceased to exist for the moment. The long line they had been waiting in for thirty minutes just to grab snacks for a movie that had started ten minutes ago no longer mattered.

John’s lips skimmed the top of her head when he said, “We could always pick a different movie, love.”

“You wanted to see this one, though.”

“What’s the damn point if you miss the first twenty minutes of it?”

“We’ve only missed the first ten,” she pointed out.