“Are you trying to scare me?”
“Maybe a little. You’re isolated out here. Off the main road. No neighbors within shouting distance. Maybe it’d be good tobe a little uneasy, to keep your guard up.”
That’s something she’d never have to do with Flynn. With the man she loved.
Omigosh.
She loved him?
The feeling didn’t hit her like a return of that elephant. It was more like being cocooned in a warm blanket, but from theinside out. Sierra loved this man. It didn’t matter that there were still so many things she didn’t know about him. She lovedwhat she did know. Couldn’t wait to fall in love with more of him every day as he revealed himself.
She loved him.
Guess there was one more reason to lie awake tonight. Because what was she supposed to do with this feeling? Tell him? Waitfor Flynn to tell her he felt the same way? What was the appropriate number of days to wait after having a panic attack totell him that he’s loved by an emotional mess?
Did Cosmo cover that in any of their quizzes?
Flynn took the keys and unlocked the front door. “In you go. I’ve got to head back before Carlos is ready to kill me. So notrying to lure me inside with your kisses.”
That was probably for the best. If he came inside, and if they started making out with this whole love thing all fresh and swirly in her heart, there was a chance she’d blurt it out. Sierra needed this night apart from Flynnto wallow in the sweetness—and immediately lock it down.
“Fine. Be a responsible employee. But expect a whole ton of kisses when I meet you for breakfast.”
“Oh.” He rubbed the back of his neck while his head dipped down. “I, uh, can’t. Meet you for breakfast. I have a bunch ofthings to do, starting early.”
“Okay.” That was disappointing. But entirely reasonable that the man wouldn’t be glommed on to her 24/7 every day of the week.
“I’ll see you at the Gorse tomorrow night for our shift.” Flynn tipped her chin up. “I meant what I said, Sierra. You’re stuckwith me now. This alone nonsense is over. No matter what I have to do to make sure of it.” With a swift kiss on her forehead,he was gone.
No matter what? What did that mean? Was it good? Because the words sounded good, but the tone sounded . . . grim.
Now Sierra had three reasons to lie awake all night.
Chapter Eighteen
Traffic was light this early in the morning, even on Bandon’s main drag. Of course, to Flynn, compared to Chicago everything had light traffic. It meant he needed to stop stalling and start talking to his little brother before their walk ended. “Look,I don’t really need you to help me pick out a car.”
“Sure you do.” Kellan’s flip-flops slapped against the sidewalk. “You finally want to cash in on all the money you spent onmy law school. Use my mad skillz—with a Z—at negotiating to force Rafe to give you a massive discount.”
He had a point. “Okay, maybe I do need you there. But it’s not why I asked you to come with me to see Rafe. I have to tellyou something.”
“Is this where you finally admit I’m smarter than you? More handsome? Better at basketball?”
“We all suck at basketball.” Flynn banged his elbow against Kellan’s. “Remember when we changed HORSE to DEER so we’d getdone faster?”
Kellan’s head did a fast left-right-left, as if checking before changing lanes. His voice dropped to a whisper. His shouldershunched in. “Is this mob stuff?”
Yup, baby bro saw right through his forced teasing. “Yeah. First of all, you’re safe.”
“That’s not as reassuring as you probably intended it to be.”
They turned the corner, away from houses and onto a busier street that led to the harbor. No other pedestrians yet—just randomseagulls every so often coming in hot toward the toast in Flynn’s hand—so it was safe to spill. “There’s a guy in town. PatrickO’Connor. Doing all the tourist crap. Obviously just here on vacation. But he’s in McGinty’s crew.”
Kellan’s arms flew out from his sides. “Holy shit!”
Way to attract all the wrong kinds of attention. Good thing none of the shops topped with weathered gray shingles were openyet. “Can you find a middle ground between skulking cartoon spy and overly dramatic and just listen like a normal fuckingperson?”
“I don’t think so. Does O’Connor know you’re here? Has he seen you guys? Are we leaving town? Will Delaney stash us in a safehouse until he’s gone?”
The stream of questions irritated Flynn. Until he remembered that Kellan had zero context, and zero experience. Only the knowledgethat if McGinty tracked down his brothers, their lives would be forfeit. And maybe his own, too, out of spite and revenge.
God, he hated putting Kellan through this. Exposing him to it. This was everything he and Rafe had tried to prevent. Guiltchurned his stomach, sending acid up his throat. He backed up until the edge of a wooden bench bit into his legs, and he floppeddown on it. Dropped his damned toast, too. If this was even one percent of what Sierra felt like during her panic attacks?He didn’t know how she stood them.
Flynn jerked his chin so Kellan would sit, too. “Rafe and I are following O’Connor. Have been since yesterday. That’s howwe know what he’s been up to. You gotta believe me when I say everything points to this being a shitty coincidence, nothingmore.”
Surprisingly, after a sharp double nod, Kellan calmed way the hell down. “Okay. I trust you. This is your wheelhouse, afterall. What’s Delaney’s plan?”
“Not her plan. Ours.”
“You haven’t told her yet?”
“Hell, we hadn’t even told you.” Talk about a golden opportunity to drive a point home. Flynn narrowed his eyes. “Becausewe didn’t know where you were. We never know where you are anymore.”
That defensive jut to Kellan’s chin said fuck off louder than a neon sign. “Isn’t the whole point of our stay here to get integrated? Make friends, make a
