Mistletoe (K19 Security Solutions 3)

“I’ll let you know,” Aine answered while their mother looked at her with a stunned expression.

“What was that all about?” Tabon asked when her mother and sister were gone.

“I’m not sure. Maybe Striker is trying to reach her.”

Tabon nodded. “Wanna pick up where we left off, or is the moment over?”

Ava smiled. “The moment is never over with you, my hotter-than-all-get-out husband.”

“I like the way you think.”

Tabon picked her up and carried her upstairs, like he had earlier.

“I can walk, you know.”

“I know, but why would I let you when having you in my arms feels so damn good?”

“What do you think about this thing between Aine and Striker?” she asked when they got upstairs.

“Haven’t given it a thought, and I don’t plan to. I have other, more important, things on my mind,” he said as he undressed her for the second time.

“I just—”

Tabon put two fingers on her lips. “Shh. Can’t you hear the music?” He started to hum. “You don’t want to turn the music off. Do you, baby?”

Ava smiled. “Never.”

“That’s what I thought. Now remind me where I was before we were so rudely interrupted.”

Ava spread her legs when Tabon rested his hands on her knees.

“That’s right. You remember.”

Chapter 4

Aine and Striker

“Why were you in such a hurry?” her mother asked. “We can’t check in for another three hours.”

“I got us an early check-in.”

Aine loved her mother and enjoyed spending time with her, particularly since she was sober and had stopped insisting that she and Ava call her “Peggy.” Right now, though, all Aine cared about was getting her situated in her room so she could get ready for Griffin’s arrival.

“You’re very anxious to get rid of me,” her mother said as Aine carried the bags to her room. They were staying on the Central Coast of California for a week, yet her mother had packed three heavy bags.

“What’s in here?” Aine asked, regretting it as soon as she had. She didn’t care if her mother brought boulders as long as she hurried up.

“I guess the tide has turned,” Peggy said with tears in her eyes.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“There was a time when I couldn’t wait to drop you and your sister off at boarding school.”

Aine took a deep breath. When had her mother ever dropped them off at school? From what she remembered, she got her and her twin as far as the train station before she wished them “bon voyage.”

“Mom, I—”

“It isn’t necessary to explain. I’m just thankful you and your sister want to spend any time at all with me.”