Mistletoe (K19 Security Solutions 3)

“What did you want to talk about?”

Striker moved her from his lap back to the chair she’d been sitting in.

“You’re worrying me,” she murmured.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that…I’m a lot older than you are, Aine.”

“Oh. Well…um…okay.”

He leaned forward and took her hands in his. “This isn’t about you. You’re perfect. I just want to be sure you realize I’m a few years older than Razor.” Aine looked like she was going to cry. Damn, he was making a mess of this.

“Does it matter? I mean, am I too…inexperienced for you?”

“God, no. It’s more that I started wondering if you knew. And if you didn’t, if it would bother you.”

“I like you, Griffin. I don’t care how old you are. It isn’t something I’ve given any thought to because, to me, all that matters is that we enjoy being together.”

“I just want you to know, if you change your mind, I’ll understand.”

She was quiet long enough that Striker began to feel uncomfortable. Plus, she wasn’t looking at him; she was looking out at the ocean again.

“I wish you’d tell me what you’re thinking.”

She turned back and looked at him. “I wish you wouldn’t let me go so easily.”

“I just want to be sure you’re sure. Does that make any sense?”

Aine stood and walked into the house, but he didn’t follow. Somehow their conversation had gone from bad to worse, and he had no idea what to do about it.

—:—

Aine left Gunner’s and walked next door. “Is Ava over here?” she asked.

“I think she’s upstairs,” Razor’s mother told her.

She took the stairs two at a time, hoping she’d get up them quickly enough that no one would see her crying.

“Ava?” she said when she got to the bedroom door. “Are you in there?”

The door opened a few seconds later, and two young girls came bounding out.

“Hi,” they said in unison. “You’re Aunt Ava’s sister.”

Aine wiped her tears and bent down. “I am. How are you?”

“We’re fine. Anyway, bye,” the older of the two said.

Off they went, running down the stairs she’d just come up.

Aine crossed the room and lay on the bed next to her sister.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just had the weirdest conversation with Griffin.”

“Tell me what he said.”

“He wanted me to know that he’s a lot older than I am.”