Page 96 of Lawless Rivals

“How about no shower and no food?” I face her now. “Would that work for ya?”

She stares at me for a beat and then lowers her lashes. “I don’t think you’d be that mean to me.”

My spine tingles at that. “You wanna take that risk?”

“When this is over, I’m going to fly back to Paris.” She sweeps her hair over her shoulder. “I have friends out there. It’s better than Black Heath. And when I visit my family and see you in the village, I’ll cross the street so I don’t have to look at you.”

“There’s only one main road through the village. You’ll still look.” I gather the reins and climb into the saddle. “Give me your hand.”

Keira puts her foot in the stirrup, sets her hand in mine, and I haul her upward.

The movement is quick, controlled, but it brings her in close in a way nothing else does, her body lining up behind mine as she finds her balance.

“You’ll look too.” Her voice slips over my shoulder.

She gets herself comfortable and rests her hands on my hips with the lightest of touches.

Bran moves under the added weight. I give him the signal to walk on instead of correcting her, letting it slide when I shouldn’t.

Truth is, after this, I won’t let myself think about what it’s like having her here.

The rhythm of the horse edges her closer, his hooves hitting the dirt as the distance builds behind us and Tallon land stretches out ahead.

Her breasts press against my back with the motion, and I keep my focus forward, eyes on the hills, on the sprawling track, on anything that isn’t her body heat.

Eventually the yard comes into view, already busy with the day-to-day grind.

Shay appears from the side of the barn, eyes on us as Bran comes to a stop. I dismount and wait for Keira to slide down next.

He takes the reins while I loosen the girth, and Keira stands there, unsure where to go. I don’t miss Shay’s gaze cutting to her, taking in the fact she’s with me and not tied up in the tin.

“What’s the latest?” I ask.

“Riley must’ve delivered your message,” he says, like he’s reporting on nothing more than the weather. “Word landed like ya planned.”

“Good.” I pat Bran on the neck. “And Crowley?”

“He didn’t come. Crowley junior showed up instead,” he adds. “Sera handled him.”

I frown at that.

“How?”

“He’s always had a thing for her. She walked him around the barns and sent him away with nothing but a Tallon smile.”

Keira lets out a low grunt and looks skyward. Jesus, I should kiss the mocking expression off her pretty face and really give her eyes something to roll at.

“You got a problem?” I ask.

“Can I go to your place and have a proper shower while you two catch up?”

“Stay where ya are. Don’t move unless I say so.”

While she sighs, Shay continues. “Harrington knows we’ve had his daughter this whole time. Anything we do from here gets watched by the Crowleys.”

I huff a quick breath, something close to a laugh but without the humor in it.

“They’ve been here twice and left with nothing,” I say. “Next time, they’ll need a different reason and a warrant.”