I tensed for a second, then took a steadying breath and compelled myself to calm down and ignore the warmth pooling low in my intestine.

Simply drive, fool.

The engine roared to life beneath us, and I pulled again onto the highway. However as an alternative of turning round and again to the resort—which might’ve been the good factor, I drove on.

Malta’s sun-drenched hills and rocky shoreline blurred previous. Payment molded herself to my again, her head resting between my shoulder blades, and it took all my self-control to not slam on the brakes.

I shouldn’t need this.

Shouldn’t crave the texture of her, the extra chaos she would deliver into my life. However no lady had ever rattled me, and intrigued me like she did, and I couldn’t make myself push her away.

My life was already a whole clusterfuck. She was only one extra complication.

The cherry on high.

We rode in silence, the wind whipping by and cooling my heated pores and skin.

Fiona remained pressed shut in opposition to me, her contact maddening and intoxicating all of sudden.

When a well-known stretch of rocky shoreline got here into view, I slowed the bike and turned onto a slim dust path resulting in the cliffs. This had been one in every of my favourite spots as a baby, at the start went to shit, after Gabe disappeared from our lives.

The familiarity eased among the stress coiling inside me.

The trail ended at a secluded cove, azure waves lapping on the pale sand and limestone cliffs rising excessive overhead. I reduce the engine and helped Fiona off the bike.

“It’s stunning right here.” Her voice was comfortable, virtually reverent.

“I used to return right here lots as a child, at any time when we have been right here. It’s my favourite spot on the island.” The admission slipped out earlier than I might cease it. I grimaced, ready for a sarcastic comment.

However she merely hummed in response and moved to face on the fringe of the cliffs, the wind ruffling her hair.

I watched her from the nook of my eye, struck by the wistful expression on her face as she gazed out on the sea. There was a loneliness there I acknowledged all too effectively, and for a second, I forgot my annoyance.

When she turned again to me, a shy smile curved her lips. “Thanks for bringing me right here. It’s valuable to you, and I respect you sharing that with me.”

Warmth flooded my cheeks, and I rubbed the again of my neck. “It’s not that massive of a deal.”

Her smile widened into a smile, and she or he shook her head. “Not as robust as you fake to be, gangster?”

I scowled at her whilst a traitorous heat unfurled in my chest. She noticed an excessive amount of, this lady, and it left me feeling uncovered in a means I didn’t know find out how to deal with. And didn’t like in any respect.

“Simply get again on the bike,” I bit out, “earlier than I alter my thoughts and go away you out right here.”

She laughed, the sound like bells ringing within the breeze. “As if. You don’t wish to be close to me any greater than the opposite means spherical. So, you going after me personally tells me somebody—in all probability Gabe—compelled me on you.”

She hopped on the bike behind me. “Am I shut?”

I gunned the engine to life. “You’re a ache in my ass is what you might be.”

She laughed once more, and I might really feel the reverberations in opposition to my again.

“Inform me.” I turned my head again to her. “Why have been you so hell-bent on leaving the resort right now anyway?”

Fiona’s gaze flicked away from mine for a second earlier than returning, her inexperienced eyes blazing with defiance. “I’ve no garments or toiletries,” she mentioned. “And I actually need to brush my enamel.”

“Merda!” I cursed underneath my breath, realizing I hadn’t thought this by means of. I’d utterly forgotten about toiletries. “Alright, I’ll take you purchasing for no matter you want, however you’ll have to vow to not go away the resort with out me, Gabe, or an escort.”

“Actually?” Fiona requested skeptically, nonetheless not able to let her guard down.

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