CHAPTER 29
MELANIE
I STOOD AT THE LARGE WINDOW IN MY ROOM AT JORDAN’S HOUSE LOOKING DOWN AT
all the activity going on outside. People were scurrying back and forth between the house and a van with different bags. We were only going to be in Switzerland for three days at most, so the amount of luggage we would be transporting was bartling
Oh well, as long as I wasn’t made to carry any of that we were
good
“Hey,” said a voice behind me. I turned and smiled at Blaine. He had a way of immediately improving my mood when he walked in, and seeing as I was going to be surrounded by people who didn’t want me there for the next three days, I was going to miss him
“You ready?” he asked, looking around for my luggage and then raising a questioning brow when I pointed at the duffel bag
on my bed.
Just that?”
“Yeah. It’s only three days I shrugged.
He shook his head “I think you’re the first woman whose three
day’s packing didn’t consist of two boxes and one carry–on.”
We laughed at this. I refrained from telling him I’d never really had much to pack since I was almost always on the move, and even more so now that a lot of what I had was provided by Jordan.
I caught him staring at me again and smiled, “I’m going to miss you, which is strange because I never thought I would be. saying that to someone when I first came here” I rambled, barely noticing him closing the distance between us until he cupped my chin with one hand, making me look up at him.
“Shh,” he said, laying a single finger on my lips before enfolding me in a hug. Unlike the first time he’d hugged me, I wrapped my arms around him and breathed in his subtle chocolate–scented cologne.
“I’m going to miss you 100 Mel” his voice was muffled from his face being buried in my hair, but I heard him.
I smiled into his shirt and he pulled back, searching my face with his pretty blue eyes. He must’ve been satisfied with whatever he saw there because the next instant he leaned forward and gently, hesitantly placed his lips on mine.
Warmth spread from the point of contact all the way to my fingertips. When I didn’t pull away he kissed me more firmly. putting his hands on my waist and drawing me closer. Thoughts crowded my head, each one struggling to take precedence over the other. I genuinely liked Blaine, but that was it.
He was sweet and funny and good company, but my feelings for him weren’t stronger than that. It was also probably not wise to get involved when I planned to lose myself in Switzerland,
Blaine pulled back and looked at me again, looking a little nervous but smiling.
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he murmured, brushing a thumb across my bottom lip.
I felt guilty: I’d decided that when the heist was all but done I’d find a way to break away from the others and just…go.
It was the perfect opportunity and I was almost certain I could find a way to pull it off and then go into hiding. Starting anything now with Blaine wasn’t going to be fair on him.
“Look, Blame, I really like you, but-“. I only got that far before he shushed me again.
“No bun, Mel”
I shook my head “You don’t understand. This isn’t going to lead anywhere.”
Elaine, sweet, obstinate Blaine, just shrugged… “Why worry about it leading anywhere? I don’t mind living in the now and seeing where it takes us. I like you a lot, and that’s all that matters. With that, he kissed me again.
Another stab of guilt hit me. It would’ve been nice to stay and see how it went with someone who seemed to actually like me for me, which was not something I had much experience with But he said to live in the now, and he really was a good kisser,
CHAPTER 29
so I said fuck it and kissed him back.
The moment I did he let out a small groan into my mouth and pulled me impossibly closer. I ran my hands over his shoulders and into his hair and got lost in the moment.
From downstairs someone laid on the horn and we pulled back, panting a little. He rested his forehead against mine and closed his eyes, a slow smile taking over his face and showcasing those deep dimples.
He then released me, grabbed my duffel bag from the bed and we walked to the door of my bedroom. Just before opening it he stopped and gave me a quick kiss.
“Come back to me soon, okay?” he murmured. The guilt nudged me again. I wasn’t coming back, but he didn’t need to
know that.
He opened the door and we went downstairs where the team was piled into the van and Jordan was waiting by the door of a Toyota Yaris, which was normal by his standards. His eyes flitted from the carefully contained expression on my face, to the barely held back grin on Blaine’s, and narrowed.
“You kept us waiting. Not a good way to win the team over” he said.
“Apologies, but they already have their opinions on me set. I don’t see how me being punctual is going to change that“, I replied, shrugging.
“You’d be surprised” was his cryptic statement before he got into the car. I climbed into the van where I was greeted with cold stares (Mia, Katnissa), a non–committal grunt (Dimitri) and a lazy smirk (Sebastian). Once I’d taken a seat I glanced back at Blaine, “See you in a bit” I said.
He gave me a nod and a wink before closing the doors and tapping the side of the van twice. It began to move and I settled into my seat, holding my duffel close.
“Nice outfit” Sebastian commented and I looked down at it. I was wearing my own clothes for the first time since I got caught, the same outfit I’d been wearing when Jordan’s men had cornered me on the street.
He’d given it to me along with my weapons. I’d chosen to wear it because it had sheaths for all my daggers sown into the material which made them easy to hide. The sheaths were also lined with a special kind of material so the weapons went undetected at airport security.
“Thanks” I responded with a half–smile. I wasn’t going to go out of my way to make conversation with any of them, but I see no reason why I shouldn’t reciprocate nicely if they reach out.
“I mean, it would probably look much better on my bedroom floor, but this isn’t too bad either he continued, still smirking at me.
Ugh, I take it back. Don’t get me wrong, Sebastian was attractive with his dirty blond hair and golden brown eyes, but if he directed one more sexual innuendo at me, I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions.
About twenty minutes later the van rumbled to a stop and we got out, blinking at the brighter light outside the van. I looked around and my mouth almost dropped open.
I’d expected maybe a first–class flight or something, but here we were standing on a private runway in front of the biggest private jet I’d ever seen
Of course. Even first class was too common for Jordan (I’m–too–rich–for–my–own–good) Alonso.
A
