Page 102 of Sins of Innocence

"She's watching the video, but it's playing on the television behind you."

I look over my shoulder toward Joy and sure enough her program is gone and a safety video is playing. Neeve is craning her head to watch too.

Ellie is ignoring Kieran, the flight attendant and the video.

"Why doesn't Ellie have to watch?" I wonder.

"I'm certified in plane and boat safety," she says without looking up from her computer.

"Since when?" And why?

"Since Wraith sent me on ops that required it."

Oh.

Kieran's fingers brush mine as he takes the card from my hand before putting it back into the wall pocket. I breathe in his scent and revel in the nearness of his body, even though there's nothing overtly sexual, or even affectionate about it.

But when he sits back, his arm drops to the extra wide rest between our seats. His hand is right there.

My eyes lock on the spot where our hands are almost touching and of its own volition, my pinky covers his.

Kieran turns his hand over and laces our fingers together, holding mine tight.

The jet begins to taxi and Joy narrates the entire process via loudly asked questions of the flight attendant.

I watch Kieran watch my daughters.

There's no judgement in the way he observes Joy's running commentary, or hesitation to the small nod he gives Neeve when she looks up from her book to catch his eye. He is simply paying attention to them the way people pay attention to things they care about.

How can he care about them so fast though?

Troy was eloquent and charming and knew exactly what to say. Kieran says almost nothing, but his actions speak volumes. We aren't in love. Not even close. But in hindsight, even I have to admit that this marriage has a lot more going for it than the one with my dead husband whom I did love and who turned out to be a traitor to the mob.

"So, Anaheim," I say, when everyone else is verifiably occupied.

"Yes."

"You changed the plan from Vegas without telling me," I remind Kieran in a low whisper in case he forgot.

"Yes."

"That's it? In case you wondered, yes is not an explanation."

His thumb makes a slow circuit over my knuckles. "Disneyland."

Okay, yes, Disneyland is a much more exciting destination as far as the girls are concerned but… "That's not an excuse for making the change without talking to me first."

"It was operational."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask, pulling my hand away.

"The boss asks for input on an op, but after he gets it all operational decisions are on him," Ellie explains when it's clear Kieran isn't going to.

Her voice is low too. Everyone else might be occupied, but none of us are taking any chances in being overheard.

"And you considered our discussion in the SUV the night before last me giving me my input?"

"Yes." Too-serious eyes stare back at me.