Page 28 of Sins of Innocence

"We get to ride in that?" Neeve asks, an undertone of excitement in her quiet voice. "Like rich people?"

"Yes," I tell her.

The three girls clamber inside the limo chatting excitedly. Well, Sadie and Joy are. Neeve's not saying much, but her eyes are shining as they check out the interior.

Áine moves to join them, but I stop her with a hand on her arm. "We're taking my SUV."

She turns her head whiplash fast and looks up at me. "What? No. I need to ride with them."

"No."

"What do you mean no?" She yanks her arm from my grasp and pokes me in the chest, whisper yelling at me so the excited girls can't hear her ire. "Let's get something straight, buster, I'm an adult woman and their mom. Just because I agreed to this harebrained scheme of yours to keep them safe, doesn't mean you get to boss me around."

As much as I enjoy how pretty her eyes are when they're snapping blue fire like they are right now, I don't want to upset her.

So, I explain. "We need to talk."

"We can talk in the limo."

"No."

"Why not?" she demands with exaggerated patience and an eyeroll that would do her teenage daughter proud.

I feel myself smiling. I like Áine like this better than when she's afraid or muting her true self like she was doing with Allison Shaughnessy.

"Privacy." I offer as additional explanation.

"Would it kill you to talk in full sentences?" Her narrow-eyed glare says there's only one right answer to that question. "Nobody is going to fine you for using too many words," she mutters and then asks, "What do we need privacy for?"

"The plan." Am I pushing her buttons by giving as few words as possible?

Maybe.

But watching her go up like a roman candle is arousing as hell.

Áine's chest swells with outrage and she opens her mouth to blast me, but then snaps it shut as realization dawns in her eyes. "Oh. Right. We have to get our stories straight."

I nod.

"Though with as taciturn as you are, we could just agree to let me do all the talking?" she asks with a hopeful look toward the limo.

"No."

She harrumphs. "Fine. Give me a second to explain to the girls. They're not going to accept a unilateral pronouncement either."

I shrug and step back, allowing her to climb into the limo with her daughters. It takes a lot longer than I think it should, but she finally puts a foot out to step from the car.

Noah jumps forward, his hand outstretched to help her. She raises hers to take it.

I shove my soldier out of the way, knocking the cinnamon toothpick he's chewing out of his mouth. Grasping Áine's small hand myself, I pull her toward me.

She trips forward and lands plastered against my front, the top of her head only hitting me mid chest. I like the way her tiny body feels pressed against mine. Snaking an arm around her back, I hold her to me.

"Ooh, they're hugging!" Three small faces agog with curiosity peek out from the limo's still open passenger door.

"Is he going to kiss her?" Joy asks delightedly. "When boys like girls in my class, they chase them and kiss them."

That sounds like something I am going to have to discuss with her school's administrators.