“Wow. I did not see that coming.”
“They live in California now and keep a low profile. We aren’t in contact unless it’s through highly encrypted channels. It’s how we keep each other safe.”
“Do you miss them?” she asks.
“Sometimes, yes,” I admit. “But I’m involved in plenty of things they don’t want to be a part of anymore, and I have to respect their wishes. Just as they respect mine. There’s no loss of love between us.”
“What sort of things are you involved in?”
“I’m retired now, Marigold, you must remember that. But before, I did plenty of things you wouldn’t approve of.”
She swallows hard. “Like murder?”
“Yes.” There’s no point in lying to her. “I’ve accepted contract kills. I’ve stolen some of the most stunning works of art in the world and sold them to the highest bidder–though I admit I kept several for myself.”
“That’s a lot.” She steps back. “Like a lot.”
I follow her, even though I realize she probably wants space. That’s the one thing I can’t give her. “It is. But it’s who I am. I enjoy art, priceless antiques, and you. I have no friends except Elliott, who you’ll meet tonight. I’ve never been in love until I saw you. Hmm, what else?” I smirk. “I’m a cat person.”
She laughs a little. “I’ve noticed.”
“Heirloom is as good of a judge of character as I am, and he loves you.” I lean down and ghost my lips against hers. “As I do.”
“How can you love me when you don’t know me?”
“I know you’re a terrible liar, a not-so-great thief, a lover of cats, and someone who gives her time and effort to help animals, with no reward except knowing she’s giving a creature a chance at a good life. You and your father aren’t on good terms, and I’d like to delve into that more.” I try to keep my tone even, despite the fact I’d like to wring her father’s neck. “You finished high school, started college, then dropped out and started cleaning houses and volunteering at the shelter. You majored in biology, and I presume that was so you could eventually become a vet?”
“Wow, you’ve done your homework.” She puts her hands on my chest again, but not to hold me back this time. “I did want to be a vet, but I couldn’t afford tuition anymore. That’s when I started cleaning houses.”
“And stealing,” I coax. “But I also know you used everything you took to finance the shelter, not yourself.”
“Yeah.” She shrugs. “It still doesn’t make it right.”
“I’ve done far too much wrong for my scales to ever balance, so I’m not worried about trinkets you’ve taken here and there. You shouldn’t either. But if you do, I can make arrangements to return whatever you took.”
“No,” she responds quickly. “I stole those things from bad people, mean people. They had money to spare, and the animals needed it. What I did was wrong, and I’m going to own that, but I still don’t regret it. I never will.”
“And there you are, Goldie.” I pull her to me, her breath hitching. “That fire in your gut, the one that led you to my greenhouse and into my arms. That’s why I love you.”
She gets on her tiptoes and kisses me.
I groan into her mouth and press her against the shelves, tasting her as she latches on to my shoulders. “I love you,” I murmur against her lips, then plunge my tongue into her mouth again. I can’t get enough. I never will. I know that now.
Lifting her, I grab her ass as she spreads her legs and straddles me. Something falls from the shelf, but I don’t care, not when I have my girl in my arms, her body warm and soft in my hands.
A knock sounds at the door.
I angle her head so I can kiss her more deeply, and she moans, her nails digging into my skin as I rock my hips against her.
“Mr. Harbin.”
“What?” I bark.
“There’s an officer here to see you.”
Marigold gasps. “Oh, shit. It’s my dad.”