Warrior Enchanted: The Sons of the Zodiac (37 page)

“Hi.”
Yeah, real smooth opener.

“Good to see you.”
What was he, a talk show host?

“Happy New Year.”
If he were Dick Fucking Clark.

And then there were no words save one as Grier walked through the door with Sloan and Walker.

Wow
.

Mick lifted his hand in a wave to catch her attention and the rest of the airport faded away.

How had this happened?

He loved women. He loved their perspective and the way their take on the world around them was just…different than his. And unlike a lot of men he knew, he loved their company in bed and out.

But Grier Thompson was different.

She was…so much
more
, somehow. More interesting. More enticing.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” He leaned down before he could stop himself and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. The light scent of her filled his nose and the nerves flooding his stomach shifted into something a great deal more interesting.

Hunger
.

Walker slapped him on the shoulder and reached for his hand, the moment shattered in the wake of his friend’s exuberance. Mick didn’t miss the frustration that crossed Sloan’s gorgeous cheekbones, and it was that slight acknowledgment that had him smiling and slapping Walker on the back as they embraced.

Damn, but he’d missed his friend. Even if he was about as subtle as a freight train.

He reached for Sloan next, not surprised to hear the lightly whispered “Sorry” as she hugged him.

“Good flight?”

A round of murmured “yes’s” and they were off.

Mick reached for the handle of Grier’s suitcase and pointed toward the herd of people heading down the corridor. “Baggage claim’s that way.”

“This is all I have.”

Mick glanced down at the small roll-aboard in his grip and the large bag that sat on top of it. “But you were gone over a week.”

“I packed light.”

“Oh.”

The first smile he’d seen lit up her face. “You were expecting six pieces of matching Louis Vuitton?”

He couldn’t hold back the grin, the last vestiges of nerves fading in the bright light of her smile. “Maybe only four.”

Grier’s smile brightened even further as something suspiciously like mischief alighted in the depths of her gray gaze. “Ask Sloan how many bags she brought.”

Mick had spent far too many years with Walker and their other best friend, Roman, to ask a question so deliberately posed. With a broad smile for Sloan, he pointed in the direction of the claim area.

“I’m sure every piece is full of well-needed items.”

“Ass kisser,” Grier muttered as Sloan gifted him with a broad smile.

“Nope.” Feeling lighter than he had in days, he draped a casual arm around Grier’s shoulders and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I’m just very, very smart.”