Read Online Tarot's Touch by L.M. Somerton - Free Book Online Page A

charge.”
    That generated a lot of heckling, and Higgs put his head in his hands with a groan. “What have I done to deserve this, boss? Can’t I go to Scotland and you stay here with the kindergarten?”
    Alex gave a short laugh. “Any of them misbehave, Sarge, and you have my blessing to use necessary force.” He turned toward the door. “Best be going or I won’t make my flight.”
     
    The door shut and the team settled back to their work. Conor stared at the door.
    “Go and say goodbye, idiot.” Sarge gave Conor a pained look. “My grandkids look less miserable than you when I make them eat sprouts.”
    “Yes, Sarge!”
    Conor shot out of the door after Alex, ignoring the suggestive comments from his colleagues. He caught up with him in the car park, slowing to a more dignified walk.
    “Were you going to leave without saying goodbye?” Conor stuck his hands in his pockets and scuffed his foot on the tarmac.
    “Kind of hard to do that properly in an office full of blokes, love. Sorry—I didn’t have a chance to tell you first. I only just got confirmation myself. I was going to ring you from the airport.”
    “I understand. It’s not a problem. Don’t worry. I’ll miss you, though.”
    Conor was desperate to give Alex a hug but the security camera on the wall behind them precluded any demonstration of affection.
    “Me too. I’ll call you tonight. I’m going home to pack a few things but I’ll bring the car back here for you and take a cab to the airport. I’ll leave the hotel details in the kitchen.”
    “Okay.”
    “You’re upset.” Alex frowned.
    “Not at all,” Conor reassured him. “But I wish I could have a goodbye kiss.”
    “That wouldn’t be a good idea.”
    “I know,” Conor sulked.
    “Not because of the camera… I’d happily kiss you in front of the entire station.”
    “Why then?”
    “Because one kiss wouldn’t be enough.”
    “Oh.” Conor beamed.
    “Yes, oh.”
    Conor decided it might be time to change the subject. “I’m going to see Agnes’ card reader friend tonight, but I should be home by nine. Call me after that, okay?”
    “Sure.” Alex looked like he was about to impart some wisdom about taking care but stopped himself.
    Conor waited expectantly. He was a grown man and quite capable of taking care of himself, but he doubted that Alex would be able to resist. He raised an eyebrow at the hesitation and, true to form, Alex’s over-protection gene clicked into action.
    “Be careful tonight. Make sure one of the team knows where you are going and what time you expect to be finished. Call in to confirm once you’re at home.”
    Conor grinned. “You just couldn’t stop yourself, could you?”
    Alex scowled. “Your track record for getting into trouble when I’m not around does not fill me with confidence.”
    “You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll take precautions. You need to take care of yourself, though. I don’t want you going off with some big-bearded Scotsman in a kilt.”
    “Stereotypical much?” The frown lines on Alex’s forehead smoothed as he climbed into the car. “I’ll bring you back a big, juicy haggis.”
    Conor put on his best innocent expression. “I really hope that’s a metaphor.”
    Before Alex could respond, he went back inside, stealing himself to face the gentle teasing of his colleagues. His relationship with the boss was a continual source of amusement for all of them.
    He knew it was ridiculous, but Conor felt himself pining for Alex as soon as the door shut between them. It wasn’t as if they spent every minute of every day together, after all. In fact, with such a heavy case load, the opposite was true. Some days the only time they spent together was in bed. Conor smiled to himself at that thought. This felt different though—there was a hollow feeling inside him that he didn’t think would go away until Alex was home.
    He got back to the office and had barely gotten through the door when Pete thrust a huge