Siren in the Wind Book One of the MIT Series

Chapter Thirty

The following afternoon, Abby stepped back from the painting, pleased with her progress. So what if she'd been moping for the past twenty-four hours. At least she had an outlet for the heartache. The canvas was the best cure for despondency. Slapping paint onto a white surface was uniquely satisfying, giving her time to think.

Shame pecked at her conscience when she thought back to the harsh words spoken in her epic moment of panic. An apology was needed. Could you buy a man flowers? That might not go down so well in the alpha dojo across the street. Doubtful that they even owned a vase.

Pride kept her anchored to the easel. Maybe she'd paint a little longer. Abby dabbed the brush into a pale-yellow mix and applied a highlight to the elephant's hide.

"That's unbelievable."

The paintbrush jerked, and the paint dab went wild.

"Don't sneak up on me like some kind of shifty ninja," Abby said, cleaning up the mess.

"I'm naturally shifty, get used to it." Max stepped into the room, admiring her work. "Your talent blows me away, that elephant looks like it could charge right at you." He moved closer to examine the delicate brushstrokes.

"He's a beauty. Pity I won't be able to finish him before my life explodes."

"Your life won't explode. I'm there to make sure that doesn't happen."

"You still want to be in the same room as me after I said all those awful things? I thought you'd stay away for the rest of the assignment."

Max eyeballed the detailed hide of the elephant. "You won't get rid of me that easily."

"I was so mean. What I said was horribly unfair and it's not how I see you." Abby waited for a response while Max still stared at the large painting.

Finally, he looked at her. "Give me your hand."

"My hand?"

"I want to show you something."

Abby pulled the dirty apron off and followed Max out to the street. He tugged her towards their apartment.

Abby slowed her stride. "Am I allowed to go in there? Don't you have classified things lying about?"

"It was the big cleanup today, so restricted materials have been sealed or destroyed. All that's left is the surveillance station, which we're utilizing until we leave. We do have some laptops and an iPad lying about if you want to steal one and get one over on me."

"I've gotten one over on you before...with an apple of a different variety."

Max chuckled. "The team will never let me live that down."

Once inside, Donnie gave her a passing wave from his computer. Max pulled her into one of the bedrooms.

A stuffed green frog sat in the middle of the bed. Correction, it engulfed the entire bed.

"Is that what I think it is?"

"Yep."

"How on earth—"

"Gotta love online shopping. There's a place in Johannesburg that makes giant, stuffed—oomf."

Max suddenly had an arm full of woman. Abby clung to him like a monkey, planting a giant smacker on his lips.

"Do you think Gabe will like it?" Max managed to get out between kisses.

"Are you kidding me? He'll adore it. Thank you, thank you, thank you. When did you order it?"