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“Don’t lie. I know you’d pick dinner over me,” I huff with little heat.
“Definitely, because I’d eat your honey for dessert,” he growls, darting in to blow a raspberry against my neck.
“Stop it,” I squeal, giggling as I wriggle out of his hold. “There was something else I was supposed to talk to you about.”
“Yes, I accept ownership of your heart and honeytrap too,” he says, hand to his chest as he bows.
Choosing to not respond to that because…honeytrap? Ugh.
“Bry told me you’ve been at the rescue on the weekends?”
He straightens, and the cocky playfulness vanishes as he suddenly looks unsure. His hand brushes through his curls, shoulders tensing up towards his ears. “I…ah… Well, I figured whilst you take time off… I know it’s something important to you, so I thought I could try to step in to help. Not that I’m great at it like you are, but I can assist Ms. A with some of the heavy stuff.”
Tears blur my vision, and my initial words of gratitude are swallowed by the thick lump in my throat.
“Max…” I croak out.
“Shit. I’m sorry. Should I not have? I wasn’t trying to step on your toes,” he says quickly, taking a step towards me with his hands hovered.
“No, no. It’s just completely thrown me… It’s so unbelievably thoughtful and kind. I’ve felt so guilty about letting them down. And all along, you’ve been doing what I couldn’t.”
“Rosy…” My name pours out of him. “I’m just a poor substitute for you. Daisy glares and watches me the whole time, judging me for doing things wrong. Jerry has bit my ass more times than I can count. Mavis has escaped twice, and it still takes me forever to get the chickens to bed. Whilst they all miss you, they have me and Ms. A to look after them until you’re able to.”
“Shitsticks, look at me.” I laugh through the tears. “A moment ago, we were up against the door doing things, and now I’m like this.”
Before I can rub away the traitorous tears with the back of my hand, Max steps in and gently swipes them away with his thumbs.
“You mean when we were getting hot and heavy, tongue-fucking each other?”
My nose scrunches at the crude description.
“Mouth orgy?”
I snort.
“A spit swap? Gobbing? Mouth mashing?”
“Just nope.” I shudder and skirt around him to tug the door open, deciding I’m suddenly hungry after all.
“Okay, how about—” Max starts as he follows me.
“No more,” I plead, laughing as I quicken my steps.
As I turn out of the hallway, my socked feet slip on the hardwood floor when I try to slow. Big hands grab hold of my biceps, effectively propping me up before I even get the chance to pinwheel my arms to steady myself.
“Thank you.” I exhale heavily, looking up into Nate’s dark eyes.
He looks beyond me, catching sight of Max, and he smirks. “I can hold him back if you need to run,” he gruffs, a brow twitching slightly.
“I love a good chase,” Max quips from behind me, and heat presses against my back a second later. He ducks down and licks a trail up my neck.
Nate tuts, and his nose wrinkles. “Don’t get your slobber on my girl.”
“You can both slobber on me.” I grin, pretending I don’t see both their heated expressions as I step from between them. “Dinner smells amazing, Bry.”
FORTY-THREE
ROSY
