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One corner of his mouth slants upward. "Soon, I promise. But first, I need to go inside and check on something."
"I'll come with you."
"No. This is a… private matter. You'll understand in a little while."
He stands, kisses my forehead, and walks away.
What is that sneaky, sexy man up to?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Richard
I hover at the edge of the patio, a few meters behind Maddie's chair, not speaking to make sure she doesn't know I'm here. I've orchestrated a surprise for her, one I think she'll appreciate. She loves to tease me, so I'm going to tease her. Or rather, get my mate to tease her on my behalf.
Alex Thorne stands beside me, his gaze shifting back and forth between me and Maddie. He keeps his voice soft enough that she won't hear. "Are you sure about this? You know I'm game for anything, but you don't strike me as the practical-joke sort."
"Maybe I haven't been until now, until I met Maddie."
"The right woman can completely alter your perspective. Though I have to wonder about Maddie's mental state in light of her potty theory about us."
"She was joking. I think."
"Let's hope so." He claps a hand on my shoulder. "Shall we do this?"
"Yes, go on. You're up first."
Alex nods, then he approaches Maddie's chair, halting just behind it.
She's engrossed in studying the bushes or something, so she doesn't notice.
I move closer, though not too close or she might spot me.
Alex leans in to cover her eyes with his hands. "Hungry for a kiss, Luscious?"
She contorts her mouth into an expression I've come to know as Maddie thinking. I can't see her eyes, but I'm sure she's squinting them. Her brows have lowered too. Gradually, her lips curve into a sexily teasing smile. "Oh yes, I'd love to make out with you, Alex. I'm sure Rick won't mind at all."
Alex removes his hands from her eyes and glances at me, shrugging.
Maddie tips her head back to peer up at him.
"Clever girl," Alex says. "Rick was sure you wouldn't be fooled, but I hoped calling you Luscious might confuse you a little."
"Nice try, but I spent a week with the Dixons before they shipped me off to the Caribbean for a matchmaking vacation. I know Reese calls his wife Luscious. Besides, I might think you Brits all have similarly smooth voices, but I know who's who when I hear you guys talking."
"Now I understand why Rick fell under your spell. You're even cleverer than I expected, Dr. Solberg."
She cranes her neck around to see me. "Richard Hunter, you naughty man, playing a trick like that. You're testing me, aren't you?"
I amble over to her chair and kneel beside it, giving her a quick kiss. "It wasn't a test. It was payback for your claim that I sound like the Dixons, Alex Thorne, and Dexter Armstrong-Hill."
Alex is still standing behind her chair smirking.
"You can bugger off now," I tell him. "Your services are no longer needed."
"If you need help with Maddie again, I'm always available. In whatever capacity you need me to fulfill."
"No thank you, Alex. I fulfill every capacity that Madeleine requires."
