He rolled his eyes and bent to pick up Trixie. She looked even smaller when he held her, practically swallowed by his biceps. “Actually, you’re going to have to follow me around too.” He chuckled. “I was going to ask if you minded going in to work with me. Travis called that meeting this morning and I want to check in with the guys. Then I thought we could swing by and see Cade at the shop.”
I stared at his arms before realizing he’d caught me midswoon. I nodded quickly, fighting the blush threatening to spread across my cheeks. “Sounds good.”
He grinned, laying his arm over my shoulder. “You’re cute.”
I groaned. “I’m not cute. I feel like a total dork.”
“No, you’re cute,” he corrected. “I fucking love this. I get the best of both worlds. Being with my best friend and still feeling like we’re just starting out. I love that I make you nervous.” He grinned with a devilish wink.
“I’m not nervous around you,” I lied.
He chuckled. “Oh, babe, see, this is where the knowing you for years thing comes in handy.” He leaned in close. “I happen to know you’re a terrible liar.”
I was about to deliver an amazing comeback, I really was, but then he kissed me and I lost all rational thought. Snarky or otherwise.
CHAPTER 10
When we pulled up to Talon, unexpected butterflies took flight in my belly. I slipped out of the truck before he’d even cut the engine, nearly tripping over the curb in my hurry.
“Babe, slow down.” Sid’s exasperated voice sounded behind me. He sided up to me and grabbed my hand.
I looked down at where our hands were joined. “You don’t have to hold my hand, Sid. You’ll catch hell from the guys,” I protested.
“Maybe,” he agreed, his grip still firmly in place. “But they’ll be seeing it a lot. Better let them get used to the idea now.”
I bit my lip, part of me still feeling like this was all some sort of dream—minus the whole mafia-threat element. That part I could have forgone.
We walked in, hand in hand and as expected, three pairs of eyes immediately shot to us.
“Look who’s making their red carpet debut!” Theo hollered while Declan let out a low whistle.
Travis looked at us speculatively for a moment before he chuckled at the guys’ antics, shaking his head.
I blushed, wishing a hole in the ground would open up and swallow me. “Aw, and look, they even had a baby,” Theo continued, looking at Trixie with an exaggerated wince. “Ugly little fucker though, sorry to say, guys.”
“You’re hilarious,” I replied dryly.
“Does this mean I don’t get any more hugs?” Theo asked with a playful glint in his eye.
I replied, “No,” at the same time Sid bit out a firm, “Yes.”
Travis and Declan burst out laughing. Sid let go of my hand and pulled Theo into a playful headlock. “You should be thanking me, asshole. I just gave you material for months to come.”
Theo laughed, pushing at Sid. “I am immensely grateful. I was running out of reasons to fuck with you.”
I rolled my eyes at their juvenile behavior, looking over at Sarah, their receptionist. “How do you deal with them all day?”
“Coffee during the day. Wine at night,” she responded without delay.
I grinned. My kind of girl.
“We already have you drinking? You just started,” Theo protested with a grin.
“It’s just you, Theo,” she retorted.
Sarah wasn’t much older than me. With long caramel-colored hair, big brown eyes, and a fit figure, she was gorgeous. She had been shy when she’d first started, but she’d clearly come out of her shell a bit.
She could handle Theo at least, and that was saying a lot.
