Page 136 of Duty

And cute.

Andino chuckled. “Sort of, I think. Makes my mother feel less emotional about the fact she doesn’t have any grandbabies yet. At least, if my dog is over there and not me, then she can go on and on to him about me knocking somebody up as soon as I possibly can instead of directly to me.”

Haven blinked. “Oh, wow.”

“You did ask.”

She had.

And was regretting it.

“So, is that a yes on me coming over to your place, then?” he asked.

Haven hummed under her breath, and crossed the short distance between them in the empty, dark parking lot until she was right in front of Andino. He didn’t waste any time before snaking his arms around her waist, and pulling her in close to his hard body.

Honestly, she liked it here better.

Staring up at him, Haven smiled. “Thanks for waiting.”

“Things are better when you’re around.”

Were they?

She didn’t dare to ask.

“Your mom and the grandbaby thing—is that because you don’t want kids, or …?”

“I want an army of kids,” Andino said.

Haven blinked again.

Andino just laughed.

“Really, a whole army? Because that’s a lot of diapers, and sleeplessness, and … college funds. Eighteen years’ worth spread over several different little humans that suck the life and soul out of you. Because that’s what kids do, you know? You give them life, love them, and nurture them, and how do they pay you back? By puking on you at three in the morning when you’ve just gotten home from being on your feet for eight hours. And yet, when they wake up smiling the next day, all you can do is smile back and love them. That is parenting.”

Andino shrugged. “I know—that’s what I want. Just not today.”

Huh.

And why exactly did that make her feel so fucking warm inside?

Goddamn him.

He made it terribly hard to stay angry—when she had every right to be exactly that with him even now—when he kept doing things that reminded her … oh, yeah, she’d somehow fallen in love with him.

Stupid fucking heart.

“So, back to your place …” Andino winked, and dropped a quick kiss to her mouth that really only left her wanting more. “Is that a yes, or a no? It’s kind of cold out here, and I would much rather be doing something else entirely.”

Sure he would.

So would she, really.

“Can you be quiet?” she asked.

Andino grinned—flashing white teeth and a promise of sin in a blink. “I think the better question is can you?”

She smacked his chest.