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“A snack? I just ate lunch.”
Judd didn’t look up as he cut some cheese into pieces. “That was hours ago. And you barely ate.” He sliced an orange into pieces and put the cut side down on two plates. What was he doing?
“I really don’t think I can fit anything more in.”
Judd grunted. “You can.”
Jesus. It truly was a miracle that no one had smothered this man.
“Sit here. I’ll be back. Judd will look after you.” Beck lifted her onto a stool.
Wait. He was leaving her with Grumpzilla?
She shook her head at Beck when Judd turned away. But Beck just grinned and spun around, whistling.
Traitor.
“Here you are,” Judd said.
She looked at the plate in front of her. “Is that . . . a hedgehog?”
“Yep.” He wiped his hands on a cloth. The orange was the body of the hedgehog and cut pieces of olive had been used for the eyes. The spikes were toothpicks pushed into the orange skin. On each toothpick was a piece of cheese, a grape, and a piece of pineapple.
It was so sweet.
She gaped at Judd, shocked that he’d done this for her.
“What is it? Is there something you don’t like on there? The pineapple? Should have asked,” he muttered to himself. “Not everyone likes pineapple.”
He reached for the plate, but she grabbed it, hugging it against her. “Mine.”
His eyebrows rose. “What?”
“I mean . . . uh . . . I like pineapple.” She put the plate down, feeling foolish. But Judd just smirked, leaning a hip against the counter.
“You like cute food. Noted.”
What did that mean? Why would he take note? She didn’t understand why he was being so nice. This was so sweet. Maybe this was the real Judd and the rest was an act.
“You going to eat it or just look at it?” he asked as he moved to the fridge.
And there he was . . . she shook her head. Perhaps he really was a mix of grumpy and sweet.
She reached for a toothpick, pulling it out and taking off an olive.
Yum.
Okay, maybe she was slightly hungry.
He placed a glass of water in front of her. “Do you have any coffee?” she asked.
“Nope. Water.” He tapped the glass. “Drink.”
“You do realize I’m not a dog, right?” she asked in exasperation.
“Yes, you are,” Owen said from behind her. She jumped in surprise. How had she not heard him? The damn man moved like a ghost. “You’re a naughty little puppy.”
He reached over her to grab one of the toothpicks. Judd smacked his hand. “No. Not yours.”
“What? I can’t have one?” Owen asked, slipping onto the stool beside her.
“No, they’re for Chloe.”
She stared at Judd in shock. He was looking at her intently, almost willing her to eat.
“I can share.”
“Can you?” Owen asked. “Are you a good sharer, baby girl?”
Okay. Whoa. They seemed to be talking about two different things. She turned to look up at Owen. His gaze was intense. Hot. His hair was wet as though he’d just been in the shower.
Damn. She wouldn’t have minded joining him.
She licked her lips and glanced back up at Judd. He hadn’t moved any closer, keeping several feet between them. For some reason, she wished he was closer.
What would it feel like to be pressed between them? Shoot. Was she really thinking about the two of them sharing her?
Yes. Yes, she was.
“I think I could be,” she whispered, surprised at her daring.
She licked her lips. Judd stepped forward and drew another toothpick free of the hedgehog. He held it out to her, and she used her teeth to draw off a piece of pineapple.
As she chewed, satisfaction filled his face. Because she was eating? It seemed to be the way Judd took care of those around him.
Although he slapped Owen’s hand away again as he tried to grab another toothpick.
“Hey! I’m hungry!” Owen said.
“You know where the food is. Get it yourself.”
“No cute animal food for me?” Owen asked.
“No. That’s all for Chloe.”
Wow. Her head was spinning. She felt special. When she really wasn’t anything of the sort.
“I don’t get this beach thing,” Owen said. “Found sand in places no sand should ever be.”
She couldn’t help but giggle. Although, she got it. She loved the beach, but sand got everywhere.
“Eat a bit more, Blue,” Judd coaxed.
Blue? That was a new one.
“I really won’t eat all of this. Owen can have some.”
“Don’t go sharing your food with these beasts,” Judd told her. “They’re garbage disposals. Owen can get his own food. Or he can wait until you’re finished. You eat first.”
Shit.
These guys kept surprising her in the best possible way.
Judd picked up the water, holding it out to her across the island bench. She wrinkled her nose, water wasn’t her favorite. But she reached for the glass.
“No, let me hold the glass. You drink.”
She dropped her hand and took a few sips, tapping his hand when she was finished. As she drew away some water spilled on the counter.
