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“Are you sure?”
“No.”
Walking forward, she tucked herself and Gertrude up against his chest, feeling warm and happy all over. “Is this gonna become a thing now? You’re in tune with your emotions and you’ll walk around crying all the time?”
“No. Maybe.”
Claire rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. “Look at us. You, me, and Gertrude. One big, happy family. Who woulda thought?”
“Not me.”
“Me, either.”
He dipped his head to meet her eyes. “Are you happy, Sugar Lips?”
“Yes to the happy, no to the pet name.”
Graham let out a growl of exasperation. “You’re making this so much harder than it needs to be. If I’m gonna be in a real relationship I want to call my girlfriend something special. When we’re out and I have to get your attention, just sayingClairedoesn’t tell anyone we’re together. You could just as easily be my sister or an old friend. But when I yell out,C’mere, Snookums, everyone will know you’re mine.”
She wouldn’t have thought she’d be the type of girl to like a man being possessive about her, yet here she was. “Why would you be yelling?”
“It’s us. We’re loud.”
He had a point. “Fine. I’m vetoing Snookums, though.”
Graham released a long-suffering sigh and got to work packing his things. Half an hour later as they descended the stairs, he tossed over his shoulder, “Love Muffin?”
“No.”
“Sparky?”
“No.”
“Wonder Woman?”
Claire paused. “That’s an improvement, but still no.”
He continued without hesitation, “Wait, I’ve got it. Lambchop.”
She snorted.
Graham kept going as they exited the store through the back and continued spouting off suggestions the entire drive to the condo, each one worse than the last.
Claire laughed and rolled her eyes the entire way.
When he pulled into her usual spot and put the car in Park Claire made no move to get out. She gently ran her hand along Gertrude’s fur and looked over at Graham, admiring his large body situated in her driver’s seat. His dark, sexy eyes assessed her curiously, his hair a mess from spending the weekend in a tent.
“What?” he asked.
She lifted her chin and met his gaze. “Is this our future? Your never-ending quest to find some perfect nickname for me, constantly hounding me, and driving me crazy?”
“Probably.” He grinned. “Especially the drive-you-crazy part.”
She shook her head, smiling.
“You okay with that?” he asked.
She put on a show of considering her options, scrunching her nose and lifting her shoulders. They both knew the answer, though.
