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He groans, curling in an arc, his hands going to cover himself. Oblivious to his pain, Pepper leaps into Alex’s outstretched arms.
“Shit!” Cruz howls.
“You should know to protect yourself.” Alex juggles his dog. “Pepper, we have to teach you some manners. It’s not nice to crush a man’s balls unless he deserves it.”
A loud giggle bubbles up my throat, and I can’t help the hysterical laughter that follows. I grip my stomach at the scene. One man is on the floor trying to roll over and wincing while his boyfriend coddles their dog like a baby.
“Not only are you trying to get me killed, you’re laughing about it.” Cruz stumbles to his feet.
“I can’t help it. This is the best entertainment I’ve had in a while.”
“That’s sad.”
“It’s awesome. And I’m not trying to get you killed. It’s a tiny favor.”
“Julianna has sworn us to secrecy until the big reveal. With her expanding waistline, Ember is working on the elasticity in the torso. The hemline is still a mess.”
“Aesthetics aren’t important.” I reach into my bag and pull out the chain with dangling crystal stones.
“That is stunning.” Cruz takes it, fingering the gems delicately.
“Stunning, maybe, but it only matters if it matches the dress. Ember gave me a few stones to work with, but I had to improvise.”
Ember Hayes is Cruz’s cousin and part-owner of Clyde’s. She’s also a brilliant dress designer who only works with special clients. Rightfully so, she is very secretive with her designs.
Ember is also married to Robbie Hayes, who is heir to Hayes Security. He handled all of my security systems at the house and salon. And when I was kidnapped, he ran the rescue crew from the building across the street.
I wouldn’t say we are close friends, but there is a bond.
Through the interactions with our friends, I’ve gotten to know Cruz and Alex over the past months.
“Four inches. I’ll give you four inches.” Cruz relents.
“Baby, don’t sell yourself short. You have over four inches to offer,” Alex jokes, winking at me.
Cruz’s cheeks heat and he slices his eyes to his partner. “Four inches of fabric, pervert.”
“You mention inches and my mind goes off on its own.”
Another round of giggles erupts until tears slip from my eyes. “Four inches is the best offer I’ve had in ages.”
The carefree mood changes, both men looking at me warily. “Come on, guys. I can join in on sex jokes. I’m not that much of a killjoy.”
“No one thinks you’re a killjoy, Rowan. We just want to be sensitive to your situation.”
Situation… translation… pity.
That’s what I see in the eyes piercing back at me. To my horror, my eyes well with tears for a completely different reason. I collapse onto the sofa and cover my face as the sob wells in my throat.
“Oh fuck.” Cruz drops to one side as Alex takes my other. Pepper’s cold nose presses to my knees as I lose control.
My body shakes as weeks—fucking months—of anger and sadness pour down my cheeks.
Fingers tangle in my hair, pulling it back from my face. Two firm hands rub up and down my back.
Kind.
Gentle.
