Page 46 of Pucking Revenge

Brooks doesn’t let go of me, even after I’ve maneuvered around to face him. “Believe me,” he chuckles, “I’m doing you a favor.”

Aiden shakes his head and drops to his haunches to love on his dog some more.

With my hands on his biceps, I step in and tilt my head back. “Want me all to yourself, secret lover?”

His chest shakes with silent laughter. “No. My brother stinks. I’m seriously protecting you.”

I peer over my shoulder at Aiden, then turn back to face Brooks. He cups my jaw and rubs his thumbs over the apples of my cheeks, taking me in and cataloging every inch of my face. “You sleep okay?”

Nuzzling into his hands, I tilt my face down to hide the dark circles under my eyes. “Just tossed and turned for a bit. How are the adoptions going?” I step in close, and when he releases his hold on my face, I lean my cheek against his chest and listen to his steady heartbeat. God, if I stayed like this, I’d probably fall asleep. He’s so warm. Somehow, he manages to be both firm and soft, and he smells so damn good.

“Pretty good.” He tugs at my ponytail. “Although Aiden’s scaring people away. Maybe I should keep you by my side. You’re pretty and you smell like fall.”His voice is pure affection.

Forcing my eyes open, I tip my face up to take him in, eager for a glimpse of the smile I know he’s wearing, and am greeted with a kiss to my forehead. It’sinnocent. Something I’m sure he’s done before. But this time it feels like more than just a friendly kiss. The rumble in his chest makes it feel possessive.

That thought has me scanning the room for Seb. But as far as I can tell, he isn’t here.

I shake off the thought. Brooks is just a friendly guy, and like I said, he’s probably kissed my forehead a dozen times or more since we met. That move wasn’t out of the ordinary.

For the next three hours, we work the lines of people and play with dogs of all ages. When my phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out to find my mother’s name flashing on the screen, I sneak outside to take the call. Unfortunately, service is terrible, so when I answer, I get nothing but silence. I immediately call her back, but it goes straight to voicemail.

Slumped against the brick building, I curse my stupid phone service.

“Come on, Livy. It’s Friday. You know what that means,” Beckett says as he and Liv walk out of the building, hand in hand, with Deogi trotting along beside them, tail wagging and tongue lolling out of his mouth.

I raise my hand, ready to call out to them, but snap my mouth shut when Liv says, “You’re not putting it in the butt tonight, Mr. Langfield.”

Holy fuck. I really wish I’d made a damn noise the second they stepped outside. Holding my breath, I press back against the bricks and will myself to become one with the wall. I even close my eyes. If I can’t see them, then they won’t see me, right?

“You know what you calling me Mr. Langfield does,” he purrs.

He fucking purrs. I swear.

Ermygod.

When I hear the sound of a car door opening, I let out the breath burning my lungs, hopeful that I’m in the clear. Except before I can open my eyes, a heavy weight settles over my shoulders.

“Can the two of you stop talking about butt stuff? You’re freaking out the head of my PR team.”

Cringing, I pry one eye open and peer up. Gavin is giddy as he grins down at me.

Groaning, I whack him in the stomach with the back of my hand. He makes a loud humph, but an instant later, he falls into a fit of laughter.

“Don’t worry. They were already in the car when I yelled that.” He straightens and smooths out his suit jacket. “But seriously, can they get a room?”

I drop my head back against the brick, ignoring the way it tugs at my hair, and blow out a breath. How do these things keep happening to me? First I’m poked in the eye by Brooks’s cock, and then I make a scene at the bar. Now I’ve accidentally become a voyeur while a married couple talk dirty to one another. The Langfields are going to think I’m a pervert with really weird fetishes.

Like really weird.

The door beside us opens again, and this time Brooks and Aiden appear.

“Want to do something for dinner?” Aiden is asking as they step out onto the sidewalk.

“No, I have plans.” Brooks’s face lights up when he spots us, but in an instant, his jaw goes rigid and his eyes narrow on where Gavin’s arm is still draped over me.

Oblivious to his brother’s sudden shift in mood, Aiden continues, “I’ll just hang at your place, then.”

Brooks stomps our way, his expression getting harder with every step he takes. “Don’t you have somewhere you can go?” he asks Aiden, his tone gruffer than I thought he was capable of.

---