Page 64 of Hot Zone

“She bothers him all the time, Dad. I swear the woman can’t pick out her clothes without checking with Mars to see if what she chose is alright.”

“It’s not that bad,” Mars insisted. “She’s just a little unsure of herself and needs a little reassurance.”

“A little?” Steven asked.

“Okay, a lot of reassurance. Here, let me answer her, and she’ll stop messaging.”

He picked up his phone and started typing. Whatever he was telling her, it wasn’t a simple,I’m busy right now, come see me on Monday when the shop is open.

“There, problem solved.”

I seriously doubted whatever he said solved anything, but I was curious about what he told her.

“And how did you solve this problem?”

“I told her I would meet her at the shop in the morning. I can do a quick reading for her, and that will satisfy her.”

“I thought you were going to the Christmas in November Holiday Market with Mika tomorrow morning.”

“I am. That’s why I told her it would have to be early.”

I nodded my head and let it drop. I wasn’t about to say anything to Mars with Steven and Roxy here, but my boy needed to learn to set some boundaries.

The rest of the meal went really smoothly. Steven told us about a new real estate deal he was working on, and we talked about his cousin Amy’s upcoming wedding. It was just like any other night that I had them over for dinner, which was nice and gave me hope that everything would be okay between us after all.

Chapter 20

Mars

Even though I had to leave early Sunday morning to meet Holly at the shop before Mika and I headed to the craft fair, Samuel still got up before me.

When I came into the kitchen, he was sitting there waiting for me. He was drinking his coffee and looking way sexier than any man had a right to look this early on a Sunday.

“Morning,” I said, leaning down for a kiss.

“Good morning. We’re having oatmeal for breakfast. I cooked some sausage for you to crumble in it the way you like.”

“Thank you, Daddy.” I poured myself a cup of coffee and then fixed myself a bowl of piping hot oats. When I sat down across from him, he put down his tablet and took off his glasses.

“Kitten, there’s something we need to talk about.”

I froze with my spoon halfway to my mouth. “Okay, that sounds ominous.”

“It’s nothing that bad. I’ve just noticed a pattern with you that concerns me, and I think we need to discuss it.”

“Still ominous.”

“This thing with this customer of yours. Do you do things like this often?”

“Holly’s a special case. Her life is kind of a shit show, and having someone to guide her helps her.”

“And is she the only one who’s prone to call you up at home with problems that only you can solve?”

“No, but she’s the only one doing it right now.”

“You’re too nice for your own good, baby boy. You need to set some boundaries, or you’re going to burn out.”

“I know, but how am I supposed to say no when she sounds so out of balance?” I knew he was right, but it wasn’t as easy as he made it sound.

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