Page 39 of Under the Mistle-Foe

He laughed, then leaned in close. “Do you have plans tonight?”

I shook my head, mostly on autopilot.

“Good. Should we go on the light tour? It’s the first night, after all. We could scope out the competition for your mom.”

“You’d really want to do that?” I asked. I’d planned on going to check out what the other houses had planned anyway, but I didn’t think Remy would be interested in something like this.

He shrugged. “I’m not going to lie and say it’s high on my want-to-do list, but I’ll be doing it with you. So, what do you say? Wanna go on a date with me tonight?”

“Yeah, I do. I really do,” I replied, feeling my heart in my throat.

“Cool,” he smirked and got up from his seat. But instead of leaving, he bent over to reach my ear. “Oh, and just so we’re clear, I’m totally down to see if youcouldhave my child. Though we’re unlikely to succeed, at least the practice will bea lotof fun.”

I could feel my cheeks heat at his words. I was probably as red as a tomato from hearing him say something like that in public—in his dad’s diner, no less! Remy chuckled again atmy glare and pressed a quick kiss to my lips before practically skipping all the way back into the kitchen.

I got out my laptop and tried to hide my face with its screen. I was too embarrassed to meet anyone’s eyes at that moment because, holy fuck. Remy just said he wanted to have sex with me. Sure, what we did last night could be considered sex, but notfull-blown, go all the way, do not pass GO,sex.

Because, regardless of how sure Remy seemed about jumping into gay sex with both feet, I still had my worries. I was nothing like a woman’s softness. I was bigger than Remy. Taller too—even if it was only by an inch. But that meant when he held me, it was an undeniable fact that I was a man. So, to hear him imply he was interested in my body like that had my hopes rising way too high.

How was I expected to function after that revelation?

CHAPTER 17

JETT

I’d somehow managedto be mostly productive for the rest of the day. After having a quick early lunch with Remy, he’d dragged me to their stock room, demanding kisses. His excuse was that in his attempt to quit smoking, it was my job as a supportive boyfriend to keep his mouth busy when he had the cravings.

I wasn’t going to say no. Hell, this worked for my benefit too. I was more than happy to go around sneaking kisses with my boyfriend.

Boyfriend! I still got giddy every time he called himself that.

Our impromptu stockroom kisses didn’t last long before the lunch rush demanded Remy return to help Rory in the kitchen. I didn’t stay at the diner either and made my way home.

I was still hesitant about leaving Sugar and Spice alone for long periods of time when they were still adjusting to their new environment, but I found them cuddling on the couch, looking like they didn’t have a care in the world. That was, of course, until they heard me preparing a little snackfor them. Then the tiny feet came scurrying into the kitchen, and Spice’s demanding meows started too.

Spice ate withabandon, chowing on the food like it was the first meal of his life. Sugar was a bit more reserved and took her time licking her plate clean. Afterward, I played with them for a bit, mostly to release some of Spice’s energy, so he didn’t distract me while I worked, then settled onto the couch to finish today’s work.

The cats left to do their own thing for a while but slowly slunk back into the living room and made themselves comfortable, tucked against me. My hand absentmindedly petted them as I read the document.

It hadn’t even been a week since I brought them back, and I already knew this was going to end up a foster fail. There was no way I could return them when they were alreadymybabies. I wondered how Adam felt about furry grandchildren instead of human ones.

When dinnertime rolled around, I called it a day for work and got ready for tonight’s date. Remy said he’d pick me up at my place, making my house the first stop on tonight’s light tour.

I thoroughly took my time getting ready in the shower, so nervous that my bar soap kept slipping out of my hand. I was being stupid. This wasn’t my first date. I’d been on more than I could count. Butthiswas the one that really mattered. A date with the man I’d been dreaming about for as long as I could remember.

After spending an obscene amount of time scrubbing myself in the shower, I moved to the closet and shuffled through my clothes, finally choosing a blue sweater that hugged my body like a glove. I paired it with some casual jeans and the red scarf and beanie Remy had given me. Or at least that was the story I was going with. If Remy tried to ask for them back, I was going to play dumb.

I had just enough time to spritz myself with a little cologne when the doorbell rang. Remy stood outside with a lollipop in his mouth and hands in his pant pockets.

“Hey,” I greeted and let him inside.

He looked me up and down. His eyes landed on the scarf around my neck, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he pushed me against the door, one hand quickly pulling the candy from his mouth as he gave me a cherry-flavored kiss.

“Nowthatwas a greeting,” I teased and stole his lollipop for myself. “I thought you weren’t a huge fan of my sweets?”

He shrugged. “I was feeling nervous and itching for a smoke, but opted for one of the dozens of lollipops you left at the diner.”

“Glad to be of service,” I said and leaned in for another kiss, using my tongue to press the lollipop back into his mouth before pulling back. Remy hummed and swirled the candy around. “Can I ask what you were nervous about?”

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