Page 61 of Not Catching Love

Derek steps in close, all body warmth and a fresh wash of citrusy cologne as he leans down by my ear. “I really hope you’re planning to put clothes on before dinner.”

“I don’t know what you mean. I’m wearing clothes.”

His groan is rough. “Let me rephrase. I’m going to need you to put on something where I can’t see the outline of your cock.”

“Why?” I turn my head so we’re nose to nose. “Does it make you uncomfortable?”

“Only one part of me.”

Excitement chases the nerves away. “I like my choices, then. I guess thatone partof you will have to find a way to make itself feel better.”

I head for the kitchen, and as I go, I slowly lift the back ofthe shirt, showing off how these shorts don’t cover my ass. It could be my imagination, but I swear he chokes back a sob.

This is looking very promising.

“Dinner’s ready,” Molly says as soon as we walk into the kitchen. He’s completely oblivious as he plates everything up, but Seven’s watching us suspiciously. He can play the big brother role all he likes; there is no way in hell he’d cockblock me.

He might not know how weird I am about sex, but he does know that I never stop talking about Derek. No matter what his feelings are, he wouldn’t get between me and my happiness.

But as we sit down to eat, a new kind of nerves kick in. Not for what happens next but forthis. Them. Unlike me, they’ve only ever spoken to Derek at work, and the thought of the three of them not getting along makes me nauseous.

“You cooked this?” Derek asks Molly.

“Yeah, I’ve learned a lot since moving in here. Our neighbor Aggy cooks with me once or twice a week.”

“Aggy?” Derek glances at me. “She was with you at the nursing home that one time?”

Seven’s face twists in distaste. “Aggy was at a nursing home? She’s not planning to move, is she?”

“Hell, no.” Aggy will be stubborn enough to die in that house. Probably on an expensive piece of furniture too. Then we’ll have to lie about the whole dead body thing when we sell it. I wouldn’t put it past her to haunt the place either.

Seven visibly relaxes. “Good. She’s too young for one of those places.”

If that’s the lie he needs to tell himself, I’ll let him. Pretty sure when the inevitable happens, neither of us is going to handle it well. There are some things therapy can’t fix, and losing the only motherly figure we’ve ever had will be one of those things.

“You’re all close with her, then?” Derek asks, turning to me. “I might have to meet her properly.”

“Hmm … yeah, that won’t be happening.”

It takes me a moment around chewing to realize the three of them are waiting for me to go on.

“Not because of you,” I say. “Well, sort of because of you. But mostly her. She made me promise that I wasn’t going to try anything with you and risk your job.” I throw my hands up. “She’s a meddlesome old bat.”

“Tell me you didn’tpromiseher,” Seven says.

“Of course I did. If I tried to gag her, she would have fought back, and let’s face it, she’d win. How else was I going to make her shut up about it?”

Derek fixes me with a look. “Probably not like that.”

“Oh well, it’s done now.”

Thankfully, they let it go, and dinner is …great. Turns out one of Seven’s regular clients is a friend of Derek’s, and Seven monopolizes way too much of Derek’s time talking about some person I don’t even know. Derek shows way too much interest in Molly’s move here and how Molly likes it in Seattle, and if he’ll ever go back, and if he misses his dad?—

“Molly has a perfectly wonderful father, and he’s very loved, blah blah blah, we get it,” I finally cut in.

“Really, Z?” Seven asks flatly.

“Sorry.” Molly’s bouncing in his seat. “I’m a talker.”

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