Page 356 of Lodestar

“We’ll sort it.”

Paddy flicked a glance between Conor and me. “Thank you. I know he’ll appreciate it. He offered to come down himself but figured it was best to stay on the down-low.”

I grunted. “Tell him he owes Conor a fruit basket.”

“A fruit basket?”

“As a ‘thank you.’”

He blinked. “Oh. Sure. Wouldn’t you prefer cake, Conor? I know how much you love sweet treats, and I don’t mean fruit.”

“Candy would be great. I have to share mine now,” he said, the teasing tone for me alone.

I nudged him with my elbow then watched as Paddy split another look between us. “She the one, Con? That’s why she’s wearing my ma’s cameo?”

“She’s the one,” he agreed, sliding his arm around my shoulders.

“That’s why I’m wearing the cameoandwhy I’m defending his ass from his family. There are only so many pieces he has to give, and I’m not going to let you steal each of them away from him.”

Paddy’s brows arched. “It’s for the family.”

“Don’t give a fuck if it is or isn’t. Family are the ones who’ll drain you the quickest if you let them.” I sniffed as I slippedmy arm around his waist, holding him as tightly as he held me. “Figure you’d know that seeing as you ran away from yours decades ago.”

Though he stiffened, he took the hit on the chin. “Thank you for helping Liam, Conor.” He cleared his throat. “Star.”

I bowed my head at the acknowledgment and watched as he left the office.

“You setting yourself up as my guard dog, Star?” Conor asked as he pressed his cheek to the top of my head.

“Someone has to before they dry you up and turn you into a shriveled prune.”

“Wouldn’t you still love me if I were a shriveled prune?” he teased.

“Sure. I’d just soak you in syrup. Rehydrate the wrinkles.”

“Good thing I like sugar then, huh?”

Snickering, I concurred, “It is.”

“And don’t worry about me. I get my kicks out of them.”

“You do?”

“They have a thing for fucking in elevators that are under my purview. Or talking about shit they wouldn’t want any of us to hear within reach of one of my mikes.”

I mock-gagged. “You watch them fuck?”

“Nope. But I still know they did it.” He tapped his nose. “Who knows when I’ll need to blackmail them into doing something?”

I cackled. “This is why we’re good together.”

He winked. “One of just many reasons.”

Heartburn.

Goddamn heartburn.

But this was the kind not even a Tums could fix.

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