Page 124 of Sunshine

“I know that.” Julian carefully moved my laptop off my lap and pulled me onto his lap.

I let out a shaky breath. Maybe wasn’t going to come crashing down. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” He kissed the side of my head. “I should have been more considerate or offered you the office when you got here. I’m used to Luca leaving the room if he’s trying to focus on something super important.”

“I just wanted to be able to spend time with you while working.” My voice was muffled. I kept my face in the crook of his neck, his coconut and pineapple scent calming me down better than a whole bottle of wine could.

This was not a big deal, and yet my heart kept racing like we’d had a major blowout fight.

Logan and Luca sat down on either side of us, rubbing my back.

“Not that I want you to leave,” Luca said. “But you’re welcome to use the office. It’s set up nicely, and it’s quiet. If I have a really big case, I use the office because I get too overstimulated otherwise.”

“Is that the word for feeling like the entire world is too loud, too bright, and too much?” I grumbled. Stupid brain. Stupid body. If I could finish up my work I wouldn’t be so stressed out.

Julian laughed. “Yes, babe. I get overstimulated right before my heat. Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll snap at you, and then we’ll be even.”

“It’s not about even.” Logan patted my shoulder. “We’re gonna drop the ball, bicker about something, and disagree. It doesn’t mean we don’t still love you.”

I let out another shuddery breath.

“Oh, honey.” Julian said softly, squeezing me. It still felt like I was about to cry, like the entire world hung in the balance. Luca and Logan both sat on either side of me and Julian pressed as close as they could get.

I snuggled against Julian, letting the warmth and scent of them calm me down.

“Did Luca ever tell you about the peanut thing?” Julian ran his hand through my hair. My scalp tingled pleasantly, and I let out a sigh. I didn’t realize how tense I was until the muscles in my scalp relaxed.

“Oh my God, Julian.” Logan rolled his eyes. “You had to bring that up.”

“It’s hilarious.” Julian sounded pleased with himself.

Luca grinned at Logan. “It was one of the deadliest, sweetest things anyone has ever done for me.”

I looked between the three of them, my body still clammy with sweat.

“So the peanut thing.” Julian started. “Luca was one of the lawyers at the firm Logan used when he was being sued. When the court case was over, and the client relationship is over with, and I’m like finally we can ask Luca on a date.”

“Here we go,” Logan grumbled. But the corners of his eyes were crinkled, so he looked more amused than anything.

“Only for you, Sunshine.” Logan kissed my cheek, some of his stubble pleasantly scratchy. “This story is for your benefit.”

I took his hand in mine, tracing some of the callouses.

“Logan finds out that Luca loves Thai food. As is his way, Logan sets about making all the best Thai recipes in the world.”

I frowned, something tickling the back of my mind. “But Luca is allergic to peanuts?”

Luca smirked. “I am.”

“But Logan doesn’t know it at the time.” Julian grinned ear to ear. “He invites Luca over to the house, in his adorable yet clueless way to woo this alpha. Luca comes over, looking dashing. We have pleasant flirting, lovely conversation, and we sit down to dinner.”

Logan grumbled.

“There’s green curry, pad Thai, spring rolls, and chicken satay with a lovely peanut sauce.”

I couldn’t help but grin at the amusement between the three of them. The tension melted.

“Luca sits down, looks at the food. At the peanut sauce and asks if the green curry has peanuts in it.”

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