Page 16 of On The Rocks

Then he lifted her up against him and walked through the taproom to the kitchen.

Bells wrapped her arm around his shoulders. “Hey, we need to meet with Malina on a conference call in twenty minutes.”

“I only need five,” he said, against her neck.

I caught Lennon rolling her eyes as Bells laughed and said something indecipherable before they disappeared through the swinging door.

“You’d think they’d cool it,” Lennon said, with a shake of her head. “Doesn’t the honeymoon phase end after a few months?”

I leaned on the bar before I dropped onto a stool. “Not if you do it right.”

“Isn’t it exhausting to be all fired up all the time?”

“Again, you haven’t been doing it right.” I glanced at her mouth before meeting her dark eyes. “When you want someone, it gets under your skin, and sometimes, the only way to calm it down is to touch.”

“Unlikely,” she muttered.

I arched my eyebrow, surprise jumpstarting my system. “You haven’t had that kind of chemistry with anyone?”

It didn’t seem likely to me. She was far too sharp-minded, not to mention, she had a knockout body that was made for long, athletic nights of sexual combat.

“It has its place.”

“Then you haven’t had chemistry. You’ve had hot sex.”

“It’s the same thing.”

I sat up. “It is not the same.” I glanced at Ronan. “Right?”

Ronan pushed away from the bar. “Nope. I’m not touching that one.”

Kira put her hands on her hips. “Oh?”

“Sunshine. We have chemistry. Perhaps to an unhealthy degree. I’d keep you naked twenty-four seven if you let me.”

“Well, that’s true.” Her cheeks flushed. “Forgiven.” Kira peered into the play area. “We should go into the workshop to check on that new batch.”

“We should.” Ronan’s eyes lit as he grabbed the baby monitor off the edge of the bar and stuffed it in his pocket.

Lennon rolled her eyes again. “It’s an epidemic around here. Is there some lust dust in the air? Or is it in the cider?”

I laced my fingers on the bar. “Might be in the orchard itself.” I glanced over my shoulder as they rushed down the stairs. “That and having twins so you have to steal a moment when you can.”

“I guess I get that.” She lifted another glass from the line of pint glasses that looked fresh from the washer.

I stood up and went around the bar. “Let me help.”

“You don’t need to.” She stiffened as I eased by her.

I wondered if it was me, or just people in general that she didn’t like to get near her. I flicked on the hot tap at the sink to wash the grit and earth off my hands. I’d had my hands so deeply into the earth lately, I almost forgot what it felt like to be clean at the orchard.

She moved down a little and continued to polish the glasses until they were gleaming.

I picked up a microfiber towel and mirrored her actions and laughed when she checked my work. When she gave me a satisfied sniff, I fell into an easy rhythm with her.

“How’d it go with Kain?”

“As well as expected.”

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