Page 266 of Bossy Hero

“Hey, yourself.”

We stand there for a beat, neither of us ready to sever the connection. No words are spoken. We don’t even touch. It’s a stolen moment with each other.

And we linger in it, happy, content, and ridiculously in love.

Sadly, our little bubble will burst when the kids inevitably make it awkward.

They say all good things must come to an end. This serene moment, though, is merely pausing.

My smile slips when I think about everything I need to accomplish today. Reluctantly, I break our smitten-fool staring contest. “I have some errands to run this morning while you work. I’ll need to get my car.”

His easy expression barely changes. “Sure.”

Wait. What?

I was expecting resistance. A safety lecture. Twenty questions. Perhaps he didn’t hear me.

“I won’t be long. Just need to pick up a few things. Two stores. Three tops. And to make you feel better about it?—”

He grins at me. It’s wicked and sexy. “Maddie baby, I already said yes.”

“Yeah, but it was too easy.”

He presses me against the wall and kisses me. Most likely to shut me up.

For the record, kisses like this are the only acceptable way for a man to cut off a woman’s words. And I’ll die on this hill.

When he pulls back, he scoops my hair out of my face. “I’m in no hurry to get to work today, so I’ll go with you. If you’d rather go alone, I’m happy to send someone with you. Or you could go by yourself, assuming you feel secure.”

Huh.

I’m not sure what to make of this.

But it works for me, given my plans for the day.

“I was planning to bring Sammy and Sue with me. Girl stuff.”

Laughter sails from the other room, far louder than Sammy and Sawyer. One of those laughs sounded like my son’s. I guess everyone’s gathered as planned.

He gestures toward the end of the hallway. “After you.”

“Oh no, I insist. You lead.”

“Ladies first.”

He knows why I’m dreading going out there. Cheeky ass.

I hold out my hand, arching my brow in a silent challenge. His beguiling mocha eyes flit between my offered hand and my face. Finally, he slips his fingers between mine.

My pulse increases, but it’s not from the fear of what’s about to greet us when we face the firing squad. It’s from the smolder he’s flinging my way.

The silver fox is foxing.

Raising our joined hands to his mouth, he kisses the back of my knuckles. “Do you know that’s the first time you’ve reached out for me?”

My nose crinkles. “What?”

He tips his chin toward our hands. “When we hold hands, I always offer mine first.”

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