Page 15 of Full Mountie

I give him a genuine smile. “I’ve been thinking about you, too.”

“Terribly inappropriate thoughts, I hope.”

“Of course.”

He laughs. “Good. Maybe we should talk about that second date, then.”

“We should.” I hesitate. “But maybe next week? I’ve…” I trail off, but then I think better of being vague. No. They work together. They have a history of conflict. I want everything to be as on the table as possible. “Honestly? I need to talk to Lachlan this weekend. I promise that doesn’t affect how much I want to see you again.”

To my surprise, he doesn’t even blink. “Yeah, of course. I was actually thinking about trying to get together with him this weekend, too.”

“Yeah?” For some reason, that makes me feel better. Maybe their history isn’t as hostile as I think it is. “Good. Maybe next week we can compare notes on how to handle him.”

He touches my arm, and I stop on the next step. He gives me a serious look. “I can’t lie to Lachlan, though.”

“No.” I press my lips together. “Neither can I. I don’t want to hurt him. But…he’s overreacting. We’re grown-ups, and who we kiss is nobody’s business. It doesn’t mean anything other than I want to kiss you.” I look at his lips. I want to kiss him right now, but that can’t happen. “So don’t let him get under your skin.”

Before he can respond, a couple of House staffers enter the stairwell, and I wave goodbye.

6

Lachlan

The doorbell ringsabout twenty minutes after I arrive home from work and I groan.

Of course, someone would have to show up right after my shower. I’ve finished towelling off, but I’m still naked. I slip into a pair of sweatpants, not bothering with underwear because whoever it is won’t be staying.

Between the letter from Beth and the shit day I’ve had, I’m in no mood to socialize. All I want to do is grab a beer from the fridge and veg out in front of the television.

Or maybe think about her note and what it means.

My irritation at being disturbed on my down-time is amplified when I open the front door to Hugh standing there holding a large pizza box.

He’s still wearing his work clothes. I instantly regret my decision to skip the boxer briefs. If he’s here longer than the time it takes to slam the door in his face, my dick will be at serious risk of pitching a tent in my sweats. It should be illegal how good he looks in a suit.

I scowl. “What are you doing here?”

He shoots me a slow, easy grin. The one that ten years ago would’ve had me dropping to my knees and devouring him whole.

“I brought your favourite.” He says as he opens the pizza box with a flourish.

I am not surprised when I see the ham and pineapple toppings. That had been Hugh’s favourite, not mine. And considering the pizza joint in Moose Lake didn’t offer pizzas topped with sundried tomato, artichoke hearts, olives, prosciutto, and feta cheese, I had seen no point in letting Hugh believe any differently.

Still don’t. That’s hardly the biggest problem we have. “I ask again, why are you here?”

He gestures to the pizza, but his eyes stay glued on my face. “I couldn’t ignore the craving any longer. And I’m pretty sure you’re hungry, too.” I ignore the double entendre, but when his tongue pokes out and slides across his upper lip as his gaze wanders down my body, all I can think about his how good that tongue used to feel on my skin.

I don’t react.

But I don’t slam the door shut either, and that speaks volumes about my choice.

Hugh tries another tack. He’s always got another angle. “If it makes a difference, Beth knows I’m here, and she’s good with it.”

I’m surprised by his words and I don’twantto believe him, but even though Hugh is the kind of guy to say whatever it takes to get in someone’s pants, it won’t be a lie. “She does?”

He nods, all serious now. “She said she wanted to talk to you this weekend, too.”

Ah. So she knows he’s here to talk. That’s not exactly the same thing as showing up with a pizza as a pretense for a quick and dirty fuck.

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