Page 49 of Act of Brotherhood
It was hard to avoid laughing at the horrified expression on his face. “No. There’s no one else.”
“Just me?” he questioned, relaxing slightly.
“I don’t know. Am I seeing you now? I have to be honest. I thought last night was a one-and-done kind of thing.”
Garth’s green gaze eased over her, heating her in intimate places. “If we’re being honest, so did I. And then, at about the three-minute mark after running into you, I think I knew deep down I was wrong.”
“The three-minute mark? Hmm. I just figured it out this morning.” She reached out and touched his arm lightly, while smiling.
He feigned shock.
She laughed and then finished eating. “Seriously, this was awesome. I’d keep you around just for this even if youweren’tfantastic in bed.”
Garth’s deep laugh rolled over her. He stood and took her plate to the sink. He set about cleaning up as if he lived there and did that kind of thing all the time.
“I can get this,” said Nicolette as she followed him to the sink.
He twisted and planted a chaste kiss on her lips. “No. You’re going to finish getting ready for work and then I’m taking you there. Oh, there’s a box for you on the dining room table.”
She stared up at him. “A box? For me? Someone used the dining room?”
It was a room she and Clara never made use of. Confused as to how a package had arrived for her so early, Nicolette headed to the dining room. As she entered, she spotted a bakery box on the table. Not just any bakery—the very one she’d had make the specialty cupcakes for her. This box wasn’t annihilated. It looked brand-new.
She approached it and found it full of cupcakes, just like the ones that had been ruined.
“What the…?”
Strong arms wrapped around her waist. “Mmm, they’re made of nothing cupcake-y. Just the way you like them.”
I’m not going to be overly girly and cry.
I’m not going to cry.
Crap. I’m going to cry.
She teared up and fanned her face as if that might stop the tears. It didn’t. She wiped at her eyes, trying to hide the evidence of her emotions from Garth.
His body conformed to hers from behind. “You’re upset with me.”
“No,” she managed, her hands moving over his. She leaned back against him. “How did you manage this? The bakery was about to close when I got these last night. It doesn’t even open until ten today.”
Garth smiled against her ear. “I’m full of surprises.”
He was.
“I also figured out who Ernie was. You are right. He does obey well.”
She laughed.
“Thank you,” she said, twisting enough to kiss his lips.
He growled against her mouth. “Beauty, if you keep doing that and keep smelling and looking so good, you’re going to find yourself getting bent over the table and fucked hard.”
She smiled. The idea had merit.
Chapter Thirteen
Garth followedbehind Nicolette down the sidewalk, in the direction of the preschool she worked at. Already there were cars pulling up in front of the building to drop children off, even though Nicolette assured him they weren’t late. He held the box of cupcakes as they walked.
