Page 52 of Pucking the Grump

The thought reminds me that Remy said she loved me, which has me grinning like an idiot again as I let myself into my apartment and scoop Barb into my arms. I tell her the whole story on the way out for a late walk in the finally cloudless night, and she agrees—Remy should totally move in with us.

And we should totally figure out how to help Remy and Coach find their way back to each other.

But how?

Chapter 15

Remy

Two weeks later…

* * *

Six days before my Seattle interview, I wake to the smell of Stone’s ridiculously expensive coffee and the feel of Barb’s cold nose pressed to my shoulder.

She usually stays down at the end of the bed on her pillow, but if she thinks I’m sleeping too late…

I crack a lid, glancing down to see bulbous chihuahua eyes fixed mournfully on my face and grin.

“Good morning, gorgeous,” I murmur, reaching down to scratch behind her ears. She responds with a whimper and a shiver that makes the big pink bow around her neck tremble. “What’s wrong, pumpkin? Did Daddy forget to give you breakfast?”

“Of course, not.” Stone’s voice drifts in from the kitchen. “But she won’t eat until you’re up and get coffee and a pup cup of whipped cream for everyone. She’s spoiled.”

At the words “pup cup,” Barb perks up, her ears going on high alert.

I laugh. “You poor thing, I’m so sorry. I’ll get up right now. Forgive me for keeping you waiting.” I sit up, gathering Barb under the belly with one hand as I swing out of bed. I set her on the ground, then tail her as she prances out of the bedroom.

She’s clearly pleased that our morning is back on track, and…so am I.

Stone and Barb time is the best way to start a day, and I don’t want to miss a minute of it.

In the sun-drenched kitchen, Stone is already dressed for practice in track pants and a Badgers hoodie that makes him look extra huggable. My man is sexy as hell, but he’s also delightfully snuggly. I’m starting to crave his hugs nearly as much as Stone-delivered orgasms. Even a couple of weeks ago, that might have concerned me.

Now, it just makes me smile. So far, the couple life is pretty damned sweet.

Speaking of sweet…

“Want to pass me the you-know-what?” I ask as I settle onto one of the bar stools by the coffee maker, pulling my bare feet beneath me. “And I’ll get coffee and puppy stuff ready?”

“Coming right up.” Stone grabs the whipped cream can from the fridge and passes it over, his eyes lighting up as they land on my face. “Good morning, sexy. Damn, woman, how do you look so fine straight out of bed?”

I arch a teasing brow. “Bed head and eye crust really do it for you, huh?”

“You bet your sweet ass they do.” He lets out an appreciative rumble as he leans across the island to kiss my cheek, an unseemly show of early morning affection that makes Barb yip from the ground beside me.

Laughing, I turn to her as Stone shifts back to his side of the kitchen. “I’m sorry, Barb. I know, coffee before kisses.” I fill an espresso cup with whipped cream for her, setting it on the floor before climbing back onto the stool to pour a cup of French roast.

“You want half a ham and spinach omelet?” Stone asks, turning back to the stove behind him. “Just pulled it off the burner a couple of minutes ago, so it’s still warm. And I have grilled potatoes and strawberries.”

“Sounds incredible, thank you.” I prop my chin on my fist, enjoying the view from behind as he assembles our plates. “Thanks for feeding me. Again.”

“My pleasure,” he says. “You know I love to cook.”

“I do, but I think I’m getting as spoiled as Barb. At this rate, I’m going to forget how to make toast. I’ll go home and have to survive on raw oatmeal, straight out of the bag.”

“Or, you just never go home.” He turns, sliding a gorgeous plate of delicious-smelling yumminess in front of me. “It’s time to get real about this, Bossy. You haven’t been back to your place in more than two weeks.”

“Just one day more,” I say sheepishly, thanking him again for the fork and knife he passes over, along with a glass of water. He really does take excellent care of me. So excellent, I know it’s past time to step up my own “nurturing” game. But Stone needs different kinds of nurturing than I do.

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