Page 15 of Craving Francesca

“You didn’t have to buy me dinner,” he replied quietly, making his way over.

“Cian bought it,” I corrected, trying to keep my tone light. “He’s grateful you guys got us out of his hair.”

“Not true,” Cian countered. “I told you guys to stay.”

“If I never saw your bare ass again, it would be too soon,” Lou replied.

“It was a good ass,” I added conversationally. “But not one we’re supposed to be looking at, you know?”

“It was average,” Lou argued. “But nearly impossible to escape.”

“There was a lot of bare ass happening,” I agreed. “Do you have a problem with bedrooms, Cian?”

“Oh my god, you guys,” Myla griped. “It was one—two times.”

“Two?” Lou cackled.

“Try four,” I muttered.

“This conversation is veering in a direction I don’t want to go,” Mick announced, throwing his empty beer bottle in the recycling. “I’m leaving.”

“Aw, Micky,” I sang. “You don’t want to hear about Myla and Cian—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” he ordered, pointing at me. He made his rounds, kissing each of us girls on the top of the head. When he got to me, he ruffled my hair.

“Thanks for all the help,” I said, tilting my head back to look at him.

“Welcome. Be careful with this new guy.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You’re not into him—”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off.

“It’s obvious.”

“He’s nice!”

“Since when do you like nice?” he asked, waving as he walked away.

“I’m going home, too,” I announced, surging to my feet.

“I’ll go with you,” Lou said cheerfully. “You guys are the best. Thank you so much.”

“Seriously, we owe you.” I looked around the room. All the men were various levels of sweaty and tired, but there wasn’t a single one who looked unhappy to be there.

“You don’t owe us shit,” Bas said distractedly as he grabbed a piece of pizza. “We’ll bring that couch over in a few minutes.”

“I’m going with you,” Myla announced, hopping off the counter.

“Baby, you still livehere,” Cian reminded her.

“Very funny. I’ll be back in a bit.”

We were halfway to the new house when Myla spoke.

“Is it really weird that I’m freaked out you guys are going to live somewhere else?”

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