Page 104 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

“Stop it!” I hiss.

His grip tightens on me, pulling my body flush with his.

There’s no mistaking what I’m feeling.

He’s getting hard.

In the middle of the diner.

Right out in the open.

I take a deep breath and try to step away, but he doesn’t let me.

“Don’t even think about moving.”

I don’t.

“Then stop teasing.”

“Fine, but only because your best friend and her kid just walked in.” He waves to Maya, beaming at her. “Hey, guys.”

“You’re running late today,” she comments, eyeing us, not missing how close we’re standing. “Hope they still have cherry pie for you.”

“I hope they don’t,” Dean says, and I fall into a coughing fit, picking up on his double entendre.

I elbow him in the stomach, and he grunts, rubbing at the spot I hit, finally shifting away from me.

I welcome the space and miss his warmth all at the same time.

I gather my long hair into my hand, picking it up off my neck and wrapping it into a messy bun.

“Hey, Sam,” I say to my nephew.

He grunts, not looking up from the phone in his hands.

Maya rolls her eyes. “Pre-teens.”

“Choir,” Dean tells her, pointing to himself.

She shakes her head. “Still don’t know how you do it.”

“Lots and lots of whiskey and pie.” He nods toward our usual table. “Why don’t you two go grab our spot? Sam and I can manage this. Right, Sam?”

Another eloquent grunt from him.

“Don’t forget my cherry,” I say to Dean over my shoulder as Maya and I head to the table.

“Oh, yeah. I’ll get right on that.”

He winks at me, and I grin.

“Please tell me that wasn’t some kind of sex code,” she says as we grab our favorite seats.

“It wasn’t.”

“Liar.”

I giggle, and she smiles at me.

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