Page 12 of Edge
Mickey made a dismissive gesture. “Nah. I’m glad you asked. I wanted to come.”
Field’s smile made the claim worthwhile. He began pointing at people. “I know you know Tracker, of course, Edge, and Shadow and Rain. Obviously, you know Austen. You’ve met Ridge, Shore, and Scout briefly. But I don’t know if you know Foster, Tidy, and Crisp.”
Mickey shook their hands.
Crisp smiled the brightest. “Sorry we keep missing each other. Foster, Tidy, and I show up after the fun. Our planning sessions are usually separate.”
Mickey shrugged. “It’s cool. I figured we’d cross paths eventually.”
Ice-blue eyes focused on him. “People don’t cross paths with us unless they’re dead.”
Well, Foster seemed fun.
“All right.” He didn’t know what the guy expected him to say.
“Come have a seat.” Edge stood, offering his spot. “Tracker was just getting ready to hand out the presents.”
Mickey waved for him to sit. “I’m good on the floor.” He dropped down to the empty spot in front of Edge and scooted back between his knees when Edge sat.
Edge immediately sat forward and set his hands on Mickey’s shoulders. He spoke closely to Mickey’s ear. “How was the rest of your day?”
Mickey answered quietly so he wouldn’t interrupt the party and take focus away from the birthday boy. “Pretty boring. With Kylo down, I don’t have shit to do.”
Rain leaned his way, obviously overhearing. “He’s fine. Beau just feels guilty for neglecting him. He’s been pampering him.”
A smile exploded across Mickey’s face. “Good. Kylo needs that.”
“Wow! Someone has been talking to Austen.” Field held up the jar of peanut butter Mickey had brought him.
Mickey laughed.
Edge obviously didn’t think it was funny. “Damn. You drove two towns over and risked anaphylactic shock to get the organic peanut butter he likes? You’re lucky you’re not dead.”
Mickey realized Edge had started out intending to keep the words between them. By the end, his voice had risen to where he had everyone’s attention, especially Field’s.
“You’re allergic to peanuts?”
Mickey nodded. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
Field hugged the jar to his chest. “You’re allergic to peanut butter and risked death for me?”
An uncomfortable laugh escaped Mickey. “It wasn’t quite that dramatic. Austen told me that’s your favorite brand, so I sent a guy from work to pick it up. Likely, I would drop dead if I stepped one foot in that place, but I didn’t go. Fabrice did. Then he gift-wrapped it for me just to be safe. So I was never in any real danger.”
Field set the jar aside and stood. He crossed the room and dropped to his knees. “This would be a marriage proposal right now if I didn’t have to give up peanuts for you.”
Another uncomfortable laugh rumbled from him as Field’s massive arms engulfed him. Seriously, the guy was huge. He could probably bench twice his weight, and that said a lot. Field was likely six-six and three twenty-five of solid muscle. It was just easy to forget how big he was with his golden retriever personality.
Mickey awkwardly patted Field’s back. “I’m glad you like the gift.”
Field pulled away and jumped to his feet. “Okay. Santa time.”
Mickey looked around, confused. It was nowhere near Christmas. Sometimes Field said things that baffled him, except someone passed Field a Santa hat and he eagerly donned it. He wore a huge grin as he grabbed a badly wrapped present from a stack Mickey hadn’t noticed.
“Shadow first.”
Shadow did a happy clap before give-me hands like a little kid as Field passed him a present. He tore into it. Mickey didn’t get to see what it was since a white box was shoved toward him.
“For you. It’s not wrapped because I picked it up last minute.”
