Page 107 of A Surefire Love
His smile was muted, but when Mercy got close to him, he tossed her a purple-and-white vegetable the size of a baseball.
Mercy turned it in her hands. “For BunBun?”
He nodded. “Radicchio. You’ll tell him who brought it?”
“You’re kinda weird.”
No, he was incredibly sweet.
Mercy scampered inside and to her room, presumably to give the bunny a snack.
Anson shadowed Blaze into the kitchen. She delivered the tart platters to the sink, but as she reached for the faucet, Anson’s much larger hand covered hers, drawing her back to face him. “I left my parents’ house right after the meal. I can’t stand how we left things.”
“Me neither.” The trouble was, even as she studied theirlinked hands, she wasn’t sure she could stand where this conversation would lead them.
Still, it was a good sign that he’d come. A good sign that he’d taken her hands with such tenderness. “It’s not too late,” she said.
“For what?”
Tears dropped to her cheeks.
He released her hand to brush them away.
“To change your mind.”
“About?” His fingertips rested lightly against her cheeks and neck as if she were a glass egg.
She could only blame herself for the fragile state of their relationship. “What we talked about before I told you about Mercy.” She couldn’t bring herself to say it more directly. He’d asked to be exclusive, but now that he had more experience with her, would he want that?
“I don’t follow. Wait. You mean…?” He grunted. “I’m not sharing you.” His voice came out gruff and possessive, but his touch was gentle as he threaded one hand into her hair and the other around her shoulders, pulling her into a hug.
A hum of relief escaped her as she laid her head on his chest and fit her arms around his waist. She inhaled his scent and relished the solid warmth of his body.
“What does that mean?” Mercy’s voice was like an alarm, jolting Blaze from a dream. “’Cuz I’m a kid, and my sister’s my whole family. You have to share her with me.”
Blaze lifted her head, and Anson stepped away.
Mercy stood halfway between the doorway and the fridge, a slightly smaller head of radicchio in hand. Her lips and eyebrows both skewed with what Blaze assumed was worry.
Blaze put an arm around her sister’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “And you’re my family.”
Anson crossed his arms and leaned back against the counter. His lips twitched like he wanted to smile, but he narrowed his eyes. “All right. I’ll share you with Mercy. Beyond that, don’t get any ideas.”
Mercy tipped her head, resting it on Blaze’s shoulder. “What’s he talking about?”
A giddy trill fluttered in her stomach. “He’s talking about being my boyfriend.”
“I thought he already was.” Shaking her head, Mercy crossed to the fridge. “BunBun says thanks for the radish.”
“Radicchio,” Anson said.
“Okay, that.” She placed the remaining portion in the lettuce drawer and padded off again.
Still leaning against the counter, Anson’s gaze rested on Blaze. A half smile lifted his lips.
She wrapped one arm across herself and twisted a lock of hair.
He pushed away from the counter and threaded their fingers together. “You look worried.”
