Page 32 of No One Wants That (Blitzen Bay)

“You’re not, sweetie,” she says, patting my arm. “I don’t even need to bring out the good stuff. I already know what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking I want you to go away.”

“Not yet,” she says, holding my hand. “I need to hear you annunciate exactly what’s on your mind.”

“I just did. Go away.”

“Not that,” she says. “The other thing you’re thinking.”

“Why don’t you tell me what I’m thinking? It’ll make this a hell of a lot less painful.”

“Alright,” she says, leaning back and smiling. “Do we have a little crush on Kit?”

“What?” I say, pushing my chair away from her. “No, I don’t. At all. I’m just concerned for her welfare.”

“Concerned for her welfare? Really? Is that the best you can do?”

“Millicent, I think you’re losing your touch. I only spent twenty minutes with Kit and frankly that was about nineteen too many. She argues about everything.”

“Huh. Who does that sound like?” She stands up and then leans down to whisper in my ear. “You need someone who will challenge you, but you already know that. I’m guessing her strength turns you on a lot more than it annoys you.”

“You took too much time off from work,” I whisper back to her. “Your skills are rusty. You’re not even close.”

“What’s going on here?” Mason says, pulling Millie back from me and wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Nothing. Butch is trying—and failing—to hide something from me.”

“Do you want me to get it out of him, baby?” Mason says, burying his face in her hair. “He’s been in need of a good beat down for months.”

“Thank you, babe, but no need. I already know what it is.”

Nash walks over and hands Millie two plates of food. “Elle gets the cheeseburger plate. She doesn’t really like chicken unless it’s in nugget form.”

“Mase, will you tuck that bottle of wine under my arm?”

“I can help you carry it up there,” he says.

“No need. You know I’m a good juggler.” Millie nods at me. “I need to get the food up to them. Anything you want me to tell Kit?”

“Yeah. Tell her to take water on her hikes so she doesn’t get dehydrated.”

“Aww, that’s love talk from you,” she says. “We’re discussing this in more detail later.”

“We’re not talking about anything later,” I say, tapping her butt with my foot. “Go away.”

“Roger that,” Millie says, walking away. “For now, anyway.”

“I’ve told you before not to use military lingo. You can’t carry it off.”

“I can carry anything off,” she says, looking over her shoulder and blowing me a kiss as she disappears into the inn.

“Your wife is a pain in the ass,” I say as Mason sits down next to me.

“And you’re more of a dumbass than I thought you were if you think you can hide anything from her. Come on, man. You know that’s not possible.”

“I’m not hiding anything from her or you. Don’t ask me anything more about it.”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” he says. “You know I don’t ever care what you’re thinking about.”

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