Page 178 of Mad Love

“Gummy worms!” Cori cried, punching her fists in the air.

“Pancake mix, mac and cheese, and gummy worms.” Royal let out a snort. “Do I even want to try getting you to consider a veggie or protein?”

Corinne frowned, considering. “Cheeseburgers?”

Royal’s head dropped back with a groan.

“I like cheeseburgers.” I high-fived Corinne.

“Anything for you?” Royal looked at me.

I shook my head. “No, but I’m allergic to peanuts, so if you could avoid those, that’d be great.”

“Got it.” He reached into his pocket and twirled his keys. “I’ll be back in a bit. Call or text if you think of anything else, okay?”

I nodded and listened to his footsteps echo through the empty house before turning to Cori. Placing my hands on the island, I wrinkled my nose at the grimy feeling. “Okay, Cor, how would you feel about watching TV while I clean up?”

At the very least, the kitchen needed to be scrubbed down before I could consider cooking or eating on any of these surfaces.

Corinne shrugged. “Can I play upstairs in my room?”

“Sure,” I agreed, watching with a smile as she ran off. Her happy squeals bounced off the walls as my phone started to ring.

I smiled when I saw Ryan’s name on the screen and immediately accepted the call. “Hey.”

“Hey back,” he greeted. “How is she?”

“Really good, Ry,” I admitted, listening to her footsteps thump across the floor above me. “As soon as she saw the house, she lit up. She went upstairs to play in her room while I do some cleaning. Royal went to make a food run.”

“Fuck,” he grunted. “I should’ve thought of that. I didn’t even consider that no one’s been there in weeks. I can send a delivery service and hire a maid—”

“Calm down,” I laughed. “Royal and I can handle it. Unlike some people, we’re used to doing the normal, boring human things like grocery shopping and cleaning counters.”

“Ha fucking ha,” he grumbled. “I’ll have you know that I’ve learned other life skills that are just as valuable.”

“Like?”

“How to fuck you with my tongue,” he replied bluntly.

I sucked in a sharp breath that turned into a whine. “Dammit, Ryan. No fair saying shit like that when you’re there and I’m here.”

He chuckled. “So, if I were to suggest you video chat me after Cori’s gone to bed…”

“I’d say hell yes,” I muttered, not even bothering trying to hide the fact that I always wanted him.

“Thought so.” Smugness radiated from his tone. He knew he had me by the pussy.

“So,” I started, looking around the vast space, “any idea where the cleaning supplies would be?”

He guided me through the house to the mudroom off the garage where there was a small closet full of lemon-scented cleaning products.

“Awesome,” I said, grabbing a few bottles.

“Mads, thank you,” he said softly.

I let out an exasperated laugh. “You don’t have to thank me, Ryan. Cori’s my family, too. And seeing her smile was totally worth it.”

“Still,” he murmured. “It means a lot.”

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