“Aw, hell,” Patrick muttered. “You’re making me accessory to the fact. How can I scrub my mind if you keep reinforcing images?”
“You will forget about seeing me naked or else,” Laura said.
“Or else what?” Patrick taunted.
Dallas hid his grin, happy for them to verbally deck it out.
“Not sure,” Laura said. “But keep looking over your shoulder ’cause I have a devious mind.”
Patrick sneered. “I wouldn’t expect anything else from a Drummond.”
“I wouldn’t hold that expression for too long. It makes you look ugly, although it does go with a beer pot.”
“I don’t—” began Patrick.
“Enough,” Dallas said, deciding it was time to step into their verbal fracas. “Truce. I think it’s a draw.”
“Does your family know about the two of you?” Patrick asked.
It was like watching a balloon pop. Laura’s teasing expression faded, and her shoulders slumped. “No, they don’t know.”
“They know Laura isn’t staying in their apartment any longer. They threatened to get her sacked from a charity job.”
“That’s low.”
“Yeah, not their finest moment,” Laura said. “I try to remember they care for me.”
“That’s micromanaging,” Patrick said. “What are you going to do? Your relationshipwillexplode right in your faces. Quinn won’t like it. I doubt you’ll get to see him naked, and there goes your leverage.”
“Pooh,” Laura said. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“No seriously,” Patrick said. “Quinn had a run in with one of your sisters. He hates your family.”
“My parents will be worse,” Laura said. “I feel it in my bones.”
Dallas agreed with their conclusions. “We’ll take one day at a time.”
“But are you sure… You know. You haven’t known each other for long.” Patrick frowned at Dallas.
“Our relationship isn’t casual.” Laura spoke for both of them, and the budding tension in Dallas receded.
“No, it’s not. We’re living together, or we will be as soon as Laura moves in.” He reached for her hand, needing the physical contact. Her fingers curled around his, and when she moved closer, it felt natural to put his arm around her, even with Patrick studying them like a curious kid. “Are you going to tell Quinn?”
“Hell no. He’ll shoot the messenger.” Patrick held up his hands, palms facing them as if warding off the suggestion. “You do your own dirty work.”
“I vote for a need-to-know basis,” Laura said.
Patrick nodded. “She’s right. Why borrow trouble? I can keep a secret.”
Once the coffee finished dripping through the filter, Dallas grabbed three mugs from the cupboard. Laura opened the fridge and handed him a bottle of milk.
Patrick’s brows shot toward his hairline. “You two are good together.”
“That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you,” Laura said.
Lazy contentment flooded Dallas. He hadn’t been too worried about Patrick’s reaction. Quinn was the one who’d shit a brick about having a Drummond in the family. Their parents would have reservations, but they wouldn’t arrive home for six weeks. “Laura will be around the pub a bit more in the future.”
“Fine with me. If she acts the Drummond princess, you can deal with her.”
