“My ears are bleeding. Has anyone actually gotten together because of those lines?”
“The author, Dicky Mems, claims that his pickup lines are how he landed his alpha. According to his author bio, he’s happily married to his ‘husband muffin’.”
“Wow.”
“Hey, different strokes for different folks. You know how the saying goes.” Except there was an odd look on Crush’s face. It was a little... bittersweet? Wistful?
It was such an unexpected look on him, this vulnerability, that Killian froze.
The words fell out of his mouth before he could think. “Do you... want to be courted with terrible pickup lines?”
Crush blinked. Then he beamed, his eyes lighting up. “Are you offering?”
6
A NEW ADDITION
Killian spluttered.“How is this my life? Are you seriously askingmeif I want to courtyou?”
“Yes?” Crush’s smile was boyish and bright. Killian had never been on the receiving end of a smile like that. It made him all warm and fuzzy inside.
“Why me? You know I’m broke, right? I could give you... maybe a twist tie ring, and that’s it.”
“Aww, just a twist tie ring? I’m sure you could braid together a few leather cords. Last I looked, those were ten bucks a spool.”
Huh.With Killian’s weekly allowance from his alpha rescuers, he actuallycouldafford that.
Not that he was courting Crush, becauseWhat?
“Me?” he squeaked. “What’s there to want about me?”
“I don’t know, your mouth is something special.” Crush was grinning so widely, Killian groaned. “Besides, you did just offer to court me.”
Killian hid his face in his hands. “My mouth is cursed.”
“Or blessed.”
“Why does it sound like you want a blowj—”
A large, calloused hand pressed against his lips, holding back the rest of his question. Killian’s mouth tingled.
“I’m sure you don’t want the whole store hearing that,” Crush murmured, looking so amused that Killian yanked his hood up to hide his face.
Before Killian could think of a reply, Naddie poked her head out of his neckline, looking around with her large brown eyes.
“Awww, aren’t you a cutie?” Crush’s entire face softened at the sight of her. He removed his hand from Killian’s mouth, leaving a trace of his scent—earthy forest, right beneath Killian’s nose.
Before he knew it, the alpha was leaning in to meet Naddie’s gaze, crossing his eyes and blowing a raspberry.
Naddie reached out... and poked him in the eye.
“Ugh!” Crush jerked his head back, blinking rapidly. “Did you just poke me with your baby-spit fingers? Hmm?”
Killian wanted to sink into the floor; this was beyond embarrassing. “Oh gods.”
But Naddie looked up at Crush with a toothy smile and reached for him again, stretching out her tiny fingers.
“I think she likes me!” Crush whispered, looking awed. “Are you sure you want to be friends with this old dog, sweet pea?”
