The tone of her voice now?
Chilling.
"You might be trying to avoid carbs, Crois, but I'm dealing with wedding planning stress. Do NOT mess with me."
Crois opened his mouth to remind her that her mother was in town, helping with the planning leading up to the big day. Her sister-in-law Sloane King Bravo had come up with a whole cadre of sisters-in-law and a few cousins to help as well.
It seemed like she had lots of help and shouldn't be worrying about stuff, but then again, he wasn't a woman. So, he'd never be a bride and face the kind of stresses that she was under.
Pilar narrowed her eyes at him. "What?"
He swallowed and felt how dry his mouth was. "Nothing."
Crois saw Pilar's eyes narrow even more. He didn't blame her. He didn't think his answer sounded truthful either.
So, he tried to explain.
"I was just thinking that I haven't done anything to help out with the wedding. What can I do to help?"
For a moment, her expression softened nearly into a smile.
For a moment.
Then she sighed and sat back in her chair. "I just need to get to my honeymoon. And then I'll be fine."
Crois was back to fighting off a smile. "Well, I can't help you with that."
Her lips curved up in a smile. "You better not." She picked up her glass of water and took a sip. "Roan might not be a fighter, but he has his share of scalpels."
Crois almost swallowed his tongue. "Wow, you're getting scary."
She smiled again, a full, bright grin. "Hey, that's not me! That's my man!"
Crois was smiling, too. "Yeah, I think you're rubbing off on him."
As soon as he said the words, he knew how it sounded.
Well, not to someone who didn't know them, but he'd been partnered with Pilar long enough to know where her mind would go.
Not in general, but he knew where her mind went with Roan.
Because it did-
Or they did, a lot.
He was proven right when Pilar's cheeks reddened.
She didn't wear make-up on the job, so when her skin reddened, he knew it was a blush.
"I'm looking forward to the honeymoon," she sighed. "It'll be nice not to worry about a call from the ER interrupting..."
Crois put his hands down onto the tabletop and lowered his chin.
He knew his own cheeks were red by the heat he felt.
He was happy for his partner.
How could he not be?
