Beckett’s mouth hung open.
“I … uh …” She shrugged at Beckett.
“How come I’m not invited to this dinner?” Beckett asked. He sounded like an offended brother calling out his sister over taking the car on Friday night when it was his turn.
“Because you didn’t bring in a whole year’s budget in a couple weeks,” Kelly returned in the same tone of voice, making Daisy grin.
“Um, hello? I was the one she made over.”
“Yeah, but no one cared if you cut your hair until it was Daisy doing the cutting.”
Beckett frowned.
“Is he done yet?” Kelly asked.
“I think so. I’ll leave the room if he interrupts again.” Daisy dodged Beckett as he tried to tickle her side.
“He can be so demanding,” teased Kelly.
Beckett faked right and then went left. Daisy saw his move coming from a mile away and stepped out of reach. His fingers brushed the ends of her hair, making her giggle. “I prefer the termhigh-maintenance.”
“Ha!” Kelly barked.
Daisy circled the island, just out of Beckett’s reach. “Send me the deets on the dinner and I’ll check my calendar and get back to you.”
“You got it.” They said goodbye and Daisy dropped the phone on the counter. “Take it.” She laughed.
He surged forward and caught her around the middle, pulling her body flush with his. The undercurrent became the current and carried them both away to a quiet place without cell phones and bosses and dinners.
He pressed his lips into the crook of her neck, swaying side to side as if there were a song only they could hear. Daisy moved with him, instinctively reaching up to run her nails lightly through the short hair at the base of his head. He moaned, his lips vibrating against her skin.
“Beck,” she whispered. “What are we doing?”
“I’m kissing you,” he murmured.
She didn’t have a chance to answer, because he moved his lips along her neck and to her jaw and her thoughts broke into tiny particles. She turned her head and his lips found hers, his large hands flat against her stomach.
“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!” Quinton’s voice got louder with each “whoa.”
Daisy whipped around to stare in horror at her brother. He was all dressed for work in navy scrubs that she’d insisted would look great with his coloring. Right now, his coloring was a deep shade of angry.
Beckett didn’t let go of Daisy. His arms tightened around her and he rested his chin on her head. “Morning.”
Quinton glared. “How long has this been going on?”
“About two minutes,” quipped Beckett.
Daisy elbowed him in the gut. Quinton turned his dark gaze on her. “Whatis going on?”
All of the tiny particles of thought sucked back together like watching an exploding planet in reverse. She folded her arms over Beckett’s. “That’s what I’d like to know.”
“Wha-at?” Beckett laughed uneasily.
Quinton planted his feet. “Talk—before I call Dad and tell him you’re living with your boyfriend.”
“You’re the one who invited him,” Daisy fired back.
“I didn’t tell you to kiss my best friend.”
