Wow. Subtle.
She scratches under Marbles’ chin. “He’ll probably keep you up all night with his purring. I’d be happy to stay and help.”
Something in the store catches Josh’s eyes and he steps away, calling Lucas. Completely ignoring me, she toys with the top button on her shirt and before I can stop myself, I step closer to Tuck. Close enough that our arms brush. Tuck stills for half a beat. Then his hand settles at the small of my back.
Casual.
Possessive.
Like it belongs there.
“I appreciate the offer,” he says easily. “But I’ve already got help.” His thumb presses slightly into my lower back. “The boys and Maria are staying at my place to help out, figure out the rules.”
We are…
“We are?” Josh blurts out, taking the words right out of my brain as he comes running back.
“Yeah, I thought we settled on that, earlier. Big house. Lots of bedrooms. Executive kitchen.”
Kitchen.
I’d rather be on top of you.
Oh. My. God.
“Awesome,” Josh yells and disappears to tell his brother the good news.
Is it, though?
I mean, really I could put a stop to it.
But am I going to…
Disappointment flickers across the clerk’s face before she recovers. “Okay. Let’s get you set up.”
She grabs a cart, and we follow her through the aisles while the boys debate toys versus practicality. Tuck fills the cart with food, litter, bowls, and more treats than one kitten could reasonably need. Every so often, when the boys aren’t looking, his fingers brush my lower back again. Or his shoulder grazes mine.
Not accidental.
Never accidental.
God, this is such a bad idea.
A terrible one.
But as Tuck leans down near my ear and murmurs, “You okay?” his breath warm against my skin.
“Fine,” I tell him.
He arches a brow, his eyes teasing, playful, and my entire body burns with need. “Seems like you were jealous earlier.”
“Not at all,” I lie and his grin tells me he knows it. But I’m not about to voice the truth, that jealousy burned hot when a twenty-year-old clerk in lip gloss flirted with him for thirty seconds. “I just didn’t like the way she was throwing herself at you in front of my boys.”
“She’s not the one I want,” he murmurs, his body close, his hand grazing mine.
I swallow. “What you said, about us staying. I realize that was to shut down her advance, but the boys?—”
“I meant what I said,” he cuts in, his voice deep, firm, skating down my back like an erotic caress. “I agreed to keeping the cat, but the boys have to take care of it.”
