Page 68 of Full Throttle

“You’re a cop?”

“I am,” she said. “So behave, or I’ll cuff you.”

His eyes grew big. “Really?”

Chase leaned over, grinning. “She will.”

“Awesome.”

Hannah chuckled. “You’ve got a lot of food on that plate. You gonna eat it all?”

“I’ve never seen so much food,” he acknowledged. “I had to try it all. Dom talks about it all the time.”

I ruffled his hair. “Not all the time.”

Josh rolled his eyes. “When you’re not mooning over Cherry or talking about one of the guys or how cool the girls are, you do.”

Everyone laughed, including me. I had just been ratted out by my kid.

Josh tried a mouthful of lasagna, shutting his eyes as he chewed. He looked at Rosa, who was standing close. “That is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten.”

She laughed, delighted, and patted his head. “You stick with me, little man. I make sure you get all the good food.”

“I love this place,” he muttered.

I chuckled and met Cherry’s gaze. She leaned close, her lips next to my ear. “Mooning over me, Mr. Salvatore?”

I turned, pressing a kiss to her mouth. “Always, Cherry G.”

She grinned, and I saw Josh watching us. I kissed her again. “Behave.” I threw a wink his way, and he shook his head as if to tell me I was the one who had to behave. Then he turned to Hannah and started peppering her with questions about being a cop. Asking Chase about the interior he was working on.

“He is so bright,” Cherry said. “Inquisitive about everything.”

“I know.”

“I think he and Hannah are going to get along just fine.”

“He is staring at her like she hung the moon. I think introducing them might have given him something he’s wanted for a long time.”

Cherry laughed. “They’re exchanging numbers. How cute.”

“She gives hers up far easier than her mother did.”

Cherry glanced sideways. “You are a lot more trouble than Josh will ever be. I was being cautious. And I was right. You’re a thief.”

“A thief?” I asked.

“Yes. You stole my heart.”

I grinned and kissed her harder than I should with my son watching. But I didn’t care. “I’m not giving it back either.”

“Good.”

The hours flew by, and all too soon, I was taking Josh back to Kingston. Cherry stayed behind to give us a chance to be alone.

“So, you okay to stay the night next week?” I asked.

“Yeah.”