Page 147 of My Favorite Hero

“Making an entrance as usual, Pix.”

She grinned, and I pulled her down to my mouth, kissing her. I had missed the taste of her. How well she fit against me, her soft curves melding to my harder planes. I groaned, fisting her hair and kissing her until we were breathless.

And Barney jumped on her back, startling us both, meowing at Casey.

Miller started to bark, caught up in the excitement.

We yelled at the same time.

“Barney!”

“Miller!”

Then we started to laugh, and I kissed her again.

My pixie was back.

Once we got up off the floor, I held her, then cupped her face. “You’re early.”

“I needed to come home. I wanted to surprise you.”

“It worked.”

“I’m hungry.”

“I’ll order pizza. Where’s your bag?”

“By the front door.”

I called the pizza place, grabbing her bag and laptop case.

I found her in the kitchen, already examining the plans. “Thorne, these are amazing!”

“You like our new home, Casey?”

“I do!”

I sat down, pulling her to my lap, wanting her as close as possible. “Tell me everything.”

Even though we spoke daily, I wanted to share in her news. Watch her expression as she talked. Kiss her whenever I wanted to.

She filled me in, excited. When she finally slowed down, I smiled. “I told you that you’d rock this.”

“My assistant is great. I worked with him and his partner on another project, and we hired Tony too. He keeps Lyle in line. They watch out for me.”

“Good.”

The pizza arrived, and we sat on the sofa, eating, still talking, and smiling. I shut the empty box, sliding it onto the coffee table.

“How long are you home for?”

“Barring anything happening, three weeks.”

“I’m coming with you next time. I’ll book it off tomorrow.”

“I would love that. I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Pix.”