Page 177 of The Best of Us

As he removed a mug from the cabinet, the one that had a chip in the handle, I came up around him. “Not so fast.”

He gave me a small smile, this time effectively distracting me from the fact he was wearing all black (clearlyfor a reason). He was no doubt planning to “talk” to Zach’sattorneyfather, who just so happened to represent the Sicilian mafia here in New York. He held the mug between us. “Bianca gave me this.”

Nice deflection.

Also, it worked.

My shoulders sagged, and I ran my finger over the chip in the handle.

“You’re the only one who’s used this since she passed.” He casually set it beneath the machine and started it up. “It’s yours now.”

The way he could be so ridiculously sweet and sentimental one second, then ready to kill a guy (like Zach’s father) the next was just so very . . . well,Constantine.

“What am I going to do with you, mister?”

He faced me, drawing me against him. “I could think of a few things. All of them involve you naked.”

And just likethat, consider me distracted again.

That sinful mouth tight to mine. Hands sliding under my top, cupping my breasts. Heat thrumming between us.

“Oy, get a room. Sheesh,” Colin grumbled as he entered the kitchen, his timing horrible as always.

Constantine groaned against my mouth. His hands fell to my sides, but he kept hold of me, refusing to turn toward our son.

“Do I need to have the sex talk with you two?” Colin deadpanned.

“Oh, you’ve got jokes? Like father, like son.” I angled around Constantine to face Colin, but I had a feeling his father would need to steal a moment to adjust himself before turning around.

Colin sat at the breakfast bar, stretching his arms. One look at his NYU shirt had me forgetting his silly words. Thankfully, the blood had come out of it just fine.

“So, the birds and the bees . . .” He laughed. “What would you like to know?”

“You better not know anything. You gave me your word.” I tilted my head toward the hall, gesturing to Lennon’s bedroom. She was officially sleeping in theArubaroom. Constantine had no need for it since he had me here instead of only memories of me.

Constantine cleared his throat as if he knew something I didn’t and pivoted around, hands sliding into his slacks’ pockets. I didn’t like that look.

“I haven’t. I know you think I have, but I haven’t.” Colin lifted his palms up. “That wasn’t the, uh, level I was talking about. Just let you think that because I was a little pissed when we talked that day.”

Constantine strode up alongside me, his jaw noticeably clenching as if unsure he was buying what our son was selling.

“I swear.” Colin kept his eyes on his father. “I also promised God to behave if you didn’t die,” he said more earnestly this time, his voice cracking. “I will not do thethingthat you two have been busy doing. Not until I’m older and out of the house as promised.” He rested his hand over his chest, turning it into a fist.

I stole a look at Constantine, checking his reaction. “I trust you,” he said firmly.

“Phew, good.” Colin dropped his hands to his lap. “Why are you dressed like that, by the way? You look like you’re about to go kill a guy, but like, in an office.”

Constantine glanced at me, his lips twisting with mild amusement. I could hear the words pinging around in his head.

Just like me, too, I know.“Your dad has a thing he justhasto do.” I accepted his coffee a beat later.

“Just a small thing.” Constantine held his fingers open to show a smidge. When he widened them a bit more, I cracked up.

I set aside the cup before I spilled hot coffee on myself, and he captured me in his arms, taking me off guard. I couldn’t help the yelp that escaped me any more than I could contain that laughter.

“If you’ll excuse me, son, I need a word with your mother.” The man literally tossed me over his shoulder and started walking before I realized my feet had left the floor.

Colin laughed. “Have at it.”

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