Page 117 of Puck Me Secretly

He took a deep breath. “And I bought dessert.” He held up a bag of brownie bites.

“I thought I was your dessert?”

“You are. This is for you.”

I smiled at the food on my bed. The Baby Men used to bring over handmade pasta, homemade appetizers and gourmet pastries from the finest bakeries, but this gesture meant the most to me. “This looks amazing.”

“I couldn’t find candles.”

I reached out to grab his hand. “Come here.”

I pulled his face down so his mouth was on mine. “This is better than any meal anyone has ever brought me.”

Our kiss was so hot, so intense, I debated ravishing him, but I didn’t want to spoil his gift. I pulled back from him and stared into his eyes. “Thank you.”

“You like it?”

“I love it.”

“You hungry?”

“You have no idea. Now get on this bed so we can eat.”

He poured me a glass of wine and cracked open a beer for himself. We clinked glasses and then began to eat.

“This is so good,” my mouth was full. It was, but it wasn’t the food. It was that the man I adored, had gone out of his comfort zone to do something he thought I’d like. And now he was lying across the foot of the bed, looking relaxed and happy. My happiness made everything taste better, including my saltine crackers and marble cheese.

“You sure they fed you over Christmas?”

I laughed. “I ate for five days straight.”

Blue eyes met mine. “Did you have a good vacation?”

“I got caught up on my sleep. When did you get back?”

“About 3 AM last night.”

“Oh no.”

“My flight was delayed.”

“You must be tired.”

“I had a nap this afternoon.”

I wanted to, but didn’t ask him about Lolita. “I found out some interesting news.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Baxter was supposed to be promoted to assistant GM.”

Max’s eyes went wide. “Isn’t that your job?”

“It is.”

“What happened?”

“Baxter wanted to contract Joseph Flanynk.”

---