Page 83 of Crushing Clover

“That’s not a good idea. You’ll get distracted and come back with the wrong thing, and then Rush will be pissed off all night.”

I snorted. If anyone was perpetually pissed off, it was Saint. It was ridiculous for him to complain about Rush, who was so even-tempered by comparison.

Lucky kissed me even though Saint hadn’t released his grip on my hair. Rather than ignore it, Saint watched, having a front-row seat for the way I melted under Lucky’s mouth then sighed when he pulled away. My body swayed to follow him, but Saint pulled me back.

“That’s enough.” Saint let go of me and grabbed Lucky’s shirt, then pulled him close and kissed him, too. I wasn’t used to seeing him be affectionate, but Lucky didn’t seem surprised. Maybe it was something he hid from me.

“Get going. I’ll take care of her.”

“Make sure she’s alive when I get back.”

“I’ll do my best not to kill her.”

“I need a list.”

“He already sent it to your phone.”

Sighing, Lucky flashed Saint a wry grin. “You two want to fuck me before I leave?”

“Keep it in your pants, Lucky.”

“Keep it in your pants, Lucky,” the blond menace mimicked as he headed back toward the stairs.

Saint’s lips quirked. “He’s always been such a manwhore.”

“Oh, like you and Rush aren’t?”

“I told you—I’m a saint.”

I turned to look at the restaurant again. The tables were nicely spaced and the lighting low, giving a feeling of privacy and sin.

“Is this what you envisioned when you dreamed of opening a restaurant?”

“Yes, ever since Rush and I got the idea that we wanted to be chefs.” He smiled to himself. “It’s perfect, even though it’s harder to run than the food truck, and it comes with so much more responsibility. The people who work here are counting on us not to fuck things up.”

“Lucky wasn’t part of the decision-making on Cygnet?”

“Lucky was the equivalent of a human sex toy in our relationship for ages before the two of them fell in love. Eventually, I got used to him.”

“Used to him? That kiss looked pretty convincing.”

“Well, you’ve met him. He has a way of growing on you even though he can be an idiot when he thinks with his dick.”

“You love him,” I observed.

“Our relationship is none of your business, bootlicker,” he pointed out, although he didn’t deny it.

“I love the atmosphere in here. Dark. Elegant. I’d love to see it full of people.”

“Not going to happen. You’ll have to satisfy yourself with this peek while it’s empty.”

I didn’t object when he tugged me along by the hair, steering me toward the back. “At one point we contemplated opening a club for women with male hosts to serve and entertain.”

“Like a strip club?”

“No, not like a strip club,” he snapped. “Why does everyone always assume that?”

Scowling, he led me through the kitchen where Ran glanced up from his work again to flash me a smile. “See you later, not-Arabella.”

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