Page 74 of Chasing Shelter

“I can’t notice that your neighbor gets along great with your daughter and that you can’t take your eyes off her?”

I tore my gaze from Ellie, but it hurt. Like ripping off something that had been superglued.

Kye laughed. “Dude, you are so totally fucked.”

“Language, Kyler,” Nora clipped as she walked up.

He grimaced. “Sorry.”

Nora sent him a quelling look and pulled me into a hug. “Missed you. You’ve been working too hard.”

I hugged her back. “Sorry, Mom. Things should slow down now that we’re getting past tourist season.”

She pulled back but kept a hold of my biceps, studying me like only a mother could. “You know you don’t have to apologize. I just worry about you.”

“What he needs is a night out on the town,” Lolli called from her spot at the kitchen island, where she drank some sort of colorful cocktail with an umbrella.

“Lolls,” I warned.

“What?” she asked, her voice full of innocence. “I can’t suggest that my grandson should let loose? You know, I’ve been working on something that could help with that. It’s a special blend?—”

“You lost me atspecial,” I said.

Rhodes laughed from her spot on the couch, where she sat next to Anson. “Lolli’s turning all the ladies intospecialbrownie fiends. Two of her girls from yoga came into Bloom yesterday asking if I stocked any of the good stuff.”

Fallon struggled to keep her composure. “I can’t wait for next week’s class. Everyone’s really going for that downward dog pose. They’ll probably start barking.”

Nora pinned Lolli with a hard stare. “See what your influence is causing?”

“I’ll try your special blend,” Keely piped in helpfully.

I sent Lolli a glare that should’ve had her cowering. Instead, she just laughed and moved to Keely and Ellie. “How about you help me come up with a concept for Ellie’s diamond painting? I need to make her one now that she’s in her new house.”

“Like that’s any less corrupting,” Shep muttered, taking a pull from his beer.

Thea smacked his chest from her perch on the arm of his chair. “I love our diamond art.”

Shep stared up at her for a long moment. “It’s penis pumpkins. We have penis pumpkins in the greenhouse.”

“I really prefer the term dick gourds,” Kye said, popping a sliced red pepper with some dip into his mouth. “It’s more dignified.”

Fallon gaped at him. “Seriously?”

“What’s wrong with dick gourds?” Kye asked.

“It’s better than puck penises,” Linc said, handing Arden a plate as he lowered himself to sit next to her on the hearth in front of the fireplace.

“I think you mean your stick dick,” Kye corrected.

I lifted a hand to squeeze the bridge of my nose. “Someone save me.”

“What’s a stick dick?” Keely singsonged.

“I hate all of you,” I grumbled.

“Daddy,” Keely said very seriously. “We don’t use the H-word.”

“That’s my girl,” Lolli praised. “No H-words. But there’s nothing wrong with a little phallic expression. It opens up those sexual chakras.”

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