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“I can’t,” Harper declared dramatically, nuzzling Tag’s cheek. “I can’t resist. Must snuggle!”

Silas chuckled and rescued the bag Tag was holding, then set everything he had down. “Don’t mind them, they can’t help being adorable.”

“Hi,” Mila said, unsure if she should hold her hand out to shake. Harper solved her dilemma by pulling her into a hug with Tag, squishing them together.

“Harper!” Tag protested with a laugh. “Not everyone wants to be manhandled!”

“Untrue,” Harper argued, but let go of Mila.

“Very true,” Carter growled, moving between Harper and Mila. He gave Harper a little shove. It wasn’t enough to make the woman move, but Harper stepped back anyway. “Don’t do that again.”

Everyone went silent at Carter’s sudden aggression. With a scowl, Silas moved between Carter and Harper who was now holding Tag protectively as if Carter was about to hurt him.

“Back off, Carter,” Silas ordered. Tag was whispering something to Harper while she glared at Carter. She was watching Carter as if he was about to attack.

Mila wasn’t sure how the overly friendly interaction had turned hostile so quickly.

“Harper grabbed Mila and didn’t ask for permission first,” Carter shot back.

“It’s fine,” Mila said, forcing herself between Carter and Silas. “I didn’t mind!”

“No, Mila,” Silas said, looking down at her. She expected both men to turn on her, but instead of being angry, they gave her gentle smiles and stepped back to give her space. “Carter is right, even if he’s being a little too forceful. Harper should’ve asked first.”

“Mila, you should sit down,” Carter said, grabbing a bar stool and pulling it out.

“I don’t want to be the reason friends fight,” Mila insisted without moving.

Carter shook his head. “We aren’t friends.”

“And we aren’t fighting,” Silas added. “We’re figuring out boundaries.”

Harper set Tag down, stepped in front of him, and gave Mila an apologetic look. “Sorry about that. We’re a friendly group, and it’s been a good day. That’s no excuse, but I was feeling really happy. I’ll ask next time.”

Mila’s mouth dropped open. For a moment, she’d been sure everyone was about to start throwing punches and now they were acting like she was the injured party and apologizing?

“She didn’t mean anything by it,” Tag said, peeking out from behind Harper. “She likes to pick people up. I think it’s so we can be tall for a little while.”

Harper looked down at Tag and chuckled. “It’s because all of you look so snuggly!”

Tag glared up at her with mock anger. “I’m not a human-sized plushie.”

While Tag and Harper got involved in a friendly argument, Carter caught her attention. “Mila?”

She looked up at the intense man. “Um, yes?”

He was gesturing to the stool for her to sit down. “Would you like this spot?”

She hesitated, only because it felt weird to share food with all these people she’d just met, especially after the oddly intense moment earlier.

“You can sit,” Silas said. “There are no hard feelings. Guys like Carter and I tend to be a little overprotective.”

Zander snorted from behind the bar “Overprotective doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

Rissa was standing next to him, still holding Babette. Feeling guilty that the other women had been carrying the dog around all this time, Mila moved to the pass through.

“I’m sorry, I can take her back.”

“No!” Rissa said, turning away with a laugh. “She’s mine now!”