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"Hey, man." I wave awkwardly.

"No kissing at work," Bryce warns. "Don't make me write you up."

"Do we even have a process for that?"

"I can make one," he cautions. "And, Mia, you're supposed to call Josie and tell her what she hopes is good news and that you’re not going off the deep end."

"Bryce!" she screeches. "You told my best friend before I could?"

"I was on the phone with her and the two of you were about to have sex, what was I supposed to do?"

"We werenotabout to have sex; we had one sweet kiss." Mia groans, hiding her embarrassed expression behind her hands.

"When you're on the clock, any amount of kissing will be viewed ten times worse."

"Technically, we never clock into this jo—"

"O'Brien, I will kick your ass." Bryce doesn't give me any chance to reply before he steps back into his office, closing the door tightly behind him.

"We really are going to cause a workplace incident." I turn to her with a grin, but snort out a laugh instead. "Carter just gave me a thumbs up through his window."

"Well, at least someone approves." She laughs.

"Nah, Bryce approves. He's just being an ass."

As if to prove my point, I lean forward to kiss her again. Bryce yelling our names through his barely open door is the only thing that makes us spring apart, but then we're laughing.

"Ronan, stop!"

A deep chuckle sounds in my ear, sending shivers down my spine before he nuzzles against my neck, placing soft, closed mouth kisses along the sensitive skin. He pulls me tighter against him when I squirm. "And if I don't?"

The grip I have on the spatula tightens, but my head tilts, giving him as much access to my neck as possible. "I promised Carter I'd get him these cupcakes for the ten and under group. Do not make me disappoint a bunch of children."

"You've been working on them forever," he whines. "Why does Carter get your attention? He can make cupcakes himself."

"Yeah, from a box!" I argue, completely scandalized by the idea. "Those kids deserve something better for their celebration."

"They're children, babe," he deadpans. "If it has sugar, chocolate, and sprinkles, they're going to be happy."

Gasping, I spin in his arms to glare at him. "You did not just say that!"

With a laugh, he holds his hands up in surrender and takes a small step away from me. "I'm sorry, babe, but someone has to tell you thetruth. Those will be devoured in seconds. They won't care how good they tast—"

My mouth drops open as the batter splatters across Ronan's face. I flicked the spatula at him without even realizing I was doing it, and now he's blinking at me while I fight to hold in the laugh.

"Seriously, Mia?" He groans, but I can see the small smile threatening to come out. "We're being that petty right now?"

The batter drips down his nose and I can't hold in the laughter anymore. "Oh—oh, my god. I am so sorr—"

I shriek as batter splatters across my own face. Holding a whisk in his hand, Ronan looks at me with a proud grin. "There. Now we're even."

I move on instinct, grabbing the pastry bag of frosting and aiming it at him. He opens his mouth to protest, but promptly closes it as the frosting smears across his chin and cheek.

Then it's on. In a matter of minutes, Ronan's kitchen is destroyed. Batter decorates every single thing I had out for cupcakes, and neither one of us care.

It came to an end when I slipped on some batter and almost went down. In a move so reminiscent of the first time we met, Ronan caught me in his arms. This time, though, it wasn't quick enough, and we both tumbled to the floor. Now we're laying on our backs on his kitchen floor, side by side, shoulders brushing, and we can't stop laughing.

I can't remember the last time I laughed like this with someone. I know I've never been in a relationship that feels as easy as this. But things with Ronan and me have always been easy. He's one of the few people I've let my guard down around, allowed myself to be vulnerable; and it means more than he'll ever know that he does the same around me.