Page 62 of Protecting What's Mine

“You knocked a tooth out of his mouth,” she reminded him.

“Not enough for putting hands on my favorite trauma doc.”

She sighed against him. Her face fitting just right between his neck and chest. “You’re a really good hugger.”

“One of my many skills. You should see me—”

“If you say anything about that very impressive cock and ruin this moment, I’ll add you to my pissed-off-at list.”

The kettle beeped an alert.

“I was going to say, you should see me make a cup of tea.” He gave her another squeeze and indulged himself by dropping a kiss on top of her dark hair.

“This doesn’t mean we’re going to have sex.”

He guided her back to her chair. “Let’s take a wait-and-see attitude on that particular point for now.”

Mack’s green eyes twinkled. “You don’t find my podiatric apparatus an incredible turn-on?”

“Dreamy, everything about you is an incredible turn-on. Even your misplaced willpower.” He turned back to the counter. Mostly to focus on making her tea. But partly because seeing her like this, vulnerable, sad, made him want to swoop in superhero-style and fix every damn thing for her.

He was already overstepping.

“One last item on the pity party agenda,” she said. “I hate that I’m feeling sorry for myself when I knowI’llbe back to normal in no time. That girl won’t, and I should be grateful.”

Hell. Was there nothing about this woman he didn’t like?

“Acknowledge,” he said, setting the mug in front of her.

She snorted. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means I’ve got nothing to add, but I hear you.”

She swirled the tea bag around and studied him in silence.

Sunshine, sensing the potential for human attention, trotted into the room.

She stopped, then sat expectantly in front of Mack.

“Hi,” Mack said to the dog.

Sunshine took it as an invitation and put her front paws on Mack’s knees.

“Here,” he said, producing a baggie of doggie treats.

“What are those?” she asked.

“They’re t-r-e-a-t-s.”

Sunshine trembled in delirium.

“Can she spell?”

“Apparently,” he assessed.

“Is she having a seizure?”

“No. She just really likes t-r-e-a-t-s. You might as well give her one and earn her undying love and affection. One now. You can save the rest for later.”