Page 49 of Roots and Sky

“Any of you lot going to be here next week?”

They all nod.

“Then I’ll be here next week too.”

Cassie’s face takes on a more serious look, and she carefully gets up and walks me over to a corner. “Hey, this was amazing, but don’t say that if you’re not going to come.”

“No, I’ll be here next week. Promise.”

She narrows her eyes at me, then shakes my hand. “It was nice to meet you, Mac.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Cassie. I am sorry about the bruised ribs, but I can’t be sorry about the result.”

“Honestly, same.”

I salute her as I leave, knowing she’ll protect Kinley with her dying breath. I plan on making her a damn good friend.

As for Kinley, I have a whole new appreciation for what she does, and as we walk out, I can’t remember the last time I felt so good about how I’m spending my time.

Chapter12

Kinley

I rush into the office,late for the third time in the last two weeks.

“Someone got lucky this morning,” Joey says, hipping past me.

“Whatever do you mean?” I ask, skimming my fingers along my neck.

Mac loves kissing my neck, but she’s careful not to leave any marks.

Joey eyeballs the path of my fingers. “She didn’t leave any hickeys, but your cheeks are rubbed raw and your lips look sorta roughed up.”

I’ve been kissing Mac so much that both our lips are chapped. I manage to keep that to myself.

“Fine,” I say, looking around for Dr. Zamora. “Things have progressed with her.”

Joey pops her brows. “Oh yeah? How? I heard from some of the locals that she seems to be a little nicer than she was initially.”

“Brain stuff impacts emotional regulation, and she was a mess there for a while.”

“Good thing you’re healing her with your magical pussy.”

I ball up a piece of paper, tossing it at her head. She ducks, and the paper smacks Dr. Zamora in the boob.

Dammit.

I paste on a cheerful smile. “Good morning, Dr. Zamora.”

She raises her brow, looking at me funny. I brush my fingers over my lips, trying to cover up the evidence.

“Damn, that must be some good sex you’re having. You’ve got your buttons all wrong.”

I look down, and…shit. I stopped by Mac’s cabin on the way out to have coffee with her, and she got a little handsy with me. Okay, a lot handsy with me.

“Why is everyone all of a sudden in my business?”

“Are you new here?” Dr. Zamora cracks, laughing at me. “What about small-town Colorado are you not picking up on?”