Page 60 of Recipes for Life
We used to do that all the time; it was arule.Whoever was last had to suffer the consequences, no exceptions.
“You won by a technicality! A hindrance.A foul, if you will!” Murphy sputtered, and I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
I looked at him with humor. “Once a lawyer always a lawyer.”
“You caught on to that did you?” He held his hand out for me to take it as we made our way out of the bedroom and down the stairs. I was absolutely bemused that he was holding my hand, like some part of him needed to always be touching me.
“Care to explain now or later?”
“You should have been the lawyer.” He shot me a look behind his shoulder as we made our way out the door to his car. The bliss of the afternoon had started to wear off a bit, and my ribs were starting to throb. Wincing, I slowed my pace a bit in hopes that would ease some of the pain.
“My love…” Murphy was at my side, looking at me with concern, but the only thing I was focusing on was the fact that he called memy love.
“Murph, I’m okay. I’m sore, but the world isn’t ending.” I tried to joke with him, but the pained look he was shooting at me was impenetrable by my wit.
“Myworld would have ended if something happened to you, you get that, right?” His whispered words caused goosebumps to break out over my skin, as if my body could sense the truth and sincerity behind them.
“I’m beginning to.”
He pulled me in close but minded my ribs, and placed a kiss on my forehead, then scooped me up bridal style and walked the rest of the way to the truck.
“I can walk, you know.” I couldn’t help my amusement at this side of Murphy.
“I know, but I don’t want you to.”
Accepting this answer, I snuggled in close. “Don’t think this lets you off the hook for the job thing.”
His chest rumbled with laughter. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I could have sworn I saw steam come from his ears when he realized he wasn’t going to be able to continue holding me and open the door at the same time. If Murphy could have grown a third arm right then and there, he would have.
“I think you’re going to have to let me down, big guy.”
“No,” he huffed and I cackled.
“Then I guess we'll just stay here all night, and Lux won’t spend the night with us.”
He huffed and mumbled before gently placing me on the ground and fixing me adon’t you dare movelook. He went about opening the door, all while muttering about trade in values andfamilyvehicles.
“Family vehicles? I could see you in a minivan.” I shrugged, wincing again over my ribs, knowing I had overexerted myself but couldn’t find it in me to care one damn bit.
Murphy scooped me back up and, as gently as one could, got me into the passenger seat. I started to buckle myself in while Murphy made his way around the car, but his hand met mine mid-buckle.
“I buckle you in, from now until forever.” He clipped the buckle into its slot and put the car in reverse. “Let’s go bring our girl home.”
“Home,” I murmured back at him.
Chapter 38
Odette
The ride back to Susan's house was quick and passed by in an easy silence. Murphy grabbed my hand once we got on the road and didn’t let it go. His only movements were bringing the back of my hand to his lips and giving it a soft kiss every minute or so.
I didn’t miss the fact that he kept looking over at me, either. Each time my eye caught his, he would give me a half-smile and blush before he turned his attention back to the road. Just before we reached our destination, Murphy said, “What would you like to tell Lux and my mother? We don’t have to tell them anything if you don’t want to... We can see where this goes...”
“You embarrassed of me, Murph?” I shot him a side glance and saw his features morph into terror.
“What? No! God, no, I just—”
