“Just instituted it.”I grinned.“I plan to get it chiseled onto the slab of granite over there.”
“You’re ridiculous.But by all means, stay topless.Don’t mind me.I’ll just be over here enjoying the view.”Her gaze raked over me from my bare feet to the robe haphazardly covering my back and legs.
“How about we make a deal?”I turned to her and gestured with my spatula.“You give me your pants, and I’ll give you the robe?”
“I’ve been awake for all of a minute, and you’re already trying to get me out of my pants?Really?”Alice giggled.
The sound warmed my dark heart.“Always.”
“Doesn’t the robe give you more coverage though?”
“Yeah, but so will your pants.And I want to see more of your skin.You’re all covered up.”
Alice’s giggle turned into a full-blown laugh.“You’re insane.And obsessed.”
I hitched a shoulder.“No lies detected.So are you taking the pants off or what?”
She rolled her eyes, but after a second, Alice pushed her chair away from the island and stood up.Her hands went to her waist.
“Oh.Nuh-uh.”I waved my spatula.“You gotta at least stand where I can see you.”
There went the eyeroll again.But she stepped out from the island where I could see her.In a second, my sweatpants were down her legs and on the floor, and then she was standing there in my favorite shirt and her tiny panties.
Fuck the bacon.
I tossed the spatula over my shoulder and stalked toward her.Alice grinned and widened her stance like she was challenging me.I bent slightly and drove my shoulder into her torso and then stood with her draped over my shoulder.
“Noah!What?Put me down, you goof!”
“Goof?Seriously?Did I lose my mojo that fast?”
Alice huffed as I carried her out of the room.“What about the bacon?”
“Screw the—” I almost tripped as DJ bounded through the open backdoor and pranced around us like he wanted in on the game.
Then my robe billowed out and I remembered how little I was actually wearing.“Shit.”
I ran over to the couch and dumped Alice on it before putting the length of the couch between me and DJ.
“What are you doing?”Alice laughed.
“I forgot about the dog, and I have parts dangling right now.”I faked left and DJ followed.“Go get those pants for me.”
Alice laughed.“Seriously?What happened toI want you, I have to have you?”
“Go get them!Please!”
DJ bounded around the couch, and I vaulted over the back then stood on the cushions.
“You’re being ridiculous, you know?Just tell him no.He’s got to learn.”
“Well, I’d rather he not learn with my Kielbasa and meatballs, thank you very much.”
In less than a minute, Alice was back with my pants, and I pulled them on while still standing on the couch.
Mostly dressed now, I collapsed on the couch with a sigh.“That kinda killed the mood, huh?”
DJ gave up on our game and followed a scent out of the room.
