"Vincent Benoit, that was terrible."
"But it made you laugh."
He was right—everything about him made her laugh. Or made her want to jump him. Usually both. "Everything you do makes me laugh. Or makes me want to jump you. Sometimes both." She leaned across the island to kiss him properly, tasting maple syrup and Vincent. "Have I mentioned lately that I'm crazy about you?"
"Only every day. But I never get tired of hearing it."
The peaceful moment was interrupted by the buzzing of Yvette's work phone. She glanced at the display and couldn't suppress her groan.
"Don't answer it," Vincent said immediately, and she could hear the protective note creeping into his voice.
"It's the pharmaceutical case. The CEO we've been tracking."
"Still don't answer it."
"What if he's trying to flee the country?"
"Then he'll still be trying to flee the country on Monday." Vincent moved around the island with clear intent, positioning himself between her and the phone. "Today is about us. No criminals, no conspiracies, no financial fraud that results in mass casualties."
Yvette felt herself wavering. She'd spent so many years prioritizing work over everything else, but Vincent had taught her that some things were more important than the next case.
"You're right." She deliberately turned the phone face down, making a show of it. "Marcus Webb can wait until Monday to discover that I've frozen all his assets and alerted international law enforcement to his travel patterns."
"You already did that?"
She caught the note of admiration in his voice and felt a little thrill of pride. "Yesterday, after you left to buy groceries. I may have also sent his criminal financial records to the FDA, the Justice Department, and three investigative journalists." She shrugged, trying to look casual. "Just in case he thought about running."
Vincent's laugh made her pulse jump. She loved that sound, loved that she could surprise him even after a year together. "I love how devious you are."
"I prefer 'thorough.'"
"I prefer you naked."
"Vincent!" But it made her wet and her nipples hard.
"What? You said tonight you had plans that didn't involve computers or weapons. I'm just expressing my enthusiasm for those plans."
Desire tingled over her nerve endings when he looked at her like that. "Well, since you're so enthusiastic..."
"The art gallery can wait," Vincent said immediately, reaching for her.
"We should at least finish breakfast."
"Breakfast is overrated."
"Food is fuel for the body, which you need for—" Her words were cut off as Vincent kissed her with the kind of hungry intensity that made thinking impossible.
"For what?" he asked against her lips, and she could feel his smile.
"For carrying me upstairs and showing me exactly how enthusiastic you are."
She felt rather than saw him lift her onto the kitchen counter, gasping as he stepped between her thighs. His hands found the hem of his t-shirt she was wearing, and she shivered at the promise in his touch.
"I love Saturday mornings," he said.
"Just Saturday mornings?"
"I love every morning I wake up next to you." His voice grew serious despite their playful situation, and she felt her heart skip at the emotion she could see in his eyes. "I love every day we build together, every case we solve, every criminal we take down."
