My head and body moved to keep my eyes on him as he went to the dining room table, gathered my clothes, and brought them to me.

He dumped them in the couch before he grabbed me again and sat in it, hauling me and his afghan into his lap.

He lifted his hands to my head, using both at either side to slide my hair back before he used both to press my face into the side of his neck.

Only when he got me there did he take one hand away to wrap his arm around me.

“I said some dick shit to you tonight, Cher.”

I pushed closer. “That’s okay.”

“It isn’t,” he returned. “It isn’t, baby. You can give me a lot, but do not let me be a dick to you no matter what we both get is happening.”

This was good advice, so I nodded.

“Gonna apologize to your mom.”

“I think she gets it, Merry.”

“Gonna do it anyway.”

I drew in breath.

Then I nodded again.

“You wanna take a shower here?” he offered. “Or are you good and you wanna get back to Ethan?”

I pushed against his hand on me so I could catch his eyes.

“As long as I know one of my guys is good, I gotta get back to my other one.”

He didn’t break contact. “I’m good, Cherie.”

I studied him.

He looked like Merry. That was it. Maybe a little sexier since he’d come. Maybe a little tired because it was late (and he’d come). And definitely a little bit of cute-Merry was leaking in because he was tired.

Other than that, he was just Merry.

So he was good.

“Then I better get home.”

He nodded, then dipped in to give me a light, sweet kiss.

After that, he lifted me up as he got out of the couch and put me on my feet.

He stood close as I dressed, and when I was done, he took me into his arms to give me a harder, longer, just as sweet kiss.

He also held my jacket for me to put it on.

And last, he walked me all the way down to my car and stood in the spot I’d backed out of as he watched me drive away.

I texted him that I was safe and sound after I’d walked Tilly home and I was behind closed, locked doors, sitting on my bed, ready to get in my pajamas, brush my teeth, and go to sleep.

Good, he texted back.

I put my phone to the nightstand, got in my pajamas, and went to the bathroom to take off my makeup and brush my teeth.

I was in bed and tossing my earrings to the nightstand when my hand hit my phone, the screen illuminated, and I saw I’d missed a text when I was in the bathroom.

I grabbed the phone and read it.

You mean the world to me too.