I didn't even wait for the door to close behind me before pressing the paper bag into Crew's big hands. He looked startled by my insistence but didn't argue, turning for the kitchen while I pushed against his broad back with both hands, bouncing as I went, giggling over the expression on his face when he spun back to meet my eyes.
His grin made me sigh, washing away the remains of the encounter with Oliver, with Jack Nethersole, with all of the complaining, needy people I'd dealt with today, yesterday, every day since taking over Petunia's. He just had that effect on me, bless him.
"And here I thought you were excited to see me," he said, winking, that rumbling voice of his making me shiver as I leaned in and kissed his stubbled cheek. He hadn't changed out of his uniform shirt yet, the wash-softened cotton thick under my hands, the scent of him so dear, so familiar I inhaled a deep breath of him before kissing him again, this time on those smiling lips.