Shadowboxer (Tapped Out 1)

“Yeah.” A tear rolled down Mia’s cheek. “I do.”

Carly rushed into Mia’s arms and they started doing the same rocking/dancing/sobbing thing they had the first night Mia had brought me home. That lasted about five minutes. Then they pulled apart and with mutual water-logged grins, started cleaning up the mess they’d made.

“Man, I’m glad I was an only child.” I stepped over my dog to go look for my clothes.

When I returned wearing my jeans—and only my jeans—the kitchen was back to rights. Mia stood at the counter, chopping vegetables. Carly manned the oven, using oversized mitts to lift out something in a big casserole dish.

They were cooking for an army. Not that I minded. I was hungry enough to do a decent imitation of one.

Carly glanced up at me and grinned. “Hey good-lookin’.”

Mia sighed. “Fox, why are you still half naked?”

Still Fox. I might never be Tray again. “You owe me a rub down, which I sorely need.”

I returned Carly’s grin and sauntered over to Mia. Sliding my arm around her waist, I pressed a kiss to her hair. “I wanted to make it easier for you.”

“You’re worried about me, Sis?” Carly snorted. “This dude’s asking you for sexual favors right in the middle of breakfast. Actually, before breakfast.”

“We covered that hours ago. Catch up, squirt.” I laughed as Carly stuck her tongue out at me.

“I have to finish these vegetables for our omelets. I’m due at work soon.”

“Okay. I’ll go hang upside down and hope the mucus drains out on its own. Since I can’t blow my nose and all.”

Carly transferred her casserole dish back to the oven. It looked like a quiche, only thicker and fluffier. “What happens when you blow your nose?”

“You don’t want to know.” Mia reached in the cabinet above her head for a small jar. “Go on and sit in the living room. I’ll be right in.”

Shaking her head, Carly took over on the vegetables. “Kinky bitches.”

I walked into the living room and stretched—Mia’s twin bed hadn’t done much for my back—before perching on the arm of the sofa. “What time do you get off?”

Mia tapped her chin as she came toward me. “I think it was around ten, ten thirty and four a.m.?”

Her grin caught me completely off-guard. I liked it a lot. Hell, I loved it.

“You forgot four thirty and four forty-five,” I murmured, tugging her between my legs.

“No, I didn’t. Trust me.”

“You guys are sick,” Carly called.

“Rephrasing my question.” Hoping her sister was occupied mixing or stirring or pureeing, I rubbed Mia’s ass, enjoying the way it filled my palms. “When are you done tonight?”

“Four. Then I have three hours at the gym.” She unscrewed the top of the jar and a minty scent filled the air.

“Perfect. Let’s go out.”

She blinked at me. “Excuse me?”

“Tonight. Let’s go out.”

“On an actual date?” More blinking.

I snagged Mia’s apron, tugging her closer. “Well, as much as I love staying in, we’ve never gone on a date.” I nuzzled her jaw as she dredged her fingers through the pale-colored salve in the jar. “You know, dinner. A movie. Lots of making out in the back row.”

“Ugh. Gross.” Carly felt the need to weigh in yet again.