The Lonely Heart (27 page)

Teddy took the offering. Looked at the familiar red lid. Looked back at Pierce.

“A box of chocolates,” he stated flatly. “One box of chocolates. For the both of us. All weekend.”

Pierce nodded with a smile.

“I really am going to kill you this time,” Teddy stated. “I’ll smother you in your sleep, just see if I—”

Pierce doubled over, hysterical laughter ringing through the room. “Oh, God,” he gasped. “You should see your face.”

Teddy wasn’t proud to admit that he’d lost control. He chucked the box of chocolates at Pierce’s head. Pierce, blast him, ducked handily, still laughing.

“Calm down,” Pierce said when he could breathe again. “I’ve got groceries in the trunk.

I’m not a total idiot.”

“I hate you,” Teddy stated with a complete lack of emotion. Inside, though, his inner imp started giggling. Only Pierce would even dream of teasing him like that. Which was probably one of the many reasons why he loved the big dork.

“Flatterer.”

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Teddy rolled his eyes. “You should probably retrieve anything you still want from the car. If this snow keeps up, it will be buried in another hour or two. And then we really will have to eat chocolates for the next two days.”

“I can think of worse things.”

Teddy could, too.

“Retrieval. Got it. You just stay nice and warm while I go freeze my toes off in the snow.”

“This
was
your idea.”

“Yep. I’m brilliant, aren’t I?”

Teddy rolled his eyes again.

Pierce’s laughter seemed to brighten dark corners, a deep sound that Teddy never tired of.

“What would I do without you?” Pierce asked.

The question fell between them, the tone surprisingly serious. As was the look in Pierce’s dark eyes. Teddy shook his head, not really sure what he was denying, while he looked back at his friend. The atmosphere thickened, emotions suddenly darkening.

Pierce broke the weird vibe in the room with one of his patented goofy grins. “If I’m not back in five minutes, bring a shovel,” he said, tugging his gloves on. He made his way jauntily across the room, all smiles and light and… Pierce.

His path to the door wasn’t straight and brought him unnecessarily close to Teddy. So close that Teddy could feel the heat, smell that unique mix of cologne and musk that made up Pierce’s personal scent.

Their shoulders brushed and Pierce’s stride stuttered. Teddy turned his head.

Warm, soft lips landed on his cheek. It was a barely-there brush against his skin, hardly even qualifying as a kiss, but it was more than enough to send Teddy’s world into a free-fall over the edge of a cliff.

“Be right back,” Pierce said huskily.

Then he was gone, leaving Teddy to stare at the closed door in utter disbelief.

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About the Author

Born and raised in the middle of the Midwest, I have always been a dreamer. More often than not I could be found with my nose buried in a book (many of which I had to sneak past my parents). It wasn’t long before I started trying my hand at writing more of the stories I loved. After years of penning tales that rarely left the hard drive of my computer, I discovered M/M romance. As with all genres, it wasn’t long before my own characters started to take shape.

There is little I love more than wandering new places and, on occasion, entirely new worlds with my characters. They can range from cowboys to Victorian noblemen, accountants to shapeshifters, and everything in between. I write mainly m/m romance, usually with paranormal or fantasy elements. I willingly follow my characters wherever they decide to go, sometimes with unusual results. I have little control over their actions—any naughty behaviour is all their doing!

K.M. loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at
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.

Also by K.M. Mahoney

Odd Man In

Yuletide Yearnings: In Teddy’s Arms

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