Free Tender is the Nerd by Vicki Lewis Thompson Page B

closer. “He told me what you said to him before I charged in and leaped to the wrong conclusion. I wish I could say I’m sorry for that fight, but I’m not. We had years of frustration to get out of our system. You made for a good excuse.”
    “That’s what Garrett said.” She ran a finger over his left eyebrow. “Your eye looks painful.”
    “It’s not too bad, and so worth it. It’s great seeing my brother show some emotion. He needs to do it more often.”
    “But not by giving you more black eyes, I hope!”
    He chuckled. “Don’t like that much, do you?”
    “I hate it.”
    “Well, I don’t expect to be doing any more fighting. I’d rather show my emotion in more productive ways, like making sweet love to you.”
    “Mm.” She wiggled against him. “I like that idea.”
    “How about now?”
    “In the office? Rylan, I love you, but I don’t think –”
    “Back up the bus. What did you just say?”
    Her breath caught. “Sorry, it slipped out. You don’t have to say it back. We can pretend it didn’t happen and do a reboot.”
    “What if I don’t want a reboot?”
    “You don’t?” Her heart began to pound.
    “Not on your life. I want those three little words in a continuous loop playing twenty-four-seven. If I had my way, I’d hear them when I wake up in the morning and before I go to sleep at night, but you said you wanted to let things simmer.”
    “I’m done with the simmer. I’m ready for the full rolling boil.”
    “Perfect. Then I can do the same continuous loop for you if you want.”
    “Really?” She was growing dizzy from all the happiness pouring through her.
    “Really. I love you, Miranda, I love you, Miranda, I love you, Mir—”
    She kissed him gently because his lip looked a little bruised, too. Then she lifted her mouth a fraction away from his. “I love you, Rylan. But I’m still not going to have sex with you in the BMUS office building.”
    “I know. I wasn’t suggesting it. I stopped by Tony’s office before I came down here and asked if you and I could have the rest of the day off. Then I picked up two personal relationship documents from Charlotte. I want us to sign them while we’re naked. I think it’ll be more meaningful that way.”
    “Oh, I agree.” She kissed him gently one more time. “Let’s go home.”
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    Frazer Krause’s usual reserve gets a recalibration when Dulcie Hilgendorf starts calling the shots in
    IT’S ALL GEEK TO ME
    Don’t miss the third installment of the Nerds & Geeks series coming in April 2016!