“Let’s talk inside,” Toby said, slipping past Pauline into the room.She followed him in.“Toby Dristan, I’ll forgive you this once—last time. If there’s a next time, we’re done.” Pauline’s brows knit, her tone imperious. “And just so you know, the line of men chasing me could stretch from the village gate to Nova City.”“Pauline, listen to me.” Toby lowered his head slightly and set a steady hand on her shoulder, as if gathering resolve.“What are you doing?” A bad feeling prickled through her.“Pauline, I think we need to reevaluate our relationship,” he said at last, calm and decided.“Reevaluate? What’s that supposed to mean?” Her frown deepened.“Exactly what it sounds like. As for the particulars—take them as you will,” he said lightly, with a small nod.“You’re breaking up with me?” Pauline stared at him, incredulous. The man who had always deferred to her, never once threatening to end things—he dared say it now?“If that’s how you understand it, I won’t disagree,” Toby replie

“What do you think? I’m here to cuddle. I want to hold you while I sleep. I want to fall asleep breathing you in.”Mason pressed closer, looping her arms gently around Joseph’s neck. She nuzzled his jaw with her nose, planted a quick, impish kiss on his cheek, then nestled her face into the warm hollow of his neck.She was all languid kitten, the kind that made your hands itch to stroke.“Like this, how am I supposed to sleep?” Joseph said, half helpless.“I don’t care. This is how I want to be. Or better yet, let’s not sleep at all—let’s talk till dawn. Heh-heh!”She giggled, delighted with herself.“Do you think I’m terribly childish?” she asked suddenly.“Haven’t you always been… like that? Childish? Maybe not childish. Not exactly,” he said, idly twining her hair around his fingers.“I’m only like this with you. You’re the man I like—my first, and my last.”“I love you. So I want to show you every side of me.”Her voice was sweet as honey. She leaned in and brushed his cheek with

“My name is Joseph. I’m Mason’s boyfriend. Hello—nice to meet you.”Joseph introduced himself.“Tharion, this is the man who saved our family,” Vincent Alvarez reminded him.“In our community, we have a custom: if someone saves a child’s life, the child recognizes that person as their godfather.”“Archie, come here! Why aren’t you kneeling to call him godfather?” Neil Alvarez dragged Archie over.Before Joseph could react, Archie dropped to his knees with a thud and knocked his forehead to the floor three times.“Godfather!”Archie called out obediently.Joseph was so startled by the scene that he immediately took two steps back.“Happy now? You’ve got yourself a son!” Mason Alvarez was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. With her professional training, she usually never laughed—unless she absolutely couldn’t help it.“No—that’s not… that doesn’t seem right.” Joseph was a bit dazed.The whole thing made Madeline Castillo burst out laughing in exasperation.“Neil Alvarez, you bi

“Old… old man? Why are you back so soon?” Judith Robinson stared at the man at the door, momentarily at a loss. Wasn’t this her husband, Theodore Alvarez? Only, Theodore’s face was anything but pleasant.“D-dad…” Pauline Alvarez called out, a little afraid.“What’s the rush—off somewhere?” Theodore brushed past them, face like ice, and poured himself a glass of water.“Nowhere. We just heard a car and knew you were back,” Judith said with a forced smile.“Where’s the son-in-law?” Theodore asked.“Son-in-law? Well… um…” Judith stammered and tugged at Pauline’s sleeve.“Where’s your boyfriend? Didn’t you tell me you brought him home? Didn’t you say he had great prospects? I rushed back from Ravenford City. Where is he?” Theodore turned to Pauline. Under his gaze, she panicked and lost her words.“It’s like this—he had an urgent matter and went back to Nova City,” Judith jumped in with a quick excuse.“Right. That’s it—urgent business, back to Nova City,” Pauline added, grasping at the l

“That’s Uncle Stanley’s son-in-law at the grill himself—putting on a show for us.”“For real? The smell alone—he must be good. Uncle Stanley’s son-in-law is a man of many talents.”“No kidding. I’m green with envy. This Mr. Joseph isn’t just a miracle doctor—looks like he’s a kitchen wizard too. When will my daughter find someone half as good?”Envy rippled through the crowd.As the aroma thickened, more people drifted over. A sizable ring had formed around Joseph. Faced with the sight, smell, and sizzle of the lamb, mouths were quite literally watering.“Mr. Wilson, it smells amazing!” Mason stood at Joseph’s side, sincere with admiration. She hadn’t been hungry before, but now her stomach was grumbling.“Is it the lamb that smells good, or me?” Joseph teased in a low voice.“Both you and the lamb,” Mason murmured, cheeks flushing. This rascal—cracking jokes like that in public. Honestly.“Who smells better—me or the lamb?” Joseph pressed on, relentless.“You. You smell the best. Hap