Page 124 of Doc Rock
Mai yawned again and leaned into Ford’s side.“I really do need sleep. I’m working tomorrow.”
Ford’s head swung to her, his eyes wide.“You’re exhausted. How are you in work tomorrow?”
“That’s the roster. I’m in until the end of the week.”Mai shrugged; she was used to working when she was exhausted. Although she would rather stay home with Ford andgettoknowhim again properly.
“Shit,”Ford sighed.“Oh well, at least we’ve now decided that we’ve got the rest of our lives.”
“We do.”Mai smiled happily.
“You should call in sick,”Hel said from behind Mai.
Mai swung to face her friend, who stood with her giant Fiancé.“YouknowI can’t do that.”She huffed.It wasso tempting, but she wouldn’t do that to her colleagues.
“Sheknowsyou won’t, she threatens it all the time and has never once done it.”Frost slung his arm around Hel’s shoulder.
“True. It’s nice to pretend that one day I will,”Hel huffed a laugh and leaned into Frost’s side.
Mai swallowed down another yawn.“Yeah. I think I’m going to need to cut down my hours, though.”
“I keep telling you that you work too hard,”Steve chimed in.
“I know.” Mai rolled her eyes.
The older man liked to nag her about how she worked too much, didn’t have enough time to relax, and would never meet a‘nice young man’that way—not that the nice young man bit mattered anymore now that she had Ford again.
“I’ll let DonnieknowI’m leaving my car here. I’ll drive you home.”Ford nudged her, encouraging her to leave.
Mai yawned and nodded.“Thanks.”
“Come on,”Ford said softly, guiding her toward the door of the pub.
Mai went without protest.
“Bye, guys.”She waved to her friends, chuckling when both Steve and Hel gave her two thumbs up.“I think they approve of you,”she murmured to Ford.
“Good. Because you’re stuck with me now,”Ford growled playfully in her ear.
Mai shivered at his voice, then cracked another yawn, putting her hand in front of her face.“I am so sorry.”
“It’s okay.”He hugged her tighter, half supporting her as they stepped outside.
“My guitar,”she protested weakly.
“Donnie willgetit, don’t worry.”Ford chuckled, the vibrations rumbling through Mai where they were pressed together.
“It must be nice having someone to look after you,”Mai said without thinking.
Ford stopped walking and turned her so hecouldlook into her eyes.
“I’m here now. I’ll look after you.”He bent down, kissing her gently, which sent a spark of electricity fluttering through her chest.
When he pulled away, Mai attempted to suppress it, but she yawned again, right in his face, much to her embarrassment.
“I am so sorry.”She flushed and tried to pull away to hide her face.
Ford didn’t let her go; instead, he put his hand on her chin to steady her and kissed her again.
Pulling away, he grinned. “Let’s get you home to sleep.”
