Page 32 of The Quirky Vet

"And byunresolved businessyou mean what I told you before the bucks' night?"

His grin morphs into a smile. "Correct."

I lean back, staring up into the darkening sky and twinkling stars overhead.

"Hey, speaking of your grandpa…"

I smile. "We weren't. But go on."

"Maybe not directly, but his will is kind of a factor in what we're doing, right?"

Heat rises up the back of my neck. "True," I concede.

"And you told me to remind you about some Vietnam story."

"Oh, yeah."

I tell Fitz what Gramps told me, about how he'd kissed a guy while on duty.

"Did he like it?"

"Not really. I got the sense he doesn't regret doing it, but it showed him he wasn't that way inclined."

"I see."

"And then he suggested—" I stop myself, inhaling sharply.

Oh, shit. I shouldn't have said that.

Maybe Fitz didn't hear? Maybe I mumbled it, or he'll dismiss it as nothing and not follow up.

"Suggested what, Muir?"

Fuck.

"Uh…" I turn to face my bestie. He's unbuttoned his suit jacket, and his beard ornaments glimmer in the last of the fading light. Might as well come right out with it. "He suggested we kiss to see if that helps me figure out my feelings for you a bit. Don't worry about it. It's stupid."

Fitz smirks. "Your grandfather is a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them."

My brow furrows. "What are you saying?"

He props himself up and moves in closer. "Do I need to spell it out for you?"

I nod, because yes, he fucking does.

He chuckles, low and rusty. "Fine, I will. I think you and I shouldK"—he slides his hand up my arm—"I"—past my bicep—"S"—over my shoulder and to the nape of my neck—"S." He then hooks his fingers under my chin and lifts it slightly so that my eyes meet his. He crooks a bashful smile. "What do you reckon, mate?"

"I… I… I don't think I've ever loved Gramps as much as I do right now."

Fitz lets out a laugh. "The old fella knows what he's doing."

"Doyouknow what you're doing?" I check.

"Is that your way of telling me you're a shit kisser?"

"I'm a brilliant kisser. If there was a kissing award, I'd be the national champ. Trust me. You don't have to worry about it. You're in for a trea?—"

Fitz grabs the sides of my face and launches his mouth ontomine, shutting me the hell up. A waterfall of warmth cascades down my body all the way to my toes. His lips are firm but soft, way softer than I expected a man's lips to be, and for a long beat, we stay like that, connected and unmoving.