“Baby, we’ve gotta talk.”
That was when he did what Apollo always did.
He wrapped his arms around me, pulled me close and gave me what I asked for instantly.
“About what, poppy?”
God, I loved it that he could be this way.
I put my hands to his chest. “About three things. Then we can move on to the good stuff.”
His lips twitched, his arms gave me a squeeze and he said, “Go on.”
“Well,” I started. “It’s come to my attention that your boys are kind of…” I hesitated, “active at the main house and in the village.”
His head cocked slightly to the side. “Active?”
“Very active.”
“They are indeed active, Maddie. Though I’m thinking I don’t understand what you’re truly saying.”
“Hans has slept with Loretta.”
“And?”
“And, Loretta’s my ladies maid.”
“Yes?”
I stared at him, then said, “Well, Hans is one of your men and a friend of mine. And he’s around the house, not often but he’s around.”
“This is true,” he stated, patient but bemused.
Okay, surprisingly it seemed I had to explain this to him.
I moved a bit closer, sliding my hands up his chest to curl my fingers on his shoulders and I shared, “He’s been here twice since Loretta came on board and he hasn’t even looked at her. She’s crushing on him big time—”
“Crushing?” he queried, his brows drawing together.
“She likes him.”
“Ah,” he murmured, his brow clearing.
“It’s awkward,” I told him.
“She shouldn’t have taken him to her bed.”
I blinked.
Then I said, “Actually, I was thinking you might have a word with the boys so they would be more discreet and by that I mean appropriate and by that I mean they might wish to go further afield when they’re selecting their, um…play partners.”
This time, Apollo stared at me.
Then his arms convulsed around me and he burst out laughing.
When he was down to chuckling, his arms came from around me so he could frame my face in his hands. He pulled my mouth down to his and gave me a brief, hard kiss with his still-chuckling lips before he wrapped his arms around me again and stated, “You amuse me, poppy.”
“I was being serious.”