After the Scrum by Dahlia Donovan Page A

like with kissing." His uncle reached over to ruffle his hair. He smiled ruefully at Francis. "Out of the mouth of babes?"
    Warned not to knock over anything priceless, Devlin ran over to sit on the floor next to Sherlock. Caddock spotted the tabloid still on the desk where Rupert had left it. The man's eyebrows furrowed in obvious annoyance. It sent a sliver of doubt and worry into Francis's mind.
    "Bastards."
    Francis felt the tightness in his chest grow. He wiped his hands on his trousers a few times. What if Caddock thought it wasn't worth all the trouble? The man had clearly gone to great effort to avoid being in the press lately.
    He wouldn't risk it for Francis. Why would he? Not with his nephew to worry about.
    Stop it. You are worth it.
    Caddock rested a heavy hand on his shoulder, guiding him out of the range of little ears. "I couldn't give a fuck about the idiots aside from them invading our privacy."
    "Oh."
    "And, cub?" Caddock cupped his chin and tilted his head up slightly. "I'm not going anywhere."
    "Ever?" Francis always found it difficult to strive for collected when the Brute had a hand on him. "You might get a tad bored."
    "Cheeky." He bent forward to press their lips together.
    Quiet giggling drew their attention back over to Devlin, who appeared to have been whispering to Sherlock. The lad demanded biscuits on behalf of his friend—and himself. They nodded to each other; it seemed a trip to Ruth's was in order.
    To their surprise, no one batted an eyelid at the little group while it walked through the village. Francis did catch several of his gran's friends sneaking photos, likely to share with her. He shook his head at the ridiculousness of it all.
    The entire village had obviously decided to take a keen interest in them. It would've been endearing if it hadn't been so incredibly humiliating. Caddock, of course, chose to laugh about it.
    Sherlock and Devlin had both been thrilled with all the attention. They happily trotted side by side, munching on biscuits Ruth had snuck to them. Did everyone around them have to be clinically insane?
    "Can the ground swallow me whole now?" Francis asked after the fourth person had asked Caddock to sign the photo from the tabloid. "We are surrounded by nutters."
    "Present company excluded or included?" Caddock asked curiously.
    "Included."
     

Chapter Eighteen
     
    Caddock
     
     
    If honest with himself, Caddock would admit to truly enjoying the way Francis turned so flustered around his grandmother. She was a sweet woman who went above and beyond to make him and Devlin feel comfortable. The meal hadn't been five-star, but it had been delicious.
    She'd teased her grandson rather mercilessly. Francis had a permanent flush on his cheeks. Devlin had wanted to know why "Fwannie's all pink."
    His laughter hadn't been appreciated, if the hard kick to his shins was any indication, but Caddock couldn't hold it back. He'd never experienced such a relaxed family supper in his life. He intended to enjoy it to the fullest.
    The palpable love between grandmother and grandson shone through clearly. Caddock could easily imagine how being raised by this woman had shaped Francis. It had allowed him to flourish into who he was meant to be. Others might not have been quite so understanding of his eccentricities.
    "Hurt my boy and I'll turn you into a Cornish pasty." She smiled sweetly at him, and then disappeared into the kitchen to prepare dessert.
    "I've never been threatened by a grandmother," Caddock remarked absently.
    A novel experience to be sure.
    The rest of the evening went smoothly. Francis managed to avoid blushing quite so violently. Caddock thought it was a damn shame.
    Devlin had been disappointed to be leaving. He'd pouted when Caddock said no to a sleepover, only cheering up when promised they'd have dinner again the next night, with Rupert. He wasn't looking forward to the chaos the blond could cause—and usually enjoyed causing. Being reunited with his twin would