"Oh, you're right. They probably just grunted a few times first, maybe as a warning." Since her arms were around his neck, Owen bent his knees just enough to reach down and grip her behind her thighs. He lifted her easily and held her against him before turning to head out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Keeping up his exercise regime had been a wise idea, and he moved up the steps with ease.
"I would have probably been all over the promise of a race, but maybe we can do that another time. I can get pretty competitive, and if you beat me, it might have put a damper on the mood."