Except good is a massive understatement. Alec’s wearing a long-sleeved Henley in a mossy green that brings out the same shade in his eyes. The fabric stretches just the right amount across his biceps and shoulders, reminding me once again how impressive his muscles are. And his jeans… Well, no man has the right to look that good in worn denim. But he does.
Alec runs his hand through his hair, tousling it even more. My fingers twitch with the urge to test the softness of the strands myself. “Just pretty good?” he asks in a teasing tone. “Is that one step up from nice?”
A laugh bubbles up. “I suppose it is. How about, you look great? Is that better?”
He grins. “I’ll take great.” Glancing over my shoulder, his gaze sweeps the living room. “Do you need anything before we head over to Enzo’s? Or are you ready to go?”
“I’m ready.” I reach for my fleece hanging on thehook beside the door, but Alec beats me to it, holding it out so I can slip my arms into it. His fingers trail along the back of my neck as he adjusts the collar, sending shivers of pleasure across my skin.
Just friends. Just. Friends.
“Do you need your purse?” Alec asks, spotting my knit handbag on the hook just to the right of where my fleece was. When I nod, he grabs it and loops it over my shoulder, then holds his arm out to me. “Anything else?”
I take his arm, looping mine around it. It’s a quaint gesture, taking his arm, but I like it. I can imagine him learning the concept from his dad and tucking it away to use later. “I’m good.”
“Okay.” Alec punches in the code to arm the alarm for the cabin—because he wasn’t kidding when he said the buildings were safe—and leads me outside, shutting the door firmly behind us. “I thought we could walk, if you don’t mind. Since it’s not too cold. Unless you’d rather take my truck.”
I glance at his black pickup parked on the packed dirt road. “Walking is good.”
Alec pulls a flashlight from his pocket and flicks it on as we head into the woods, the beam brightening the trail. Even with a flashlight, I’d feel nervous venturing through the forest at night on my own, but with Alec, I’m not worried at all.
As we walk, the conversation flows easily, shifting from his day at work—good, busy, but his assistant isexcited about taking more work so Alec can come to my shifts at Blissful Brews with me—to my much less eventful day off, which involved a walk along the trails and several hours playingTenebris Veilwith a few of my guildmates.
Enzo’s house is within sight when Alec says, “So. Would you want to show me your game sometime? I watched some videos online, but it’s not the same as seeing someone play in person.”
Hope blossoms inside me again. “Would you really want to?”
Alec glances down at me. “Haze. What did I tell you? I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to.”
Right.
I hug his arm a little tighter. “I’d really like that. In fact, if you wanted to bring over your laptop, we could install the game and I could give you a little tour. Just the easy zones, since you’d be low level, but it could be fun.”
“That sounds great.” Alec switches off the flashlight once we reach the porch steps. “Maybe tomorrow after we get back from your shift, we could play your game instead of watching a movie.”
Warmth blossoms inside me. “I’d really like that.”
I didn’t miss how he said he’d spend tomorrow evening with me like it’s a given.
Almost like a date. Except it’s not.
Just as we’re approaching the front door, it swings open. In a contradiction to the solemn greeting Enzogave the first time I came here, he smiles broadly at us. “Hey, guys. You made it.”
Alec lifts his chin at him. “We decided to walk over instead of taking the truck.” His expression jolts as he gives Enzo a second look. In a slightly aghast tone, Alec asks, “What are youwearing?”
Enzo glances down at his sweater, which is black with orange jack-o'-lanterns all over it. It’s actually pretty cute, and I could see myself wearing it for Halloween. But on Enzo? It’s a little unexpected. “This?” He laughs. “I lost a bet with Winter.”
Alec chuckles. “And how many times is that? I seem to recall aninterestingshirt you wore on Christmas Eve. And bunny ears for Easter?”
“Never make a bet against your wife,” Enzo replies, not looking upset about it in the least. “She’ll always win. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Aww.
A pang of longing plucks at my heart.
I’d like that. A man who’d gladly wear a silly sweater because he lost a bet. A man who’d look happy about it.
I glance at Alec, noting his thoughtful expression.
