“Sure. I’ll do some work while I wait.” Cassie pulled out her notebook and a pen.
He relaxed a fraction. What he didn’t tell her was that Roderick was a handsome bastard and women gravitated to him. Hone wanted to keep Cassie well away until he’d claimed her as his own.
That he didn’t even hesitate told him how gone he was on her. A week ago, he’d have laughed himself silly. He always rolled his eyes when his father and mother reminisced about their courtship. Their short, short courtship. They’d known after one day. Sooner, his mother had insisted. No more smartarse remarks from him, because now he understood the magnetic attraction.
Understandably, Cassie was cautious. From the little he’d heard while eavesdropping on Cassie and Emma’s conversation, Cassie had suffered bad luck with men and that had made her wary. Now he had a chance to show her how it could be between them—the sex. Hell, who was he trying to kid? His thoughts, prompted by his mulish taniwha, were deviating toward something more permanent.
“Hone, long time no see,” Roderick hollered. “How’s it hangin’?” He lifted his nose and sniffed. “You’ve got a lady with you. Bring her in and introduce me.” The tall muscular man yanked open the front door. He wore black shorts and nothing else, his black hair loose and past his shoulders.
Hone clasped his hand and pulled Roderick in for a man-hug. “Hell, no,” he said once they’d released each other.
Roderick’s gaze spewed mirth. “A bro could get his feelings hurt.”
“Pull the other one,” Hone retorted. “I need a favor. Someone is giving Cassie a hard time. They’re following us, but I can’t see them yet. Can we swap vehicles for the weekend?”
“Cassie.” Roderick rolled her name around his mouth with a dragonish purr. He sniffed, his top lip curling as he processed the layers of air. “Her scent is all over you.”
“Yeah.”
“She smells divine. Describe her to me.”
“No.” Hone didn’t even try for polite.
“Ah.” Roderick cocked his head, his gaze intent. “Interesting.”
“Yeah.”
“First Jack and now you.”
“Cassie is Emma’s friend.”
“Ah,” Roderick said again.
“Can I take your vehicle?”
“No prob. Let me get the keys and I’ll walk you out.” No questions, just easy acceptance. Hone liked that about Roderick.
“Just give me the keys. We’re in a hurry.”
“You want to borrow my vehicle, then you have to introduce me.”
“You touch her, and I won’t keep control,” Hone warned.
“You’ve already figuratively pissed on her and claimed your territory. What kind of mate would I be if I didn’t say a friendly hello to your girl?”
“How do you keep your pretty looks?” Hone asked through gritted teeth. “Everyone who knows you wants to bash in your face.”
“Not the women, my friend.” Roderick chuckled. “It’s good to see you like this, fighting for a woman instead of using them to sate your taniwha.”
“And you don’t?”
Roderick fell silent, his amusement fading. “Not while I was with Marina.”
Crap. “Sorry, I’m on edge because I’m trying to go slow with Cassie. I’ve known her for three days—”
“I get it.” Roderick disappeared and came back with the keys. “Introduce me.”
Hone fought the snarl building in his mind. He curled his hands to fists, felt the prick of claws as they gouged his palms. Despite his apprehension, he acquiesced with a don’t-push-me shrug. Trust. He could give Cassie that, and if Roderick managed to flirt and seduce her away, he’d get over the betrayal. Somehow.
