Man, I amnotgoing to like where this is going.
"What were they gossiping about?"
He takes a deep breath and stands, then starts to speak a little too quickly. Hoping, I’m sure, that I won’t catch all of what he’s saying.
“I’m sorry for not mentioning this last night, but Thane told Odd about what happened between the two of you, and then Odd told Mama Bash."
“And then Mama Bash told you?"
He grimaces and steps back. "I got a little worried about you and gave her a call because I didn't know what to do. She said to wake you up and to check in with you and…"
"Check in with me and…?”
“…she would arrange the rest.”
The knocking returns, this time with a press of the doorbell. Fuck me sideways.
"That's Thane at the door, isn't it?"
He gestures with his hands, grinning broadly. "You’ll never know unless you open it.”
I glare holes into his cranium.
I wanted ennui, dammit.
12
Thane
Ronan opens the door, and he looks annoyed. Good. I’m pretty annoyed myself.
“Surprise,” I say, deadpan.
“What are you doing here?”
“I got a call from Anja telling me you were at the vineyard, falling apart, and that I needed to come talk to you.”
Ro opens his mouth in protest, and it’s annoyingly adorable.
“I’m not falling apart,” he says, trying to surreptitiously rub the sleep creases from his cheeks while wearing the same clothes, plus a few million wrinkles, from yesterday.
“No, you’re clearly doing just fine,” I respond, gesturing at the state of him.
“Rude.”
“Can I come in?”
Before he can launch a protest, Sam pushes past him and practically drags me into the living room. “Of course you can, Thane.” Turning to Ronan, he says, “I’m going to borrow your car to run a quick errand. I’ll be back in two hours. Make good use of the time.”
Ro’s mouth drops open, and if he keeps doing that, the situation in my pants is going to get desperate, quick. Thankfully, Sam ignores him. Patting my cheek, he says, “Go easy on him. He wanted to be dramatic today, but now he has to be an adult.”
We both catch flies as he walks out the door.
Finally closing his distracting mouth, he turns to me. “I’ll have you know that I wasbarelydramatic.”
“Okay.”
Ronan runs his hands through his sleep-mussed hair, and it’s all I can do not to tackle him to the ground and rut against him. That’s…probably not the right move here.
