“Where’d you get that?”
“I made it. You want one?”
“Sure.”
I follow her into the kitchen, looking around the large and incredibly open floor plan. When we arrived last night, I was suffering from a headache and bone deep exhaustion, so I hadn’t bothered to take in my surroundings. Now, I’m able to fully appreciate the sleek appliances and warm finishes that help the home toe the line between modern and traditional.
“This house is seriously stunning.”
Monique hums her agreement, pulling out the items she needs for the coffee. I’m shocked to find that includes an espresso machine that she works with ease. I prop my hip against the edge of the marble countertop and cross my arms.
“Since when do you know how to pull espresso shots?”
The bold notes of ground caffeine permeate the air between us as Monique arches a brow at me. “Since when do you let men call youpet?”
I search her tone for any sign of judgment and come up empty, finding only humor and intrigue. “You heard that?”
“Oh, I heard everythinggggg.” She bounces on her tip toes, twisting the long handle on the basket to disengage it from the machine now that my shot is done. “They fuck you good, huh?”
Heat sweeps over my cheeks. “Monique!”
“What?! Y’all had me ready to go back to my room and rub one out.”
I cover my face with my hand. “Please stop.”
“Fine. I’ll leave it alone, but all I’m saying is you deserve it.”
“Deserve what?”
The question comes from behind me, and I turn to find Cal and Beck entering the room. In their dark jeans and plain t-shirts, they look so casual I can almost make myself believe we’re here on a vacation of sorts, unplugged from the world and focused on each other. The presence of the guns on their hips dispels that notion, though, reminding me of our current reality. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but I manage to scarf it down, pushing away the lightness from joking with Monique and the joy of morning sex with Cal and Beck.
“Perimeter check?” I ask, accepting my freshly made coffee from Monique.
Both men nod, coming in for chaste kisses before heading to the sink to wash their hands. Beck grabs a towel from inside one of the drawers, drying his hands and then tossing it to Cal.
“We’re all good,” he assures us. “Did you two eat?”
I take a sip of my coffee. “I just woke up, but I do seem to recall the promise of breakfast in bed that never came true.”
Cal moves to the stocked fridge, pulling out a tray of cut fruit, a carton of eggs and a pack of sausage. “You were sleeping so soundly. We didn’t want to wake you.”
He sets everything down, crouching low to search for pans, bowls and whatever else he needs in the cabinets beneath the large slab of stone.
“I’m sure she needed the rest too,” Monique quips, dancing out of my reach when I try to swat her for making dirty jokes again.
Beck folds a laugh between his lips, bringing the eggs and one of the small bowls Cal produced from the cabinet to the spot in front of him. “The board looks good, Monique.”
She preens. “Thank you! It’s not done yet, but I figured we could work on it after we eat.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Cal says, turning on the stove with his eyes on me. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” I tell him, and for the most part I am. The thought of Leland Marsh in the free world hunting me down is still scary, but it’s not as terrifying as it was yesterday. Especially now that I know everyone we care about is being guarded by people we trust. Having Monique here is helping too. Initially, she’d balked at the idea of coming with us, but when we explained that anyone looking for me would more than likely start with her, it wasn’t a hard sell. I’m glad she came to her senses because I would probably feel a lot less like myself without her.
Cal and Beck study me, measuring my tone and expression. At some point, Monique joins in too, and then everyone in the room is just staring at me, waiting for me to fall apart. I bring the coffee to my lips, taking another sip.
“You can stop staring at me whenever you’re ready.”
Beck is the first to break, turning his focus to cracking the eggs. “Did you check the app for messages from Aubrey?”
