She cracks open the window and pokes her head out. “Uh, hey there.”
Bear bites at the air with her greeting. I haul him in tighter. “Hi, Sutt. Wasn’t expecting you.”
“Yeah, maybe I should have called.”
“Would’ve been a good idea.”
She eyes the vibrating hound at my side. “You’re not gonna release him, right?”
I almost crack a smile. “That depends. What’re you doing here?”
“Thought we could catch up. We used to be, um, friends.”
“Did we?” That doesn’t sound right to me. That term has never fit for how I picture her in my life. But the platonic label is what’s best for her sake.
“I like to think so.”
“All right then.”
Sutton reaches over and lifts a bag. “I brought you dinner.”
A mixture of melted cheese and garlic wafts over. Without hesitation, I suck in a deep inhale. Another rumble attacks my gut. Bear gets a whiff and releases a pitiful whine. Damn, she’s reeling us both in.
“What is it?” The question is stupid. As if I’m going to turn her away.
“I made my mother’s lasagna.” She hoists the paper sack higher.
“You cooked?”
She nods. “I did.”
“For me?” This deal keeps getting sweeter.
“Well, yeah.” Sutton nibbles her bottom lip. “This used to be your favorite at our house.”
A deeply broken piece inside of me twists painfully. “Can’t remember when I had that last.”
“Figured as much.”
I glare at her assumption. “And why’s that?”
“Looks like you’ve been occupied elsewhere.” She nods toward the house.
Her soft tone soothes me in a way I can’t reason with. The fire in my veins is tempered, but the lust boils hotter than before. This girl reaches me on an elemental level. I widen my stance to hide the evidence. “Yeah, I keep myself busy.”
Sutton glances away, a furrow in her brow. “Is it okay that I stopped by?”
I want to tell her no. This is a terrible idea. Having her in my space is an invasion. There are no scenarios where this ends well. The word curls on my tongue, but I swallow it with a shrug. “Guess so.”
“Can I come out?”
“Why couldn’t you?”
She points at Bear. “Your dog doesn’t like me very much.”
“He’s just protecting me.” I ruffle the fur on his head.
Her twinkling laugh is a siren song, and I’m helpless against the pull. “I’m not a threat.”
