“Cuckoo, you mean.” Kian’s lips twitched, which I would take over him doubting himself.
Austin held out the honey on the table to Kian. “How about you give this to Gabe? I’m sure he’ll appreciate it as much as any bear.”
That had everyone else at the table in stitches.
Kian looked my way, and our eyes met and held. His cheeks flushed, and he lowered them again. I wasn’t sure what came over me, but I leaned closer to him and whispered in his ears, “I would love honey from you anytime.” I wanted to nip the sensitive skin of his lobe. I wondered if he would moan for me, but I hadn’t earned that.
Kian shivered, and I could scent arousal on him, and I knew everyone else could. So when I met Papa’s gaze, there was a triumphant gleam there. Like I’d just proven his suspicions right, and when he nudged my dad and they both looked at me questioningly, I looked away.
I would bet they suspected Kian was mine. They knew me well enough to know I’d never come close to him otherwise.
And I could bet that once Rhys knew Kian was my mate, he would never let me hear the end of it. I just knew that when he would tell the story of how we met, he would make it seem like he had known all along and that was why he’d invited Kian down.
I would never hear the end of it. And knowing my little brother, he would use it to get anything he wanted.
Not like he didn’t already.
9
Kian
Okay,so this wasn’t exactly my vision, but the client was always right, right?
I studied the new design one more time. It was basically the same as the old one, just crisper, with updated fonts. I literally hadn’t done anything, if I was being honest.
Sighing, I shared a look with Rhys, who’d chosen to look at it this time before we showed it to Gabe.
More so now than before, I wanted to add the bear, although maybe he wouldn’t be roaring.
“You’re definitely going to laugh at me for saying this,” I said, leaning back in my seat and looking up at Rhys, who’d been standing over me watching me put the finishing touches on.
“Try me,” Rhys said.
“Okay, so I know this is completely off the walls cray-cray, but after meeting my bear”—my cheeks heated usingmy—“I mean the bear, I feel like the logo needs it more than ever.”
Rhys squeezed my shoulder, and I turned in my chair to face him. “That’s not crazy,” he said. “There’s—” Rhys sighed. “Just trust me. It’s not crazy.”
I frowned. This wasn’t the first time that it’d seemed like Rhys wanted to tell me something but stopped. Which was weird because you usually couldn’t shut him up to save his life.
Maybe it was wishful thinking, but three days ago, after what the Hallbjorns had said about bears and this land, it’d felt like something was missing. Although this time maybe not a roaring bear, but roaring was right. He watched over the land and the people, fiercely protective.
Like Gabe.The thought floated into my head.
I sighed. I really needed to get rid of the bear thoughts.And Gabe thoughts.But that was a different matter. I was still convinced it had been a dream, but then I’d had dreams with the bear again, and I knew those were dreams.
I rubbed my temples.Focus, Kian.
None of that mattered if I lost my job, and the way things were going with Gabe… I ignored the flutter in my heart just thinking about him. Why did the alpha leave me feeling off-balance?
Even that whole thing about honey he’d said—I’d felt it down to my toes. I could still remember how his warm breath had felt against my skin.
So not going there.He was just being nice? Even you know better.He was flirting… At least I think he was. But why a man like that would flirt with little ol’ me didn’t make any sense.
He was still the first guy I’d ever been attracted to from the moment I’d laid eyes on him. I’d never had that weird butterflies-in-my-belly feeling, not to mention the dry mouth. And I’d definitely always thought the whole stuttering mess was a myth.
Not that it mattered. Most times, I was sure the man didn’t even like me…but then he would do something nice like send me lunch on the days he knew I was at the office or have my car fixed and returned to me running even better than when I’d bought it and there’d been no bill to speak of.
I startled at a hand on my shoulder. “Earth to Kian.” Rhys’s voice pulled me out of my spiral. “If you’re worried about Gabe, this is exactly what he wants, so I can’t see him complaining.” Rhys pursed his lips. “It’s just so boring.” He huffed. “Whatever. Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
