“I’m asleep,” Maverik said.
“Fine. But I’m not getting dressed to go answer the door. I’m going just like this,” Valerie said, throwing back the covers and sitting up.
Maverik just barely raised one eyelid enough to allow himself to see his mate. “No! Hell, no! You gotta put something on,” he said as soon as he realized she was completed naked.
“Nope. Because I’m coming right back to get back in bed.”
“Damn it, woman, you’re nekkid!” Maverik said.
“Yep.” She braced her hands on the mattress to push herself up.
“Get back in the damn bed,” Maverik snapped. “I’ll get it. And whoever it is better have a good damn reason for waking meup this early.” He grabbed up a loose pair of pajama bottoms as he walked past the chair near their bedroom door and managed to get them on before he made it to the living room. He went straight to the door, but instead of yanking it open, he looked through the peephole. “It’s Angelle,” he called out.
Valerie did not answer.
Maverik opened the door and made sure he softened his attitude and his tone. “Mornin’, Angelle.”
“Good morning, Uncle Maverik,” she said happily.
“Well, aren’t you all gloriously happy and shit today,” he said, wearing his own grin at her exuberance.
He didn’t think it was possible, but she smiled even bigger.
“I came to take Boon to breakfast at my house this morning.”
“Oh, yeah? You know he’ll marry you after that, right? He gets a taste of your momma’s cooking, and he’ll ask if she taught you how to cook like her, and when you say yes, that’ll be it. He’ll get on one knee and promise forever.”
“Mom can cook,” Angelle said, still grinning.
“Yeah, she can. But I’m pretty sure that’s not all he’s after.”
Angelle nodded and glanced into the living room behind him.
“I guess you’re wanting me to go get him?”
“Yes, please,” Angelle said, clasping her hands together in anticipation while still smiling at Maverik.
“Alright, I’ll go get him. But just ‘cause it’s you,” he teased.
“Thank you!”
Maverik walked back down the hallway to the bedroom Boon was sleeping in. He tapped on the door and waited, but there was no answer.
He tapped on the door again. “Boon! Angelle is waiting for you at the front door.”
Canting his head slightly when Boon still didn’t answer, he opened the door just slightly to peek inside. “Boon?” he said.
Opening the door fully he stepped into the bedroom and looked around. “The hell?” he mumbled to himself. He opened the closet door and looked inside, checking for Boon’s clothes. They were still there, but there was no sign of Boon. Maverik left that room and as he walked down the hallway, he opened each door and looked inside before stepping into his own bedroom. “Baby, did Boon say anything to you about leaving?”
“No,” she answered, yawning. “Maybe he went to Tempest’s and didn’t want to wake us up late last night.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
Maverik made his way back to the living room and Angelle. “Baby, he’s not here,” Maverik said.
“He’s not here?” Angelle asked, surprised that he wasn’t where she’d thought he’d be.
“Nope. Not here. Not even a note. Didn’t say anything to me or Valerie.”
