I choked on air, my eyes widening.
Captivating? Seriously?
I risked a glance back at Zane, who was doubled over trying to hold back his laughter, then cut my eyes to Casimir, whose expression was downright murderous. Even Brumous tilted his head, as if trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
But Seri? She was innocently looking around, those wide dove eyes absorbing everything.
“I’m serious!” Gregory laughed when I stayed silent, and this time, it was full-on flirtatious. “If you ever want to grab a drink or—”
Okay, that’s it.
My shoulders tensed, my pulse a dull roar in my ears, but before I could draw a blade and cram it down his throat, Seri suddenly spoke up.
“Simmy, would you mind switching seats with Koko? I’d like him to sit next to me for a bit.”
Maybe she wasn’t as oblivious as I’d thought.
Cas didn’t hesitate. Waiting only until Gregory reluctantly stopped, he stood and swung out of the cart, motioning for me to take his spot. I didn’t need to be told twice. I practically vaulted in, landing beside Seri with relief. She gave me a small smile, her cheeks tinged pink, and I grinned back.
“Thanks, Simmy,” she said quietly.
“Of course, beloved,” he replied, as solemn as the grave, the cold bastard. He folded his arms across his chest, his expression stony, as if justdaringGregory to flirt with him and find out.
Seri held out her small hand with a shy smile, and I took it as a surge of protectiveness rose up in me. I squeezed her fingers gently, and her smile widened.
As we continued the tour, she kept glancing at Gregory. It was easy to see that she didn’t understand what he’d been doing, but she didn’t like it.
Good. Neither do I.
We reached the lake, and Seri’s eyes lit up as she took in the shimmering water.
“Can we stop and look around?” she asked with bubbly excitement.
“Sure.” Gregory brought the cart to a stop. “It’s stocked with bass and bluegills and fed by a stream on the north side.”
As he prattled on with more facts, Cas leapt out and stood at Seri’s side, offering her his arm as she stepped out of the cart. She smiled at him as she took it. He stayed close to her, as I knew he would so long as we were outside, his protective instincts on high alert.
Zane, meanwhile, was already off like a shot, Brumous bounding after him.
“Race you to the water, Brum-Brum!” he called over his shoulder, laughing as the pup yipped in excitement.
“Child,” Cas muttered, but Seri giggled, and that made me smile.
#
The air under the willows was almost cold, shaded from the spring sun, but Gregory’s presence made it feel suffocating. I hadn’t meant to end up here, but somehow he’d made it happen.
“You know,” he all but cooed, “you don’t have to play the stoic protector all the time. You could let someone take care of you. Someone like me.”
Then he ran his hand up my arm, pausing to squeeze my bicep.
I opened my mouth to shut him down, but before I could speak, there was a blur of movement. Seri appeared out of nowhere, her face a storm of determination, and shoved Gregory with both hands. He stumbled backward, grabbing her wrist as his other arm flailed to try and regain his balance. In a heartbeat, I lunged, prying her arm out of his hand, and he landed in the lake with a loud splash. Water sprayed everywhere, soaking the grass and leaving him sputtering.
“Mine!” she growled low in her throat.
Then she turned on me, her gray eyes blazing with a possessive intensity that left me breathless. She trembled, but wrapped her arms around me and squeezed me hard in a fierce and unyielding hug.
For a heartbeat, I was frozen, stunned by the suddenness of it. Then instinct took over, and I hugged her, too, my hands sliding around to her back. The world around us seemed to fade away, Gregory’s splashes, Brumous’ barks, even the sound of the wind in the trees. All that mattered was the woman in my arms, her soft curves pressed against me, her heart racing in time with mine, and her cheek nuzzling my chest.
