“Mum is going to kill me,” I mutter.
“I’m thinking strongly about it, but it’s going to depend on how good these cookies are.”
Mum, with my dads behind her, walks into the kitchen and gets bowls out of the cupboard.
Devon grips my shoulders and massages them. “Another lucky escape,” he whispers in my ear. I slide my hand back, and his fingers tangle with mine.
“I’m not escaping. I’m right here being caught.”
Devon chuckles. “I’m not going to let you be the one that got away, not a second time.”
“Call me a white whale, and we’re going to have our first argument, Alpha.”
He shudders. “Call me that again?”
“What? Alpha?”
He leans his head against my upper arm and then pulls me off the counter and across the room where he deposits me in Elijah’s lap.
“Watch her. She’s being irresistible, and I do not have the strength.”
“Where are you going?” I shout as he walks away.
“For a swim.”
Elijah laughs, but I just stare at the spot where he disappeared, smiling.
Chapter 20
Sofia
Islip down the stairs with my dachshund in hand, running, for the second time in a week. This is becoming a terribly familiar cycle.
I had sex. Wonderful, mind-blowing, life-changing sex with Mack. I laid in his arms, and it was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to bond me. To make me his forever.
But I can’t do that.
I wish I could, and that’s the terrifying part, but I can’t. I haven’t told them everything yet. I’m not even sure I can stay in Sunshine.
With a chorus of chirping birds, I head straight to Grandmas, knowing she and Grandpa would be up with the rising sun. Grandma spots me from her big window and steps out onto the porch, letting the creaky screen door bang.
“Morning. Is this a walk of shame?”
I scowl. “Kind of.”
“Ah, did you have time to have breakfast before you ran away?”
“It’s not running away,” I protest.
“Darlin’, if it quacks like a duck, it sure ain’t a turkey.”
I roll my eyes and let Danger down. He goes tearing up onto the porch, ignoring the three seagulls sitting on the lawn absorbing the sun.
“Hello, you little adorable, teeny tiny baby. Can you sit?”
Danger sits down and then lifts so he’s got his front paws in the air.
“Awww, you are the sweetest thing I ever saw. I’ve got a special cookie for you.”
