Rhys hurried through the remains of the door in search of Michael and Shaz. Part of him was disappointed about not being able to tell Maisie that she was his mate, but that could wait. This was much more important.
He wended his careful way through the towers of junk, sticking his head into the first room he came across. The theme of the clutter here seemed to be ‘clothes’, its multicolored layers dating back to at least the cretaceous period. There was also a vague lump under all of it that Rhys knew from past experience was a bed, though he wasn’t sure how any newcomer would be able to discern it.
In any case, the room contained neither quokka nor cassowary, and so he followed his nose – and the sounds of quiet bickering – to the kitchen.
Walking into the kitchen was like walking into a magazine spread. A nice magazine, notDisgusting Bachelors Monthly. It was the one room of the apartment that was Shaz’s domain, and it showed. Rhys knew that Michael was allowed in here only under the condition that he didn’t touch any of Shaz’s stuff, and that if he dropped so much as a crumb on the floor, he’d have a pissed-off cassowary to answer to.
And it smelt fantastic, as well. There was something in the oven that was making his mouth water.
The two of them looked up from their animated conversation as Rhys entered the room.
“Back so soon, love?” Shaz asked, tilting her head in a disturbingly bird-like fashion. “I thought for sure that you two lovebirds would be out there for a while.”
Rhys chose to ignore that, for his own sanity. Plus, he was on an urgent mission. “Maisie needs something to eat. Do you have anything here that’s actually edible?”
“Typical,” Michael sniffed. “You invite yourself over, get the door kicked in, insult my food, and then demand a meal. That is so you.”
“How the hell is that door my fault?!” Rhys demanded. “This kind of crap is why I don’t come visit more often.”
“Thank God,” Michael muttered.
“Boys, boys,” Shaz broke in. “If Rhys’s girl needs a feed, then we’ll give her one. Actual food, not that crap you shovel into your mouth.” She cut off Michael’s protests with a wave of her hand. “I actually have some barra in the oven right now. This one here won’t appreciate it, but I’ll share it with you and your girl out of the goodness of my heart.”
Rhys nodded gratefully. “Thanks, Shaz. I always knew there was a reason why I liked you best.”
“Several, I’d hope,” she agreed, ignoring Michael’s bitching with an ease that was obviously born of long practice. “It’s only got about five minutes to go – if you head back out to the study, I’ll bring it out to you.”
“Thanks,” Rhys said. “I mean it.”
And yet, he hesitated. He knew that he should go back to Maisie, but curiosity was humming at the back of his brain like a particularly persistent mosquito.
“Uh,” he began, fully aware that the other two were watching him with great interest. “What makes you think that Maisie’s, uh…” He grimaced. “… My girl?”
“What, you mean other than the way you stare at her?” Michael smirked.
“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious that you’ve got the hots for her,” Shaz added. “Like, you’ve got itbad.”
Rhys tried not to wince.Am I really that obvious?
… Nah, can’t be. They’re just having me on.
So why did he feel like he’d just been caught with his hand in the biscuit barrel?
Michael simpered. “Oh, Maisie! Let me show you my big, bad shifter form! Don’t be scared, Maisie! I’ll protect you! Let me rest my hand on your thigh for an inappropriately long amount of time!” He screwed his face up and made kissy noises, and Rhys was sorely tempted to deck him.
“Okay, okay. Let the poor man have his dignity,” Shaz said soothingly.
Bit late for that,Rhys didn’t retort, though it was a close thing.
Shaz went on, “But seriously, it’s as obvious as the nose on your handsome face. You’ve got it bad for her. And who couldblame you? She’s gorgeous,andshe has a good head on her shoulders.”
Well, Shaz was right about that, at least. But, still.
“We only just met today!” he protested. “And I was unconscious for half of it. We barely know each other.”
“That’s even worse,” Michael said. “Just met her, and already you’re falling all over yourself for her? Get some self-respect.”
“Now, now,” said Shaz. “It’s not like it’s all one-way traffic. She’s obviously just as gaga for him as he is for her.”
