“That he’s giving you lessons on how to be a werewolf.”
“Oh.” Whew. For a minute there, Khaki was worried Mac had figured out she had a thing for her squad leader. “No. Xander told me they wouldn’t have a problem with it, but I made him promise not to say anything.”
Mac nodded. “I can understand that. He’s right about the guys though. They’re a good group.”
Khaki smiled. “Yeah, I know.”
After the shoot-out downtown, everyone on the squad—including Xander—had made it a point to let her know she’d done a hell of a job. She hadn’t even been here a week and it already felt like this was the place she was meant to be.
“Everyone on the team is absolutely amazing,” she added. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She wouldn’t mind asking for a better relationship with her squad leader. But she supposed she couldn’t have everything. No need to be greedy.
On the other end of the couch, Mac regarded her thoughtfully. “Why do I get the feeling there’s a really bigbutat the end of that sentence?”
Khaki forgot that Mac was a reporter—apparently a damn good one. She didn’t miss a thing.
“It’s just that it’s tough working around a team full of sexy men,” Khaki said, trying to sound casual.
Mac laughed. “I can imagine. I love Gage like crazy, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m with you on that. Those guys aren’t hard to look at, are they?”
Youhavenoidea.“The hardest part to deal with is the scent he puts off. It smells so damn good.”
Mac paused to give Khaki a questioning look, the glass of iced tea in her hand halfway to her lips.
“What?” Khaki asked.
“You said, the scentheputs off,” Mac said.
“I did?”
“You did.”
Crap. She’d stepped right into that one. What the heck was wrong with her? She never got this easily rattled—because she’d never been around someone like Xander before.
Was that why she hadn’t said anything when she heard him coming upstairs earlier that evening?
She could have hidden behind the tiled wall, but she hadn’t tried to cover up or even look like he’d caught her by surprise. She didn’t have a clue what she’d been thinking. All she could say for sure was that she’d been as aroused as hell. If Xander had taken one step closer, she might have dropped that towel to the floor and jumped him right there on one of the wooden benches.
A smile curved Mac’s lips. “There’s one guy on the team in particular who smells especially nice, huh?”
“I didn’t say that.” Khaki uncurled her legs from under her and went into the kitchen. “Do you want something to snack on? Because I, for one, am starving.”
Mac followed on her heels. “Uh-uh. You’re not getting off that easy. I know all about you werewolves and your noses. I also know how a scent can get you going. So, tell me, who is it?”
Khaki opened the fridge and stared at the shelves of yogurt, skim milk, fruits, and veggies. Part of her didn’t want to tell Mac. She was Sergeant Dixon’s fiancée after all. How likely was it that Mac wouldn’t say anything to the man she was going to marry? Especially when she found out that the team member Khaki was lusting after was one of Gage’s squad leaders? A squad leader who was Khaki’s supervisor?
But another part—the bigger part—told her that she could trust Mac.
Khaki closed the fridge and turned to face her. “It’s Xander.”
If Mac was surprised, she didn’t let it show. “Xander, huh? I can’t say I blame you. He’s more than a little attractive and a really amazing person. Well, once you get past all the perimeter defenses. But that kind of complicates things, doesn’t it?”
That was an understatement. “I can’t help it. I know it’s wrong. He’s my squad leader, for heaven’s sake. But he’s so hot, I can’t stop myself. When I’m around him, it’s hard to even think straight.”
Mac tilted her head to the side, regarding Khaki thoughtfully. “Do you think Xander feels the same way?”
Khaki let out a short laugh. “Good Lord, no. He tolerates me, that’s about it.”
