“I’m in,” Adam said, pulling out his phone. “Let me see if Myra finished her work yet. She had a rush assignment she promised to get done today, even though it’s Sunday. Otherwise she would have been here,” he added to Jen.
“You going to call Mom?” Jonas asked his dad.
“I’ll text her that we’re going to watch the game, but she’s working on a quilt and watching some girlie movies, she’ll be glad to have another couple of hours without me underfoot.”
They moved some boxes around to make sure Jen had clear paths to everything, and then headed out. He sent a little pulse down his mate link, smiling at the answering burst of joy at the knowledge that he was coming home.
Cindy had felt bad about not being able to help with the move, but she was hard at work on a couple of projects for the blog, and he’d told her Jen would understand. Just because she worked from home didn’t mean she could be available in the middle of the day for someone else’s needs.
When he’d said as much, he’d worried she would burst into tears and his heart had stopped, for just a second. Then he’d felt the love and appreciation coming from her, and he’d known the almost-tears were happy ones, not sad. Apparently people had not always understood that little fact.
He parked his car and by the time he was halfway up the walk, Cindy had the door open, bottle of beer in hand. He noted the wedge of lime sticking out from the top and smiled. His girl always knew the perfect drink to offer him, be it water, lemonade, a scotch, a beer or whatever. Sometimes it was something he’d never even heard of, but once he tasted it, it was exactly right.
She held the bottle out but he ignored it, wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up into the air. Which put her chest right in front of his face, so while that hadn’t been his intent, he went ahead and nuzzled her, giving a little lick before he set her down. She opened her mouth, but he didn’t give her a chance to say anything before claiming it for a kiss.
Her arms had gone around his shoulders when he lifted her, and now the beer thunked against his head, but he didn’t care. He’d missed her. He’d only been gone for five hours, but he’d missed her.
When he finally pulled back—mostly because he heard the other cars pulling up, not because he wanted to stop—she had a look of such sweet pleasure that for a second, he was sorry he’d invited anyone over.
She looked past him. “Robert, I’m so glad you’re here. Are you guys going to stay to watch the game with us?”
“If we’re not intruding. We can go to the bar and grab some burgers there, if you’re busy here.”
“Don’t be silly, come on in. Is Jen coming?” she asked, as Adam walked up and claimed a hug from her.
“She’s right behind us,” Jonas assured her as he gestured everyone into the house.
His dad headed towards the living room, then came to a stop.
Jonas had to laugh. It had been a normal living room when he’d left early that morning. Cindy had said she was going to work on some Super Bowl party recipe and decoration ideas for her blog, and he should encourage the others to come back to watch the game, so the food she made didn’t go to waste. Now the living room looked like football come to life.
There was green felt covering the coffee table, with yardage lines in white. A console that was usually behind the couch had been moved up against a wall and draped in burlap. Above it was a banner of footballs. The console was covered in food. There was a watermelon that had been carved in the shape of a helmet, with fruit salad pouring out of it. There were rice crispy treats shaped like footballs, sliders, cups of dip with veggies sticking out of them, and so much more.
He shook his head and shoved his dad inside so he could pull his mate to him and give her another kiss. “You’re something else. I can’t wait to see how your pictures turned out.”
“Pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.”
“I’ve no doubt.”
“Robert, Adam, there are beers and water bottles there in the bucket, but if you’d like something else, just let me know. There are sodas in the kitchen.”
“This is great, Cindy, thanks. Myra says she’ll be over in about an hour.”
“Perfect, I’ll save the parmesan-thyme-browned-butter popcorn for when she gets here, so it’s nice and hot.”
Adam groaned, putting a hand to his heart. “It’s a good thing I love her. And that you have a table full of equally delicious-looking food over here. But just so you know, for future reference, I’m a popcorn kind of guy.”
She laughed and kissed his cheek. “So noted. And how well you’re matched, because it’s one of Myra’s favorites.”
Adam looked pleased as he wandered over to the food table.
Jonas let Jen inside and made sure she was happy with the beer and water before he grabbed Cindy’s hand and led her to their bedroom.
“Jonas, we are not getting it on while we have a house full of people,” she said with a laugh as he backed her onto the bed. “Especially a room full of werewolves with excellent hearing.”
He lay down and pulled her on top of him. “I know. But I missed you and want a little cuddle.” He ran his hand up and down her back. “Did you get everything you needed? Are you done for the day?”
She melted into him. “I did, yes. Did Jen get settled in?”
