“Because, it’spersonal.”
“So are we. Howmuch?”
“Please, leave italone.”
He rolled into a sitting position. “Fine. I’ll leave italone.”
My lips fell open at how swiftly he’d relented. “Thankyou.”
“Mm-hmm.” He scooted to the foot of the bed, then swung himself around and latched onto the ladder. “Going to take that much needed shower now. And I’ll put a pot of coffeeon.”
I propped myself onto my elbows. “Hey, can you text Jeb to find out if he’s home? I need to get back into theapartment.”
“Willdo.”
I lay back down for a moment and watched the play of light and shadows on the concrete ceiling, wondering what I was supposed to do with myself now that I was staying—not professionally-speaking, but pack-speaking. Would I have to attend gatherings? How had yesterday’s ended? If only I had my phone, I’d call Sarah. I was never leaving the house withoutitor my keys from now on, or my wallet for that matter. I prided myself on being street smart, but if I truly had been, I’d have taken my bag with me last night. I pressed my fingers into the still-warm duvet, watching the indent they left behind. Then again, if I’d taken my bag, I wouldn’t have slept on this cloud of a bed, cocooned against a sexy shifter. The mere thought of the night had my body murring—the wolf’s version of apurr.
When the percolator began gurgling, I got out of bed and stretched, before climbing down the ladder. The hardwood floor was cool beneath my feet, but the air was delightfully warm. I spied my dress on one of the kitchen barstools and debated whether to put the itchy thing back on but elected to keep August’s T-shirt. It was comfier than tulle and long enough to cover myass.
I padded into the kitchen and looked through cupboards until I found the one with mugs. No two recipients were alike. I shuffled them around, smiling at some of the slogans printed on them. I sucked in a breath when my gaze settled on a thick muck-green mug. I took it out and just stared atit.
Ceramic wasn’t magical—unlike stinky wooden fossils—and yet this particular mug held magic. It made time reverse. I was sitting behind a pottery wheel, my hair in two long braids. Unlike most of the other kids who were making something for their parents, I’d decided to craft something for August. I stroked the glazed handle, the same way August had touched it when I’d given it to him seven yearsago.
I set the mug down reverently, then filled it with coffee, the first sip of which had me moaningsoftly.
Something beeped, and then a door swept open. I froze, mug clutched inmidair.
“Auggie, I brought—” Cole stopped talking when he spottedme.
We blinked at each other, and then another door groaned, and August strolled into the kitchen, a towel wrapped casually around his hips, the scent of his sandalwood soap almost choking me. Or maybe my increased heartbeats were chokingme.
As August banged around behind me, probably getting himself a mug for the coffee, I considered ducking behind the island in the hopes that Cole wouldunseeme.
“It’s not what it looks like,” I blurtedout.
But then I felt the heat of August’s still damp body against my back. “It’s exactly what it lookslike.”
Oh . . . God, strike me down.BecauseHedidn’t, I elbowed August gently and stepped to the side so that he wasn’t glued so conspicuously to mybackside.
A shit-eating grin rose to Cole’s lips as he walked over to us. “Damn.”
I tried to reason it could’ve been worse. It could’ve been Nelson or Isobel who’d come through that door instead ofCole.
“Mom sends muffins.” He dropped a plastic container on the island. “I send mycongratulations.”
Had someone turned up the heat? Because I was pretty certain I’d started perspiring. I set my mug down. Holding hot coffee wasn’t helping my sweating situation. Self-consciously, I tugged on the hem of my T-shirt. Not that Cole could see my legs with an island between us. I really wished it were a real island—palm trees and sand dunes andall.
Holy crap.I really did have a thing for palm treesapparently.
“Um.” I pivoted around. “August, can we talk a second?”In private,Imouthed.
His gaze left Cole’s and set back on me. The power of it, combined with the smug smile gracing his lips, sent me into cardiac arrestzone.
“Sure thing.” He tipped his head toward the bathroomdoor.
I all but raced towardit.
“I can leave if you guys want,” Cole said while taking a seat on one of thebarstools.
