Tae punches the air. “Hell yeah.” He pulls me into a tight hug, so tight that I let out a squeak. He then places a tender kiss on my forehead—a complete contrast from his snake-like squeeze. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning with a chai or a green smoothie. Just text me to put your order in.”
“You know, most people would think you’re a stalker,” I joke.
“Maybe I just enjoy seeing Margie?” He fake pouts. “We’re actually becoming friends. While I was waiting for you, she told me all about uncaught serial killers.” He frowns. “Knowing those stats, I’m glad Nash is driving you home.”
I roll my eyes. “Next time you’re there to discuss true crime, don’t bring so many flowers. She’s been sneezing constantly.”
“Only fake flowers for Margie, got it.” He winks. “I don’t want to wind up in one of her magazines, being known as the guy who kills old ladies with bouquets.”
Laughing, I turn to Jagger, who looks awkward with his hands buried in his pockets. He steps forward then halts, holding himself back. “Maybe I’ll see you around, rainbow…?”
“I guess you will.”
My knees tremble as his face lights up in a way that I haven’t seen since we were reunited. Damn it. Why does he have to be so cute?
Nash thrusts a huge jacket into my hands. “Let’s go.”
I hold it out. It’s so large that it’s basically a small tent. “This is way too big for me.”
“Wear it.” He takes it from me and wraps it around my shoulders. I quickly lose the urge to protest; the weight of it plus his scent baked into the fabric makes it feel like I’m being cuddled. “I don’t want you getting cold.”
Tae waggles his finger as me and Nash step outside. “You can’t argue with the big, scary Nash!”
I put my hands on my hips. “He doesn’t look that scary to me.”
Nash’s smile causes my stomach to flip-flop. “Take that jacket off, and I’ll show you how scary I can be.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Nash
As we cruise down the road to SVU, I chance a look at her to see she’s wrapping a tight curl around her finger, releasing it, then watching it spring back. I face ahead again before I get distracted by thoughts of losing my fingers in that hair, and…
What do I say? The silence is deafening. I’ve never been particularly good with words. If Tae were here, he’d say something funny that’d make her laugh, and Jagger oozes effortless charm. I could tell a joke…
“So…” We both speak at the same time.
“Sorry.” Delilah smiles. “You go first.”
“Uh…” Now my brain decides to go completely dead, all the jokes I’ve ever heard completely evading me. “Are you still full?”
Real smooth, Nash.
“Full?” She splutters, her brown eyes as wide as dinner plates.
“I mean, with food.”
Holy shit. Did she think I was asking her if she was full of cum? From the look on her face and the slight hint of perfume, I’m guessing she did. I snort. I already know she’s not as innocent as she looks after seeing what she reads. Looking inside the special edition while fixing it up for her, the steamy sceneswere enough to make me hot under the collar… and eager to act out some of them in real life. With her.
“Yep.” She gazes out the window, hopefully not avoiding eye contact. “I’m full.”
I nod as I think of something wittier to say, still drawing blanks.
“Thanks for giving me a ride,” Delilah says. “I really would have been happy to call a taxi or catch a bus from Forestville.”
An uncontrollable growl comes from me, stirring the air between us. “You’re never getting a bus when I can drive you.”
The bus!?! With all those people and other potential alphas? Hell no! I grind my back teeth at the thought of another alpha scenting her.
