“Come on, darlin’. We were good together.”
“We were teenagers. We didn’t know anything.”
“We knew enough. And I took good care of you. No one messed with you when you were with me.”
“Nooutsidersmessed with me,” I correct mildly. “But your brothers would have access, right? You guys share your women.”
“Not our old ladies. And I wouldn’t do that toyou—your dad would kill me.”
It doesn’t escape me that he’s worried about my father’s response, instead of sayinghewouldn’t want to share me. Because he would. A lot of the guys do. It’s all consensual, their old ladies don’t seem to mind, but that’s not and never will be okay with me.
Landon would never share the woman in his life.
I don’t know why I think that but I feel it deep in my soul. He might not be the kind of man looking for a relationship, but he would protect any woman he was involved with. Kind of like he’s protecting me.
We’re not in a relationship, but I can see the type of man he is.
Kind. Caring. Thoughtful.
Everything Pete isn’t.
Luckily, Luna must sense my irritation with the conversation and she calls out to me.
“Allora, did you say you wanted vanilla or hazelnut cappuccino?”
“Hazelnut,” I reply with a relieved smile.
She nods. “You want to come with me? I can teach you to use the machine, that way you can make your own.”
“Thanks.” I hurry after her, leaving Pete standing there.
Rude, I know, but he can be like a dog with a bone when he has a burr up his butt.
“What was that about?” Luna asks as we walk down the hall to a kitchen that’s still under construction but somewhat operational.
“He still thinks I’m going to get back together with him,” I mutter. “I mean, it’s been a decade. Well, June will be a decade. We broke up at the end of senior year, right before graduation. He didn’t want me to go away to college—I went anyway. And never looked back.”
“Good for you. And don’t worry, once Grim gets here, he won’t let him bother you.”
I smile.
Because she’s right.
Her brows inch up.
“Anything you want to tell me?”
My face burns. “Er, no. Of course not. It’s strictly professional between us.”
She wiggles her eyebrows. “But he’s hot as fuck, right?”
My face must be bright red but I’d have to be dead not to notice how handsome Landon is. “Well, yeah, but?—”
“Relax. I won’t tell a soul.”
“There’s nothing to tell!” I’m still blushing furiously but Luna just laughs.
“Whatever you say.” She pushes a few buttons on a very fancy coffee machine, and I watch the steamy concoction pour into the cup. I don’t need another cup of coffee but I’ll take it if that’s the price to get away from Pete.
