Page 40 of Jake

“Kai, this is Tabitha. Tabitha. Kai.” Jake sensed her displeasure, yet he’d made the right choice. He could trust Tabitha to keep her mouth shut.

Quintus stood, extending his hand. “May I help you with your things?”

“Nice to meet you,” Tabitha said, wearing a confused expression.

“It’s okay, Tabitha. Quint he’s, uh…” Dangerous. Lethal. “A friend.”

“I think we can manage.” Tabitha eyed Kai, and Jake suspected she was sizing up her competition.

“Please, let me,” Kai said.

“I don’t mean to be rude, Tabby, but time is short. I’m sure Kai can manage.”

“No, no, darlin’. I insist on helping your guest with her things. I know you told me her size but better safe than sorry. These may be a little too big.”

“It’s fine, really,” Kai insisted, reaching for the clothes. Tabitha clutched the bag to her chest, her focus on Jake.

“Fine, but we don’t have all day,” he said. “Y’all can use the guest room.”

“See? That was easy. Come along, now,” Tabitha said, brushing past Kai.

Jake caught the pain that flashed in Kai’s eyes. It was quickly replaced with an icy indifference. She shook her head and moved toward the stairs. Jake reached to her but she tugged her arm out of his reach.

“Kai,” Jake said, unsure of what to say to her.

“I’ll get ready,” she responded, not looking backwards as she ascended after the she-wolf.

He turned to Quintus, who wore a broad smile.

“What?” Jake shrugged, lifting both palms upward.

“Nothing.” The vampire began to laugh as he cleared the table.

“What the fuck is so funny?”

“You may be an Alpha but you sure do have a lot to learn about women.”

“What do you know?” Jake reached for his glass of wine, aware Kai was jealous of Tabitha.

“Where shall I begin? You just fucked one girl, and you invited a lover over to dress her? Good stuff.” Quintus chuckled. “You got big cojones. I’ll give ya that.”

“Oh that.”

“Oh that, he says.”

“Well, I know Tabitha pretty well.”

“You seemed to know Holly too.”

“She was a momentary lapse in judgement a few decades ago. Believe me, I’ve sworn off witches.”

“But what about pretty little Tabby cat?”

Jake blew out a breath and scrubbed his hand over his chin. “She’s a wolf. We have an arrangement. Friends with benefits kind of thing.”

“Yeah, okay.” Quintus raised his eyebrows, his tone laced with doubt.

“She’s not my mate. And she owns a few stores. Who the hell else am I supposed to call? I’m a guy. I don’t do clothes stuff. I pay someone to dress me.”