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Chapter 10

Staying Power

Tundra

Mom’s kitchen was borderline restaurant-grade. The Wolf six-burner range and double oven could handle anything. Every so often, Mom had me come by and cook for her. Now I was grateful for that because I was well acquainted with her kitchen.

I closed the oven door when Mickayla came into the kitchen wearing her Saints nightshirt.

“Are you baking?” she asked.

My lip quirked up. “Not exactly. Got a pork roast in the oven. Probably should have asked you about your traditions, but it’s New Year’s Day, so you’re gonna have to eat my holiday feast.”

“Are there black-eyed peas?”

“Yes, but they’re coming out of a can.”

“Awesome. Can I help?”

“Only thing left to do is chopping an onion. You’re not doing it because I don’t want you gettin’ tears in your eyes.”

She grabbed a knife from the wooden block. “I’m tougher than you think, Tundra. I can take it.”

I bumped my hip against hers. “Maybe I can’t.”

Her head reared back and she gazed up at me. “Are you being sweet?”

“Maybe. You’re playing with fire wearing that nightshirt.”

“What? Why?”

“Your place might be Saints territory, but you’re not at home any more. Got half a mind to tear it off you and make you wear it inside out.”

She laughed. “That’s ridiculous.”

I grabbed a cutting board from a cabinet and put it on the counter. “Not if I get to see you naked. And I’m pretty sure I would, because the last time you wore that, you weren’t wearing panties.”

That brought out her saucy grin that I loved. “Well, I happened to have a swim suit in my duffel and I noticed the pool. Hate to tell you, but you’d be disappointed because I’m not naked under this.”

“You’d go swimming in cold water?”

She shot me a dry look. “With the security and ginormous size of this house, something tells me that pool is heated. Am I wrong?”

I pulled an onion from a basket. “You’re not wrong, but we aren’t swimming out there.”

“Why not?”

I turned to her. “You’re gonna tell me I’m being crazy, but the house next door is two stories, and situated in direct view of that pool. I’m not sharing you…not even the sight of you in a bikini.”

She arched a brow at me. “I didn’t say it’s a bikini.”

“Is it a one-piece?” I asked, knowing she was yanking my chain.

She put the knife next to the cutting board. “Seems you’ll never know, since we’re not going swimming.”

I leaned toward her. “Wild child, there’s a hot tub on the balcony set on the northern side of the property. Nobody will see us in there.”

She almost frowned. “Did I bring my suit for nothing?”