Talk about a change of subject.
Fenella set the coffee on the counter. "I don't think she came home last night. Yesterday, she said something about a possible hookup after work, so I assume that she spent the night with the guy. I'm trying not to worry."
"She'll probably return in time for the party," Din said. "She wouldn't want to miss that."
"I'll keep a lookout for her." Fenella pulled the cups out of the cardboard tray and handed one to Din. "What do we do if she doesn't show up?"
He frowned. "I don't know what the procedure here is, but the Guardians probably have a protocol they follow when a village resident goes missing. We can just tell Max and let him handle the rest." He removed the pastries from the bag—chocolate croissants by the look and smell of them.
Fenella snatched one out of his hand and took a bite. It was warm, and the chocolate melted on her tongue. "This is heavenly."
The intensity with which he looked at her mouth and the glow in his eyes made her breath hitch.
She licked her lips. "Hungry?"
"Very."
"Eggs?" she teased.
Din leaned closer to her, their lips almost touching. "No, not for eggs."
"Toast?" she breathed.
"I love you," he said, his chocolate-scented breath fanning over her face.
If she let him kiss her now, they would never get to the party or they would get there after everyone else had left. Normally, Fenella wouldn't have minded, but it was the boss's birthday, and she would have to be an idiot to do anything to antagonize her very generous host.
She placed a finger over his lips. "I'm not saying those three words back to you. Not yet. But I'm willing to say that I'm glad you're here."
Din kissed her fingertips before moving her hand away. "That's more than enough for me. For now."
The guy was just too good to be true.
Oh, to hell with it.
She closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his. The kiss was gentle at first, a sweet hello, a reconnection, but it quickly deepened into something more urgent. Din's hands came to rest at her waist, pulling her closer to him.
When they finally separated, they were both breathless.
"So, what would you like for breakfast?" she said, trying to sound casual. "I offered eggs and toast, and you said no to both."
Din laughed, the sound sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. "Let's stick to the pastries. There will be enough food at the party."
"I have to admit that I prefer this delicious croissant to anything else. It is worth waking up for." Fenella licked a smudge of chocolate from her thumb.
After a moment, she checked her phone to see if Shira had returned her message, but there were no new notifications on the screen.
"Maybe I should call the library?" She wiped her hands on a napkin. "Is it open on Saturday?"
She didn't know which library Shira worked in, and in a city the size of Los Angeles, there were probably hundreds of them. Ingrid should know, though. The woman knew everything about everyone.
"I'm sure it's open," Din said. "But I doubt anyone would know where Shira is. Unless the hookup was someone she works with?"
Fenella shrugged. "She didn't say who it was. I think she would have mentioned it if he were a coworker."
