“That was when they thought they could defend their homes against the humans,” he explained. “But they couldn’t.”
Jessie contemplated him for a moment, her brows lifting and falling as she considered. Her mouth opened and then closed again. It was endearing.
His lips curled upward in a smile. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d smiled.
Jessie gave up the effort and smiled back before returning her gaze to the puzzle. Kade’s heart soared as he found another edge piece. A piece of sky. He picked it up between his thick fingers and pressed it into place along the outer edge.
“Oh, good one.” Jessie added another piece to the one he’d just placed. “I was looking for that one.”
Kade glanced at Cara. Weres loved puzzles, fitting the pieces together satisfied something deep in them. And scheming, manipulating Cara knew it. What the hell was she up to?
A few moments later, Laura came down the stairs. She filled a bowl and walked into the dining room but froze when she saw who loomed at one end of the table.
Cara gestured to the seat beside Jessie. “Saved it for you.”
Laura hesitated, but declining the invite seemed beyond her. She sat and tentatively took a mouthful.
“It’s good chili,” Jessie said. “Kitani can cook.”
“So can Kade,” Cara offered.
Kade shot the older woman a quick glance. But before he could do more than raise his eyebrows, Jessie looked up from the puzzle and spoke.
“You cook?”
“I’m better at pizza than chili,” he admitted.
“Frozen?”
He drew himself up. Frozen! “No. I make it from scratch.”
Jessie’s eyebrows rose. “Wow. Maybe tomorrow, you can do pizza?”
“Might need more ground beef,” he hedged. But the thought of cooking for her...
“You put hamburger on pizza?” Jessie’s eyes widened.
“It’s all about the meat,” Kade pointed out. And he smiled again. That was twice in ten minutes. A new record.
Neil came in with what must be his second helping of chili.
“A puzzle!” he exclaimed, delighted. He plunked himself down beside Cara and perused it while he scratched his chin. Laura looked like she might bolt at this extra Were addition, but Jessie pushed a bunch of edge pieces her way.
“Here. See if you can find where these go.”
Laura hesitated, but then she leaned forward and picked up a piece.
“Think that one might go over here.” Neil pointed to a spot. “That’s part of a Kraken tentacle.”
Laura reached over, and the piece fit.
“Perfect!” Neil grinned at her.
Laura contemplated him, but one corner of her mouth twitched up. Kade glanced toward Cara. She appeared alarmingly smug. Okay. Time to find out what the old woman was up to. Kade scraped the last spoonful out of his bowl and rose. “Are you finished, Jessie?”
“Not sure,” she admitted.
“I can bring you seconds,” he offered.
