“Then perhaps you should tell him.” Lyndsey released her and stood back.
Isla chuckled. “I already did.”
Her cousin’s brows rose. “You did? When? What happened?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “I told him that first night he walked me home.”
“Oh. Then maybe you should tell him again.” Lyndsey winked. “I think he’s come to terms with a few things since then. Trust me, these guys are mule-headed and need time to digest feelings or at the very least, recognize they have them.”
Isla laughed. “Yeah, must be a macho thing.”
She’d noticed that about her cousin’s husband and the rest of his buddies. They were all Alpha until their wives or girlfriends were around.
“It’s exactly a macho thing.” Lyndsey chuckled. “But they eventually get in touch with theirfeminine sideand get a clue. And I think yours has finally gotten one.”
“Mine?” She blinked. “Sinjin isn’t mine.”
She didn’t think he was anyone’s, and that made her sad.
“Maybe not, but he could be,” her cousin said, removing a small, brown bag from her tote, and then smiled as she set it on the counter, next to the fridge. “You might need these. I can swing by the drugstore on my way home for more.”
Completely clueless as to what Lindsey was talking about, she was reaching for the bag to see what was inside when Loki suddenly woke up, jumped to his feet, and barked a second before someone knocked at her door.
Her pulse leaped and butterflies swarmed her chest.
“That sounds like opportunity knocking if ever I heard it.” Lyndsey laughed and re-adjusted her tote on her shoulder. “Question is, what are you going to do about it?” Without waiting for a reply, her cousin walked to the door and opened it with a smile on her face. “Hi, Sinjin. Bye, Sinjin.”
“Uh, bye, Lyndsey,” Sinjin said, a lopsided grin teasing his lips. “She seemed in a good mood.”
Isla nodded but was saved from elaborating when Loki launched himself at her guest and that promptly started the evening’s lesson.
An hour and a half later, they were back inside, finishing a salad Sinjin made and a serving of chicken from Isla’s crockpot. Something they’d been doing after the past few training sessions.
She knew it was somewhat momentous to have him eat what she cooked and was warmed by the show of trust he had in her, but she didn’t make a big deal about it in case he wouldn’t eat with her again.
“Delicious as always,” he said, helping her clean up, while Loki watched longingly from where he sat on an area rug in the living room.
“Thanks, but it’s just salt, pepper, and a chicken rub from the grocery store. Nothing special.”
“I disagree,” he said, and something in his tone had her heart rocking in her chest.
Slowly, she glanced over at him and was shocked to find his gaze on her. The warmth in his eyes had her swaying closer until her shoulder bumped his, and their mouths were barely an inch apart. If she lifted up slightly, they’d touch.
“Isla,” he said, his warm breath washing over her, but he didn’t continue his sentence.
Afraid he was about to spout a warning, she shifted closer and lifted up. “What?” she asked, her mouth lightly brushing his as she spoke.
“Not a good idea,” he replied, but he didn’t pull away, nor did he move closer. He just stood stock still as his lips brushed her with his words.
Tiny tingles followed the goosebumps covering her skin at the featherlight touches of his lips. “Feels like a good one to me.”
“I’m not so sure.” With that, he stepped back, and his elbow knocked the bag Lyndsey had set on the counter to the floor.
A box of condoms slid out.
“Jesus, Lyndsey,” she muttered, her face burning so hotly it was a wonder her hair hadn’t caught fire. “Sorry.” She bent down and grabbed the box and set it back on the counter. “My cousin thinks she’s funny.”
“It’s okay.” He nodded, a ghost of a smile on his face. “Look, Isla, I like you.”
