He felt a welcome lightness at her snarky response. “And I won’t have to ask if you’re mad at me; get that pulse fired up and I’ll be able to feel it.”
“Ha. As if I’ve ever kept my thoughts to myself. Anyway, I thought Adair looks like she wears the same size I do, so…” she trailed off and handed him a cloth grocery bag filled with clothes.
“Thanks.”
“Come on up for breakfast?”
“I’m starving. Which makes no sense with the amount of blood I’ve consumed over the last few days. But I need a shower first.” He brushed his hands through his overgrown hair. “Thanks again.”
“For what?”
“Everything. I fucked up. Big-time. This is one hundred percent my fault. As it usually is. And instead of tearing me a new one, you opened your home.”
“Well, now that you’re feeling better, you’re getting roped into the cooking and cleaning rotation.”
“You must be wiped out. You’ve got Skye to look after, and now you’ve got all of us invading your space.”
“I prefer it this way. Vann brought a few gallons of ‘premium’ animal blood for you. I think he stopped at every butcher between San Francisco and here. Apparently, there’s even elk. Lana got in this morning; weather was shit in Sitka, so it took a little longer than she’d hoped. Ryan says he’ll risk dishonorable discharge to stay until he knows you’re okay.”
“You know? Fate may have known what she was doing when it came to you and Ryan.”
“Oh, that reminds me. We’re making progress on your prophecy.”
“I believe I made it clear, I’m prophesied out.”
“Fate’s a bitch that way. She doesn’t really care what you want.”
“Fine. I’m showering, eating, and I presume the plan is to spend the day hitting the books?”
“Astrid and Bodie are already at it.” She paused before backing away, her face scrunching in sympathy. “Bennett?”
“What’s up?”
“I… I like Adair.”
“Me too.”
“But… if she breaks your heart again, I’m cutting her head off.”
He snorted, unsure if it was a laugh or choke. “Not sure she’ll let me get close enough to risk it.”
“But you’re going to keep trying.”
“Not saying I’m a smart one.”
“Stop. You’re smart. You’re bullheaded. And a hopeless romantic.”
“Neither of which have ever worked out in my favor.”
She wrapped her arms around him and gave him an almost painful bearhug squeeze. “They will one of these times.”
While Quinn rejoined the others upstairs, he heard their chattering relief as she informed them he was up and about. “Stable.”
Huh.Stable. Verdict was still out on that one.
Either way, he set the bag in the open closet and ducked into the bathroom. He flicked on the bathroom fan, needing that subtle white noise to drown out the sounds of the house. Didn’t completely block things, but muffled at least. Flipping on the shower, he stood under the spray, bracing his hands on the wall to let the water stream over his shoulders and down his back.
Feeling almost refreshed, he pulled on his jeans as the doorknob turned. Reaching, he pulled open the door and found Adair standing in one of his t-shirts, running a hand through her sleepy-wild hair, her eyes still hazy from… well, from spending the last three days in bed with him. Regrettably,notmaking love.
