Charming (Exiled Book 3) by Victoria Danann

he said, but the protest sounded more like a compliment than an argument. “Thank you. That was really, really good. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
    Even though she was hardly an innocent, she blushed when his praise brought images of sex to mind. “You’re welcome. Anytime.”
    “Maybe you could…”
    “No. Let me try cooking.”
    “Just saying that when you said you didn’t know how to do anything, you were either holding out or you were very wrong. Because that was good and people would pay for it.”
    She sighed. “I’d rather make cookies.”
    Charming stood, turned around, and gave her a smile she could learn to crave. “You know, you kind of smell like cookies.”
    “You’re making that up.”
    “No, I’m not. You know, your, ah, girl parts smell like cookies.”
    She blinked, having no idea how to respond to that. Charming had never given her any reason to think he might be interested in her girl parts. If that was a hybrid approach to flirting, it was drastically unusual, but also effective. It certainly had her attention.
    “Thank you. I guess.”
    He laughed. “Consider this your last day as a watcher in the park. As of tomorrow you will be some cook’s very pretty helper-trainee.”
    With that he walked out and closed the door behind him.
    Ana threw out the room-temperature tea, made a fresh cup, and sat at the table wondering if Charming liked her like that . He didn’t bring girls around the apartment or the bar, but she also didn’t pick up any vibe that he was more interested in boys. She decided to test the waters and find out if he was as attracted to her as she was to him at the first opportunity, hopefully without doing something that would make things awkward between them if she was wrong.
    She didn’t see him again that day. He didn’t come to the pub at supper and wasn’t home when she went to bed, but the next morning when she woke, she heard noises in the kitchen. Since Charming was usually gone at that hour, she was surprised to hear that she wasn’t alone.
    When she was dressed for the day, her first day as a student of cooking, she went toward the kitchen hoping for something liquid with caffeine and something doughy with sugar.
    She’d learned to recognize the differences between humans and hybrids and knew instantly that the tall woman looking through cabinets had to be one of his kind. Plus, she was wearing the traditional garb of Exiled females which was long sleeved, form fitting knit shirt with a wraparound print skirt and lace up leathers very similar to hiking boots. The costume was an odd combination of feminine allure and combat readiness. It was practical, but showed off curves. And somehow it worked, fashion wise.
    “Can I help you?” Ana asked.
    When the woman turned, Ana felt twinges of an unfamiliar emotion that she strongly suspected might be jealousy. She’d never experienced jealousy before. She’d experienced fear that some other woman might catch the eye of a guy who was providing for her or protecting her. But that was very different.
    This female was undeniably stunning, with coloring very similar to Charming’s except that the streaks in her hair were such a pale blond they were almost white.
    The beauty’s eyes came to rest on Ana in a lazy, reserved, almost aloof way. Before the interloper answered, Ana heard the front door open and close.
    Charming.
    He breezed into the kitchen carrying a bag of pastries.
    “Hey, Ana. This is Dandelion.”
    Ana looked from Charming to the female who was wearing a hard-to-place expression. “Hello.”
    “She’s my sister-in-law, mated to my older brother, Crave.” Ana sincerely hoped her instantaneous relief wasn’t evident, but judging by the knowing look on the woman’s face, she knew it was. “Dandy was a good friend of Rosie’s.”
    “Is,” corrected Dandy.
    “Is what?” asked Charming.
    “Dandy is a good friend of Rosie’s,” Dandy said.
    “Well, sure. Of course that’s what I