into meat.”
The unintended innuendo made her cheeks burn. She was definitely into meat, or at least she was whenever she thought of him. “Turkey and bacon sounds wonderful.”
“And to drink?”
“Anything hot. Coffee, tea, I don’t care. My hands are frozen.” She rubbed her hands together and breathed on her chilly fingers. The kitchen was light and spacious with glass-front cupboards and recessed appliances. Modern elegance was echoed in the rest of the house. Each room was open and uncluttered, yet the décor seemed almost generic.
“The night wind can be brutal if you’re not used to it.” His deep voice drew her attention back to her host. He was watching her closely, deep-green eyes assessing. His black lashes were so thick they made him appear as if he were wearing guyliner. “I find it invigorating.”
With an intentional blink, she severed the connection long enough for her mind to reset. She was not here to flirt. She was in serious trouble. “How long have you lived in Colorado?”
“All my life. And you?”
“Third generation native.”
He chuckled. “I’ve got you beat by a generation.”
She wasn’t usually one for small talk but tonight had left her physically and emotionally exhausted. She didn’t have energy enough for anything more meaningful.
He set a steaming mug of hot chocolate in front of her a few minutes later. “Want a shot of schnapps in that? I think we could both use a drink.” She nodded and he retrieved a bottle from the freezer. “If this cools it down too much, let me know.”
She tested the drink and smiled. “It’s great. Thanks.” The cocoa was sweet and the schnapps created a minty heat in the pit of her stomach. She wrapped both hands around the mug, greedily absorbing the warmth.
“Why do you hate motorcycles? Lots of people are afraid of them but you seemed almost hostile.”
The past tugged at her heart, threatening to shatter her fragile composure. Tonight had been enough of a nightmare without adding memories to the mix. “My fiancé was killed on a motorcycle.” She forced the fact out without allowing her soul to register the loss. “If he’d been in a car when he was hit, he might have survived.”
Jake nodded and compassion lit his gaze. “I’m sorry. That must have been horrible.”
She accepted his statement with a nod and raised her mug to her lips. The past could not be changed and right now the future required her full attention.
“How’s your brother doing?” Jake returned the schnapps to the freezer then gathered what he needed to make her sandwich. “He was still unable to transform last time I talked to Erin.”
Taking a long, slow sip, she decided what to tell him. The rebels had been searching for one of their own when they stumbled upon Dhane in a secluded laboratory. The female cat they’d been searching for was there as well, but Dhane still owed the rebels his life. Jake probably knew more of the details than she did, so there was no reason to lie. Still, it felt odd to share secrets with a cat.
“Landon has been keeping Lexxie informed and Lexxie tells me. It’s too dangerous for Landon to call me directly.”
“Have they made any progress?”
A faint smile curved his lips and Heather realized she hadn’t answered his original question. “His shifts are still spontaneous. Or actually he can intentionally shift into a wolf, but he has no control over when he shifts back.”
“That would be…inconvenient.”
“To say the least.”
“How long have you known Lexxie?” His lips finally parted as he assembled her sandwich.
She wasn’t fooled by his casual tone. There was a wealth of meaning in the question. “We grew up together. She’s like a sister to me.”
He glanced at her, eyes suddenly vivid green, before he turned back toward the counter. “She’s quite a character. Very talkative.” He crossed the kitchen and handed her the plate supporting a massive sandwich then returned for his mug
The unintended innuendo made her cheeks burn. She was definitely into meat, or at least she was whenever she thought of him. “Turkey and bacon sounds wonderful.”
“And to drink?”
“Anything hot. Coffee, tea, I don’t care. My hands are frozen.” She rubbed her hands together and breathed on her chilly fingers. The kitchen was light and spacious with glass-front cupboards and recessed appliances. Modern elegance was echoed in the rest of the house. Each room was open and uncluttered, yet the décor seemed almost generic.
“The night wind can be brutal if you’re not used to it.” His deep voice drew her attention back to her host. He was watching her closely, deep-green eyes assessing. His black lashes were so thick they made him appear as if he were wearing guyliner. “I find it invigorating.”
With an intentional blink, she severed the connection long enough for her mind to reset. She was not here to flirt. She was in serious trouble. “How long have you lived in Colorado?”
“All my life. And you?”
“Third generation native.”
He chuckled. “I’ve got you beat by a generation.”
She wasn’t usually one for small talk but tonight had left her physically and emotionally exhausted. She didn’t have energy enough for anything more meaningful.
He set a steaming mug of hot chocolate in front of her a few minutes later. “Want a shot of schnapps in that? I think we could both use a drink.” She nodded and he retrieved a bottle from the freezer. “If this cools it down too much, let me know.”
She tested the drink and smiled. “It’s great. Thanks.” The cocoa was sweet and the schnapps created a minty heat in the pit of her stomach. She wrapped both hands around the mug, greedily absorbing the warmth.
“Why do you hate motorcycles? Lots of people are afraid of them but you seemed almost hostile.”
The past tugged at her heart, threatening to shatter her fragile composure. Tonight had been enough of a nightmare without adding memories to the mix. “My fiancé was killed on a motorcycle.” She forced the fact out without allowing her soul to register the loss. “If he’d been in a car when he was hit, he might have survived.”
Jake nodded and compassion lit his gaze. “I’m sorry. That must have been horrible.”
She accepted his statement with a nod and raised her mug to her lips. The past could not be changed and right now the future required her full attention.
“How’s your brother doing?” Jake returned the schnapps to the freezer then gathered what he needed to make her sandwich. “He was still unable to transform last time I talked to Erin.”
Taking a long, slow sip, she decided what to tell him. The rebels had been searching for one of their own when they stumbled upon Dhane in a secluded laboratory. The female cat they’d been searching for was there as well, but Dhane still owed the rebels his life. Jake probably knew more of the details than she did, so there was no reason to lie. Still, it felt odd to share secrets with a cat.
“Landon has been keeping Lexxie informed and Lexxie tells me. It’s too dangerous for Landon to call me directly.”
“Have they made any progress?”
A faint smile curved his lips and Heather realized she hadn’t answered his original question. “His shifts are still spontaneous. Or actually he can intentionally shift into a wolf, but he has no control over when he shifts back.”
“That would be…inconvenient.”
“To say the least.”
“How long have you known Lexxie?” His lips finally parted as he assembled her sandwich.
She wasn’t fooled by his casual tone. There was a wealth of meaning in the question. “We grew up together. She’s like a sister to me.”
He glanced at her, eyes suddenly vivid green, before he turned back toward the counter. “She’s quite a character. Very talkative.” He crossed the kitchen and handed her the plate supporting a massive sandwich then returned for his mug
Similar Books
