Malachi
The morning after what my heart wanted to call a “family date,” I woke up early. Like really early. Instead of staying in bed, I went to start coffee, then went to take a leak and got about halfway dressed. I pulled on some sweats and a flannel shirt over bare skin. I could deal with the rest later.
I padded quietly to fetch my coffee, then decided to sit on the porch while drinking it. I grabbed a blanket and went out. I sat on the edge of the porch, putting my feet on the stairs as I leaned on the pillar that held up the little lip over the whole thing.
“Morning,” someone said quietly, and my gaze snapped to a man sitting on Crew’s porch.
There wasn’t much light yet, but I could tell he was tall and fit as he unfolded himself from the chair.
I didn’t have time to think much with my morning brain, and soon enough he’d closed the distance separating the cabins and stepped into the circle of my faint porch light.
“I hope I didn’t spook you,” he rumbled. “I’m Bodhi.”
“Oh shit. The cat thing really is real, then?” I blurted out.
He let out a short laugh and I could see the resemblance to Crew in the way he looked when he was happy. Then the expression slid off his face and something more weary washed away the remnants of any mirth.
“It would seem so. You must be Mal.”
I held out my hand. “I am. Nice to meet you.”
His handshake was firm and despite the feeling of discontent that clung to him, he seemed okay.
“Crew told me a bit about the things that have happened lately,” he started and put his hands into his pockets, then rocked back on his heels. “Apparently you’re right at home at Hawk’s.”
I shrugged, then gestured at the space next to me. “Take a seat.” I drank some coffee and asked, “You want some?”
He shook his head. “It’s okay. I have to head to breakfast with you guys, and I’ll need all the caffeine in the world to deal with Mom then.”
My eyebrows jumped. “Jenn doesn’t know you’re home?”
He shook his head, then pulled his hands out of his pockets and sat next to me with a sigh. “No. I….”
“Hey, it’s fine. You don’t need to explain anything to a stranger.”
He chuckled quietly. “From what I hear, you’re more like family already.”
The creak of Russ’s door alerted us to him being ready for the day.
It took about thirty seconds before we heard a wry chuckle. “Well I’ll be damned.”
“I better go greet him so he can sit for a while longer,” Bodhi murmured.
I hummed and watched as he crossed the distance to embrace Russ. Yeah, that old man would’ve come to us instead, and we’d all noticed that he had a bit of trouble getting going in the mornings lately. Once he got his motor running—his own words—he was fine.
I finished my coffee and went back inside to change into my work clothes. By the time I was ready, it was still early, so I snuck back onto the porch.
This time it was Crew who came out of his cabin. Bodhi and Russ had vanished from Russ’s porch, and Crew grinned as soon as he spotted me.
He marched over, looking much too sexy in his usual work gear.
“You getting an early start, too?” he asked as he promptly straddled me where I sat on the step.
I let out an “oomph” and grinned. We kissed, and I wrapped my arms around him. “Yeah, I’ve been up for a while. Talked to Bodhi a bit. Seems like the cat magic is real.”
Crew threw back his head and laughed. “Nobody believes it until they see it.”
He rested his forearms on my shoulders and looked at me. The happiness in his gaze was a potent fucking drug.
