Rachel positively beamed at him. “Wonderful.”
Laughing, Jason smiled back at her. “It’s great to see you like this after everything you went through.”
“Thank you.” She took the mug he offered and sighed. “I’ve never felt so . . . so . . . complete,”
she finally settled on.
“I’m happy for you. For both of you.” Jason set his mug down and wrapped an arm around her.
“Congratulations. Again.”
“Thanks.”
“You all ready for this afternoon?” he asked, taking a sip of his tea.
She sighed and scrunched up her nose. “I’m packed, if that’s what you mean?”
Laughing, he shook his head. “While that’s also good, I meant are you mentally prepared?”
“Yeah, I figured you weren’t concerned I had enough clothes.” She smiled, then shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure how to prepare for this since I don’t know what they’re going to have us do. It makes me nervous.” She tapped her fingers on the side of her mug. “I shouldn’t complain, though. I inherited a great unit who already trust each other, work well together, and most importantly trust and respect Cam. They know what’s at stake and what’s expected of them. Whereas Jenn’s unit . . .”
“Yeah,” Jason agreed. “Not sure I fancy being in her shoes.”
Rachel nudged his shoulder. “But we have you and Daryl to come to the rescue, right? Two big, bad shifters to sweep in and help the girls.” She laughed, but Jason heard the edge to it.
“You know Cam doesn’t see it like that, though, right? I mean, apart from you and Jenn, there aren’t any—”
“I know.” She sighed again. “Ignore me. I’m just tired and still smarting from Gallen and all his anti-feminist bollocks over the weekend.” She frowned, then shook herself. “I know Cam’s nothing
like Gallen, and the rational side of me also knows having you and Daryl there as back up is the right thing to do. Jenn and I can only handle so many. If—and I hope I’m not tempting fate—they all kicked off with each other, we’d be swamped and forced to ask the council to help.”
“Which Cam is trying to avoid.”
“Exactly. And I know this; I do.” Rachel’s smile returned. “I just need to get that wanker’s words out of my head and remember that Cam is not Gallen.”
“And we’re only there to observe.” He gave her a nudge of his own. “If you don’t ask for help, we won’t interfere.”
She turned her full gaze on him then, and Jason suddenly felt as though he was under a spotlight.
“Talking of which, what will the two of you be doing when you’re not watching us? Surely you won’t be observing twenty-four hours a day?”
“No.” Jason looked down at his feet, not wanting to say because he knew what her reaction would be. “I believe me and Daryl will be doing a few bonding exercises of our own.”
Silence.
He looked up to find Rachel biting her lip in an effort not to laugh, her eyes full of amusement, and he realised how that had sounded.
“Not like that! Get your mind out of the gutter.”
She barked out a laugh. “Sorry, but come on, I bet you wouldn’t mind. Daryl’s hot—if you like the big, strong, and silent bad-boy thing he has going on. Jason groaned as he felt himself flush, and Rachel laughed again. “And it looks like you do, so . . .”
“Stop it. The last thing this situation needs is me pissing off Daryl by coming on to him. What a fun two weeks that would be.”
“You don’t know he’d be pissed off.”
Jason laughed. “I’m pretty sure his default setting is pissed off.”
“I think he’s got a softer side, you just don’t see it very often.”
