“In case you had any doubt,” she said dryly, “she loves chocolate as well.”
He grinned as they both sat down to eat.
“Asher,” Clover asked around a mouth full of pizza.“Have you seenWALL-E?It’s my favorite movie!Juni got us Disney Plus and I’ve been watching all the Pixar movies, and so far, it’s my favorite.I mean, I haven’t watched all the other Disney movies, but a lot of them.Since you’re staying the night, we can binge all the Pixar movies if you want.”
“Clover,” Juni admonished.“Let the man eat.And don’t forget you still have a bedtime.”
“No fair!”she pouted.“There’s no school tomorrow.”
“Right, but there is still work,” she explained.“Asher is human.He’s not affected by the virus going around, so he’ll need to go to his bar.”
Clover blinked at him.“You’re a human?”
“I am,” he said.“Is that okay?”
She nodded.“Of course.Can you still mate my sister?”
Unfortunately, Juni had taken a drink of her soda and promptly spit it out in surprise.
“Clover!”she hissed in between coughing fits.“He’s not—”
“Yes,” he answered Clover.“Humans can mate with shifters.”
“Whew.I was worried because I like you, Asher.You know I never met a human until I started school?Then one became my best friend.Her name is Heather.Isn’t that a pretty name?”
“Yes, it is.Did you know heather is a type of shrub with pinkish flowers on it?So, you and Heather are both named after plants.”
“That is so cool!”
Asher caught her eye and winked.Juni relaxed.She didn’t want him to be irritated with Clover’s nonstop babble.She’d never heard her sister say so many words at one time, and to a virtual stranger of all things.What happened to the quiet girl?She’d never seen her sister so happy, and hated to admit that losing their father was probably the best thing that could’ve happened for her.Or, them.Both of them.
“Can I eat my chocolate cake in the living room so we can watchWALL-E?”
Juni blinked.“Oh.Um.Sure.”
Clover jumped up and served herself a small cake in a bowl, then grabbed a spoon.“Come on, Asher.I’ll turn on the television.”
She practically skipped into the cozy living room.
“Does she always have that much energy?”Asher asked.
“Actually, I don’t know,” she answered honestly.“This is our first time having company over, so this is uncharted territory.”
He grinned.“She’s going to be bouncing off the ceiling because of the cake, isn’t she?”
“Probably.Hope you’re okay for an evening of animated fun.”
Clover ran back and grabbed his hand.“Come on, Asher.I have it ready to play.”
Smiling, he rose and gave her a one-shoulder shrug before allowing himself to be dragged to the living room.As soon as he sat down on the couch, Clover bounced next to him and started the movie.As the screen started up, Juni joined them, carrying two plates and forks, a lava cake on each plate.
He glanced at her and gave her a sexy smile.It should scare her how he made her feel, but it was hard to stay distant while he asked Clover all kinds of questions as they watched the movie.She kept waiting for him to get impatient or leave, but not once did he seem antsy or need to check his phone a dozen times.She couldn’t tear her gaze from him.He was, perhaps, one of the most gorgeous men she’d ever seen, but more than that, he was nice.
After the movie, Clover startedToy Story, but she didn’t make it more than half an hour before she fell asleep against Asher’s shoulder.Juni turned off the television and went to pick her up, but Asher waved her off.He rose and carefully lifted her up into his arms then followed her into Clover’s bedroom.She turned down the blankets and stepped back, allowing him to lay her sister down.Then she pulled the covers back up and placed a kiss on Clover’s forehead.He turned and left, and Juni closed the door behind her.
He took a moment to grab his duffle while she turned off the lights and made sure the door was locked.Then he took hold of her hand and led her into the bigger bedroom, isolating them.Staring up at him, a rush ran through her body, heating her blood and causing her heart to pound.
“You haunt me,” he said softly.His fingertips traveled from the base of her throat, down between her breasts, and around her waist.“What have you done to me, Juniper Parsons?”
