She wasn’t acknowledging it either, but she understood the situation just as well as I did.
You couldn’t grow up in the Guild without hearing most of the same stories the vampires did. You definitely couldn’t grow up as Neve’s daughter without hearing them.
“Have you talked to your mom?”
“God, no. That woman will see right through me the moment I look her in the eyes.”
I grimaced. “She’s going to get suspicious after a while.”
“I know.” Harper forced a smile as she loaded another bite of pasta. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this actually has too much garlic in it.”
“Eat it anyway. If Maverick smells himself on you, he’s going to know you drank his blood.”
She attempted a dramatic sigh. Her stress made it sound more sad than anything else. “You’re mean to me.”
“I do it out of love.” I patted her leg like she had mine, and her grin was genuine.
There was a knock at the door.
Harper looked at it.
I looked at the clock. “He’s more than an hour early.”
“He probably wants to catch you before you have time to shower.”
“I seriously hope he’s not that devious.” I set my takeout container down on the ottoman and walked to the door.
When I opened it, I couldn’t help but take in a sharp breath as I saw—and smelled—the Alpha. Six and a half feet of deliciousness in both scent and form.
And this time, he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
Good lord, he was going to be the death of me.
He lifted an eyebrow.
Shit. I’d been staring.
Nope, I wasn’t commenting on that. Or the lack of shirt. Or the fascinating way his tattoo sleeves curved over his shoulders and pectorals, kind of looking like branches and… cherry blossoms?
“I forgot how gigantic you are.” I leaned against the doorway. Mostly to stop myself from trying to touch him. “I’m in the middle of dinner. Just sniff me so we can get on with our lives.”
He pushed the door open wider and stepped past me. My arm brushed his chest, and goosebumps broke out all over my skin.
“I don’t remember inviting you in, Mav.”
“You didn’t.”
I sighed, closing the door behind both of us.
He walked around the kitchen, looking at everything and sniffing the air as he went. He even checked the trash can.
“Drinking blood through a straw?” He looked over at me with a raised eyebrow.
“All the cool people are doing it.”
He stalked into the living room and lifted my blanket off the couch and up to his nose.
“Hi.” Harper lifted a hand.
