She studied the extra high doorways, the big leather sectional in the living room, and the matching leather armchair. Everything was built for the size and comfort of a polar bear shifter, and she smiled at Briggs when he took her hand.
“This is the living room, obviously. The kitchen is this way. I asked Brooke to drop off a few groceries, so I thought we could have a quick bite to eat, and then I’ll give you a tour of the rest of the house.”
“That sounds good.” She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her mouth against his, loving the spark of magic it produced in her veins. “But I want to tell you that I already love your house.”
“You’ve only seen one room.”
“It’s enough to know I love it,” she said. “Truly, honey.” She wasn’t just saying it to reassure him. Stepping into Briggs’s house had felt like coming home to her, and she didn’t need to see the rest of his house to know how perfect it was.
His shoulders relaxed, and he pulled her into his embrace. “It’s not as big as your house.”
“But it’s about a thousand times better,” she said. “And it’s warm and not falling down around me.”
He laughed. “True.”
She followed him toward the kitchen, their hands still linked and her magic buzzing pleasantly in her veins. She nearly bumped into Briggs’s back when he stopped abruptly.
“Brooke? What are you doing here?”
She peered around Briggs’s back, her nerves taking a sudden jump as she studied the tall, dark-haired woman standing at the counter.
“Hey, big brother!” Brooke grinned at him, her blue eyes sparkling happily, and Briggs dropped Cece’s hand to cross the room and hug her.
“Hi. Why isn’t your car in the driveway?”
“Leigh dropped me off,” Brooke said.
“Right. Why are you here?” he asked.
She laughed. “Nice to see you too, jerkface.”
He rolled his eyes and growled at her. She bared her fangs and growled back before saying, “You’re making me make a terrible first impression with your mate.”
“I think breaking into my house is its own terrible first impression.”
“It’s not breaking and entering when I have the door code,” Brooke said airily before turning to Cece. “Oh my God, you’re gorgeous.”
Cece immediately turned a fiery red. “Oh, um, thank you?”
“You’re welcome!” Brooke walked over to her. “I’m a hugger. Are you a hugger?”
“Yes,” Cece said.
“Great!”
Cece squeaked in surprise when Brooke swept her up into a hard hug. Briggs’s sister was well over six feet tall, and her body was hard with muscle. Her dark hair was in a ponytail, and she wore a pair of jeans and a t-shirt with the words, ‘Hot Girls Read’. She released Cece before smiling down at her.
“I like your shirt,” Cece said.
“Thanks, Leigh made it for me with her Cricut. She’s super crafty.”
Cece had no idea who Leigh was, but before she could ask, Brooke said, “How was your flight?”
“Good,” Cece said. “And the drive from Fairbanks was very pretty.”
“It’s got some views all right,” Brooke said. “Has Briggs taken you to the river yet?”
“We drove straight here from the airport,” Briggs said.
