“Did Cece stay in her room?” Hudson studied Cece.
“Yes,” Briggs said as Kat’s office door opened again, and Tori walked out.
“Did you stop in to say hi to Hudson?” Cece asked.
Rosalie glanced at Hudson, a small smile on her lips. “Not exactly.”
“She’s here because someone’s got the overprotective mate thing down to a science,” Tori said with a grin at Hudson.
“Like I didn’t hear you talking to the warlock about the cost for one for Judd,” Hudson said.
Tori grinned. “Touché, big guy.”
At Cece’s look of confusion, Rosalie said, “Hudson asked me to stop by during a work break so that the warlock could put a protection spell on me as well.”
She gave Hudson a teasing grin. “Monroe even gave Hudson the group rate price even though I don’t work for the security firm.”
“I would have paid for the spell at full price, my mate,” Hudson said.
Rosalie laughed. “I know, honey.”
Cece still looked a little confused, and Rosalie gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “It’s so we can spend time together without Hudson worrying.”
“I still need to be there whenever you spend time with her, Rosie,” Hudson said.
“I know.” She smiled at him before turning back to Cece. “That is, if you want to have dinner again with us. It’s fine if you don’t. I won’t take offense or anything. I just felt like we had a connection, and once this is all over and you’re no longer under attack from other witches, I would love to introduce you to Maggie, too. She’s really sweet, and I think the two of you would get along well.”
“They totally would,” Willow said.
“Right?” Rosalie said. “But only if you want to, Cece. I’m not trying to push you into a friendship, but I enjoyed spending time with you and… oh God, I’m doing it again. Tell me to stop talking, Hudson.”
A rare grin on his face, Hudson said, “Stop talking, Rosie.”
She sighed as Cece laughed and said, “I would love to spend more time with you, Rosalie. And meet Maggie.”
“That’s great!” Rosalie hesitated before giving Cece a brief hug. “Okay, I have to get back to work, but it was good to see you again. I’ll text you, and we’ll figure out a day to do dinner this week, okay?”
“Sounds great.”
Briggs could smell Cece’s happiness again, even from across the office, and his bear growled with satisfaction.
Our mate has a new friend.
Briggs didn’t bother to correct him about the mate thing this time. It felt like a losing battle.
“I’ll walk you to your car, my mate,” Hudson said.
They left, and Cece turned when the boardroom door opened. Davis, Ronin, Fenton, and Garth walked out, and Briggs’s bear growled when it caught the bull shifter’s scent.
Cool it, Briggs snapped at him, even though he wasn’t exactly thrilled to see Garth either.
He reminded himself again that it wasn’t Garth’s fault that Cece had almost died, but he couldn’t help the niggle of jealousy when Garth greeted Cece, and she smiled at him.
Briggs immediately joined them, his shoulder nearly knocking Fenton off his feet when he smacked into him in his haste. The cheetah shifter hissed lightly under his breath. “Watch where you’re going, Briggs.”
“Sorry,” he grunted before standing next to Cece.
“How are you doing?” Garth asked Cece. “I heard there was some trouble last night.”
