I’m not. I can’t. The realization settles into me with a calm I should probably find alarming. Two days ago, I was applying for hospital jobs in three states. Now I’m sitting on a patio in Grayson’s shirt deciding I’d run with him if it came to that.
I pull back just enough to speak against his mouth.
“If we go on the run and you can’t find work, I’ll find a job at whatever hospital is nearest and I’ll cover us until you do.”
A startled laugh shakes out of him. “Miranda.”
“What?”
“I have enough money to last us a lifetime.”
“That’s fine. You can use yours, and I’ll use mine.”
“You don’t have any.”
“I will, once I’m working.”
He shakes his head, still smiling, and his thumb traces my cheekbone. “Sweetheart, I keep telling you. I’m never going to stop you from doing what you love. But you don’t have to support us. Ever.”
I tug his chin with my fingers, narrowing my eyes at him. “Since when did you become such a smooth talker?”
“Since you came into my life.”
I groan and drop my forehead back against his shoulder, and his chest is shaking with quiet laughter. I should cringe. I want to cringe. The line is appalling. Somehow I am laughing into his collarbone instead, my chest loose for the first time since Coach walked through the front door.
I lift my head after a moment, and the laugh fades.
“What about the body?”
He sobers. “I don’t know yet. Coach was pissed enough that he didn’t get to the details. I’ll talk to him later. This was just a courtesy call, since it was found on my territory. Don’t worry too much about it. Humans tend to bury bodies in the woods all the time.”
I press my lips together. “You’re pretty laid back over the whole thing. I would be freaking out. Exactly how many bodies have been buried on your territory?”
He shrugs. “Plenty. If Coach thinks it’s murder or something, he informs the human authorities. Otherwise we don’t disturb the bodies.” His hand stays at the back of my neck a moment longer before he releases me, and when he leans back in his chair, the wolf is settled behind his eyes again, only him looking at me.
“There’s one more thing,” he murmurs. “I forgot until just now.”
“Why does that sentence always go badly when you say it?”
He grins. “I invited Derek over for dinner tonight.”
“Derek who?”
“My brother’s childhood friend. You met him briefly the other day. I haven’t sat down with him properly since he came back to town.” He watches my face. “Is that all right with you?”
I stare at him. “Why are you asking me for permission to invite a friend to your own house?”
He leans forward, and his hand catches mine, threading our fingers together where it rests on the arm of the chair. “Because this is your house now. You’re the one who runs it. I have to ask you for everything from here on out.”
My face goes hot. “Stop it.”
“I’m serious.”
“Grayson.”
He brings my knuckles to his mouth and kisses them. His eyes are smiling above my hand.
“Do you like being bossed around?” I narrow my eyes at him.
