They must have been washing the trucks today. A river of water and suds streamed down toward the gutter, and my three scent-matches were washing it, shirts off, muscles on full display. Muscles I knew far better than I should.
“Oh, this is perfect. I can’t wait to watch you squirm,” Holt said in a low voice, chuckling to himself like this was one big show. “Get out of my truck.”
I huffed but climbed out. He gathered most of the food, waiting for me to take mine before walking up the driveway.
“You boys look like you’ve worked up an appetite,” he called out. “The welcoming committee has arrived.”
They all looked over, Corvin’s eyes locking on mine. His gaze trailed over me, not in a checking-me-out way, but more caretaking, making sure I was unharmed since the last time he’d seen me. I nodded once as if to reassure him, and he finally flashed me a smile.
I had a feeling those were rare with him, and my breath caught in response. Butterflies bloomed in my stomach. I swear my body was a traitor.
And he was far too attractive for his own good.
They all were.
“There’s my Goddess,” Apollo said as he came over, giving me a wink and retrieving the containers from my hands. “You cooked for me?”
“For all of you,” I corrected. “Holt did most of the heavy lifting. I just made these.”
His eyes lit up as he looked at the top container, which held the brownies. “You made my favorite dessert.”
“Mine, too,” I admitted. “I’m a sucker for anything chocolate. Add something fudgy like brownies, and it’s over.”
“Exactly,” he said. “My one true weakness.” He patted his perfectly sculpted abs. “The only carbs I allow.”
“Quit hogging our girl,” Ezra said, giving me a wink.
I swore they were trying to kill me.
“Thank you for bringing this. We appreciate it.”
“No problem,” Holt chimed in for me. “I’d be lying if I didn’t say I volunteered with ulterior motives, though,” he admitted. “Bea is family and I had to make sure you were upstanding citizens.”
The warning was clear in his tone. My scent-matches immediately sobered up.
“She may be new to us, but we would do anything in our power to protect her,” Corvin promised.
They shared a look that felt too long and far too weighted. Holt didn’t seem to mind, and the guys easily rose to the challenge. When they all finally looked away from each other, I could breathe again.
“Well? Did we pass?” Apollo asked Holt as he flashed me a wink.
“We’ll see,” Holt said before heading for the truck.
“That’s my ride,” I said quickly. “I should probably head back to my car. I forgot my phone at home.”
“You’re not going to stay and enjoy lunch with us?” Corvin asked. I hated how disappointed they all looked. “Looks like we have more than enough to share.”
“As much as I love Holt’s cooking, I can’t. I do have to work today,” I said.
I was running again. Fuck. Someone should smack me.
If my besties were here, they absolutely would.
Loud, blaring alarms started going off around us, forcing me to clamp my hands around my ears. Corvin cursed, closing his eyes in defeat for a breath before barking out orders.
“Suit up, boys!”
“I guess lunch will have to wait,” Apollo said. “You could join us back here after the call and we could eat then.”
