Page 80 of Peaks and Promises

She called back, but I didn’t answer. If she wanted to scream at my voicemail, she was welcome to. I wasn’t going to listen to that, either.

I lowered myself onto the edge of the bed and took a few deep breaths to calm down. I wasn’t surprised by her call. Her loyalty was to Stryker first, Mayhem second, and everything else—including me—came a very distant third. She’d take Axel’s side over mine every time.

It hurt. But I’d learned a long time ago that I couldn’t really count on her. Especially when Mayhem was involved.

When I came out, Reese was in the kitchen. And it hit me. No one else was around.

We were alone.

Not that it meant anything. But even after the frustrating phone call, my hormones woke up and took notice.

My gaze settled on his broad back as he stood in front of the open refrigerator. I wondered what those hard planes of muscle would feel like beneath my hands. Heat pooled in my core, and for a second, I imagined that big, strong body braced on top of me, his mouth dipping to mine, his—

“Are you hungry?” he asked. “Or did you eat at work?”

Blinking away the fantasy, I took a quick breath to clear my head. “I ate a little, but it was a while ago.”

He turned to look at me, and his eyes narrowed. “Are you all right?”

Was it that obvious? “Yeah. My mom called. It’s not always pleasant.”

“What did she want?”

“She was trying to convince me to let Axel see Nate.” I slid onto the stool at the island. “She said it would be better if I cooperate.”

“That sounds like a threat.”

“She also said he wants his son. Not that he wants to see his son. He wants his son.”

“We already knew that.”

“I know, but I didn’t like hearing her say it.”

Reese held my gaze. “He’s not getting him.”

I nodded. “Anyway, she’s mad at me now, so I probably won’t hear from her for a while.”

We lapsed into silence for a moment. My eyes moved up and down his thick, tattooed arms, and I wondered what it would feel like to have them wrapped around me.

Warm, strong, comforting.

I blinked again and got down from the stool. “You asked if I’m hungry. Are you? Can I help?”

“Sure.”

I joined him in the kitchen, and we got to work putting together a meal. He cooked a flank steak in a cast-iron pan while I chopped and sautéed some vegetables. Standing next to him at the stove, my arm kept brushing against his. He was so big, it was impossible to avoid, and the feel of his skin touching mine sent pings of electricity through me.

We were still alone, and my body was very much aware of it.

Did he feel it, too? It was impossible to tell. Reese Haven kept his cards close.

He sliced the steak into strips while I finished sautéing. I got out two plates from the cupboard and set them next to the stove. I was about to grab forks, but Reese and I turned at the same time, almost colliding.

“Sorry.” He looked down at me, but didn’t move.

My heart fluttered. His eyes held mine then flicked to my mouth. Warmth crept across my cheeks, and my lips tingled.

The back door opened, and Paul Haven came into the kitchen.