Page 52 of Falling for the Enemy

“I know her better than anyone. If she throws something at your head, you probably deserved it.”

“Gee, thanks. I thought you were on my side.”

“I love you, Soren. But I love Jocelyn, too. She’s family.”

“So am I.”

“But you have your brothers. Jocelyn only has me. If you hurt my friend, I’m hurting you.”

Despite being a foot and a half shorter than him and currently having the build of a beanbag chair, she somehow made that promise threatening.

“Understood.”

After Wren left, Soren took a shower and processed everything she said. He fed King meal two of seven for the day and put him back in his room. “I promise to get you more toys today,” he said, backing out of the room as the dog settled onto his enormous bed, paws draped like ham hocks over the edge.

When he reached Jocelyn’s, her car was in the driveway, but when he knocked, she didn’t answer. He lifted the flowerpot and found the hidden key.

Quietly unlocking the door, he called for her, “Joce?”

Cordelia came charging down the steps in a fit of barks and growls, but he was prepared. He’d stolen one of the two-foot bones he bought King yesterday and threw it into the dining room.

“Go get it!”

Cordelia raced after the bone, and Soren quickly shut the pocket doors, locking the little rat-demon inside. When he reached the top of the stairs, he heard the shower running, so he went into her bedroom to wait.

CHAPTER 6

“I WANNA BE SEDATED”

Wrapping a towel around her body, Jocelyn carefully stepped out of the shower, mindful of her tender ankle. After combing out her waves, she squeezed her curls with an old cotton shirt and crossed the hall to her bedroom.

“Deelie? Where are you, baby?” Typically, Cordelia waited just outside the bathroom when she showered. Her absence filled her with immediate concern. “Cordeli—Jesus—fuck!” Her heart bolted out of her chest at the sight of Soren sitting on the chair in the shadowed corner of her bedroom like a fucking serial killer. “How the hell did you get in here?”

“I used the hidden key.”

“Where’s my dog?”

“Downstairs in the dining room, with a bone three times her size.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Why are you here?”

“We need to talk.”

Jocelyn scoffed and went to her dresser to find panties. “No thanks.”

“I heard you hurt your foot.”

“Ankle. And what do you care?”

“Joce, you know I care.”

“I know nothing of the sort. And I have a busy day, so if you don’t mind closing the door behind you when you get the fuck out, that would be awesome.”

She opened the closet and swiped through her wardrobe.

“I’m not leaving.”

“Fine. Stay. It’s no sweat off my tits.” She pulled out a mustard blouse and her high suede boots, very aware of his gaze following her every move.