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“Would you like that?” I can’t resist replying.

I hold my breath, waiting for her answer.

“I’ve been craving it all week.” Paige snuggles closer to me, and my heart leaps. “We’ll have only a few days before my heat starts to build to get to know each other.”

“I’ve managed to book off or swap shifts with my crew. You have me to yourself from now until the end of your heat. As Fire Chief, Rhett is always on call.”

“I have one final shift to go.” Luca finishes firming up the wall of the nest with a velvet pillow that is embroidered with trees.

I am surprised how calm Luca is.

In an unfamiliar house like this, I’d have expected his breathing to be fast, his skin to be paler, and his fidgeting more pronounced.

But I can’t observe any of that. He looks as relaxed as he is in Cole House.

What has happened between Paige and him?

I force down the stab of jealousy.

I drop the brush on the floor with a clatter, running my fingers through Paige’s waterfall of hair. Then I trace the side of her neck with my thumb. She tilts her head into my touch with a moan of pleasure.

Her eyes are half-closed, as she glances at me over her shoulder.

I continue to gently massage her neck.

“Pupils are dilated. Skin is warm…becoming flushed,” I tease. A smile tugs at my lips. “My patient is responsive.”

“Is this still the official touch treatment, Halo?” Paige twists to face me. My breath hitches. Our noses are touching. Her gaze burns into mine. “Clinic approved?”

“What else?”

“You tell me.”

My heart is beating too fast. I can’t think.

“I’d like to ask the same thing,” Rhett’s voice rumbles.

Paige and I turn sharply to face the doorway to the bathroom, which is now open, while waves of steam roll across the floor.

Rhett leans framed in the doorway with only a fluffy white towel slung low around his hips.

His hair is damp, and water drips down his chest.

His dominant pheromones wash through the room, and in response, Paige’s scent deepens.

It is impossible to deny that these two are scent matches.

Their gazes lock, intense across the room.

Paige whines, low in her throat.

I turn back to Paige, murmuring against her cheek, “Highly responsive.”

It is adorable how she is trying to hide the way that her gaze is darting across all six feet nine inches of my muscled leader of the Cole Pack.

I smirk.

I don’t blame her.