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Harper shot me a look, but I had no idea what it meant.
“Oh, knowing you, I’m sure you deserved it,” I goaded playfully, even though that peculiar green-eyed beast raised her head just above the water. Watching. Waiting.Mine,she said.
I drowned her obnoxious ass out.
“I do,” he stated, his voice cloaked. It was always smoke and mirrors with this one.
Ryker slung his arm over Von’s shoulders. “Don’t worry about it, Von. There’s a bottle of bourbon with your name on it back at the manor.”
As we walked back, that ugly feeling returned, stitching itself to my insides.
Who was that woman?
And what did she mean to Von?
Soren tended the crackling fire, yet another attribute that reminded me of Kaleb. He loaded it up with logs, the flames lapping at the wood eagerly, producing a continuous roll of dry heat—the kind that chased away the bitter cold, warming you to the bone.
Harper draped an arm over Lyra, the two cozied up on the settee, their legs tangled together over a round stool with three wooden legs, a fur slung over them both. Lyra traced invisible circles on the back of Harper’s hand. A light smile adorned Harper’s lips as she watched Lyra perform the small, endearing action.
I wondered what it must feel like to havethatwith someone.
Von had said very little since we returned. He was all hard edges, tattoos, and bourbon tonight. I knew I should probably say something to him. I just didn’t know where to even start. He was infuriatingly unreadable, as usual.
Sorry you had a spat with that woman?
Sorry I gave you a tough time after?
Is she your lover, you bastard?
I shoved the green-eyed monster down, smothering her under the water. Where was this even coming from?
Idid notlike Von. He was unbearable. Full of himself.
And built like a god—a dark, brooding, emotionally unavailable one.
I sighed and shifted my weight further into the embrace of the settee. At least it would hold me.
Oh, for Lady Light’s sake! Get ahold of yourself.
Ryker returned from the kitchen carrying a large cutting board stockpiled with nuts, fruits, crackers, cheese, and various meats. He placed it on the oversized coffee table. And like the rabid beasts we all were, we closed in on the tray—everyone except for Von.
I snagged a piece of cheese, a cracker, and some meat to make a little sandwich.
Ryker looked at it and nodded his head in approval. “Nice, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. The key—” He slapped two pieces of cheese and two pieces of meat on his. “—is to make it a double stacker.”
Harper shook her head. “Your cracker ratio is way off. Sage, you are my cracker sandwich soulmate. Two crackers, one slice of cheese, and one slice of meat.” She made one for herself before she stuffed it into her mouth. Lyra beamed, the simple action of watching Harper eat coaxing a smile to her lips, like she found this simple task so incredibly endearing.
Soren jumped in, explaining we all were wrong, and that a cracker sandwich did not require a top cracker, only a bottom.
Ryker’s giant hand patted Soren on the back, the strength of his tap nearly causing Soren to double over. “Are you telling us you are a bottom?”
Soren stuttered. “I am not! I like girls—women!”
Ryker quirked a disbelieving brow.
Harper dove in, joining in the banter. Before long, we were all laughing.
Before the tray was empty, I placed a few bits of cheese, some crackers, and meat on a napkin and took it over to Von. “Sorry for what I said earlier. It was really bad timing.” I raised my humble offering to him. “Peace offering?”
