Her phone lit up on the counter as she grabbed a measuring cup for the milk. All Leslie said was Aaaaaahahahahaha mom’s going to kill you. Welcome to the dark side. (0) *eggplant emoji* *lion emoji*
“Ha!” Burke barked out after he read it over her shoulder.
“Everything is fine!” she yelped, mortified. She slammed her phone face-down onto the counter. That was enough from Leslie tonight.
Burke was draining the meat and somehow doing a damn-fine job of avoiding running into her in the tiny kitchen. They were this little team, and it was easy. Effortless.
He brushed her waist with his fingertips as he scooted by her and made his way to a paper sack that he’d set down near the open door. It was less smoky in here now, thanks to the vent, so he pulled the door closed and came back with a miniature plastic bottle of the cheapest wine imaginable and a beer for himself.
“I…I haven’t found any wine glasses in here.”
Burke twisted the top off the plastic bottle and handed it to her. “Good. Less dishes to wash.”
She scrunched up her face at his barbaric suggestion. “You mean I should just drink it from this thing?” she asked, holding up the chilled bottle.
Burke’s grin was nothing shy of wicked as he popped the top of his beer can. He tinked it against her mini-bottle. “Ready for a toast?” he asked.
“Uuuuuuh…sure?”
“Here’s to bread, for without bread, there would be no toast.”
She snorted. Okay, that was a little funny. Funnier than the long-winded Wilson family toasts that highlighted every single triumph the family had had.
“This is very uncultured,” she murmured as she lifted the bottle to her lips.
His bright eyes danced from above the can as he drank. “I like corrupting you.”
She kept her face composed at the bitter taste of the cheap wine. “Delicious,” she choked out.
“You won’t even notice the taste by the third sip. Or so I’ve been told by your sister, who, by the way, probably has some of these left in the fridge.” He stooped, opened the small fridge, then opened the bottom drawer and, yep, there was a four-pack of small wines in there. Same brand and everything.
“How did you know what brand of horrid wine Leslie drinks?”
“I told you. I notice everything. It’s a blessing and a curse,” he told her as he unloaded four cans of Spam into her cupboard along with four boxes of macaroni and cheese. When he pulled out two cartons of eggs and put them into her fridge, it was all too much.
“Burke Dunne! I don’t want your charity!”
He gave her a quick, disapproving frown. “Woman, I wouldn’t give you charity. I like that you’re posting up on your own. But next time you invite me over for dinner, it’s my turn to choose the food. I want deviled eggs because they are my favorite and I’ve been craving them lately, and also Spam cubes in macaroni. I eat a lot so I brought enough to get us both through a date night.”
“This isn’t a date night,” she murmured.
“It’s a practice date night.”
“No, it’s not. I don’t date, and I don’t need practice. Yet. It’s too soon. The ink is still practically wet on my divorce papers.”
“Brayden is bringing his girlfriend to the New Year’s Eve party tomorrow.”
Her heart dropped to the floor. “How do you know?”
“Kieran told me. He and Brayden are still friends.”
There was a tiny sting of betrayal, but she didn’t understand why she felt cut.
“What’s that face for?” Burke asked softly.
“I don’t know.”
“Sure you do. You’re a woman who knows her mind. You had a feeling just now. Spew it.”
“You’re strange.”
“Agreed.”
“No, I mean you actually want me to say my feelings? That’s strange.”
“Brayden didn’t like to hear about your feelings?”
Kimberly shrugged. “I can’t remember anyone wanting to hear about them.”
“Outer appearances are most important in the Wilson Family,” he said low.
“Another shifter observation?” she asked.
“No. Anyone with eyes in their head can see that.”
She puffed air out of her cheeks and stirred the food on the stove. “I didn’t know Kieran and Brayden still talked.”
“Territorial?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re feeling territorial over Kieran, which means you’re feeling territorial over Leslie. They are yours, and you don’t like that Brayden is still in their lives.”
“Y-yes.” Why did her stupid voice dip to a whisper?
“Good.”
“Good?”
“There are worse people to get territorial over than Leslie and Kieran. You’re a stunner, Kim. But you just let me know there is a heart beating in that ol’ chest of yours. Territorial is a word I understand.” His eyes flashed a brighter gold before he looked away. There were green beans heating on the other burner of the stove and bread warming in the oven, so they went to work getting the table all set.
Another five minutes, and they were both sitting down at the tiny two-seater table with piping hot plates of dinner in front of them.
“Leslie is a lioness now,” she said carefully.
“Mmmmm.” His voice came out a rumble that didn’t sound completely human. “Curious about the shifter side?”
“It’s just…she hasn’t shown any of the family her animal.”
“What do you think your family would do in response to seeing it?”
“Mom would definitely faint. But a fake, dramatic faint where she cracks her eyes open to make sure everyone is freaking out over her safety. I think Dad would get quiet for a few days since he’s accepted that she really isn’t human anymore, and our other sisters would shun her for a year or two. She would be the talk of every party from here on. Maybe that’s why she hasn’t Changed near us yet.”
“Leslie’s dangerous.”
It was two simple words but, oh, the impact they had on her beating heart. “What do you mean?”
He swallowed a bite and lifted those inhuman gold eyes to hers before he relaxed back into his chair. “Your sister doesn’t care about your family’s opinions anymore. She’s gotten stronger over the last year. Tougher mentally. But she can’t Change in front of people yet until she has control of her animal. Her lioness is new, and she runs the show when Leslie is Changed. It won’t be like that forever, but for now, Leslie is safest in the woods with Kieran when she Changes. And everyone else is safer, too.”
“Are you dangerous?”
Burke canted his head, and any evidence of humor faded from his face. “Yes.”
“You couldn’t Change around me?”
“I didn’t say I was dangerous to you.”
“Who are you dangerous to?”
He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as he locked her in his gaze. “Anyone who would harm you.”
“Me?” she whispered, confused.
“I told you.” He grinned brightly, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I understand territorial.” He busied himself with eating, and after a few moments, she did the same.