“Told you.” He turned back to his chess game against Joe Thorson, the owner of BOOKS.
“Collecting recipes?” Tynan asked.
“I lost out on the usual housekeeping training, so I’m trying to make up for lost time.”
“Good for you. Perhaps I could help to get you up to speed.” The flickering smile softened his stern jaw. “I have a recipe for rosemary chicken and potatoes. It’s one of my favorite meals.”
“Oh, that sounds good. Can I have a—”
“No, little wolf. You can come over, and we’ll make it together.”
Her mouth dropped open.
He ran a finger over her lower lip, and his eyes warmed. “Come for supper, Meggie. I have next Thursday evening off.”
Her breathing lost its rhythm, but under his clear blue gaze, she could find only one answer. “Okay. Yes. I’d like that.”
It wasn’t until later that she remembered Tynan lived with the healer.
Chapter Nine
Cold Creek, North Cascades Territory - day before dark of the moon
On Thursday evening, Margery leaned against the kitchen counter as she watched Tynan toss potatoes into the roasting pan. Although she’d had second thoughts about coming to his house—to his and the healer’s house—to learn to cook, Tynan hadn’t let her weasel out. He’d said her kitchen was simply too small.
Well, it was true. And Tynan’s big kitchen was wonderful. The dark gray countertops set off the white cupboards. The teal tile backsplash and matching teal ladderback chairs around the breakfast table added a cheerful pop of color.
But as they prepared the meal and Donal hadn’t yet made an appearance, she’d grown increasingly nervous. As Tynan put the chicken and potatoes into the oven to roast, she asked, “Are you sure this is all right? I mean with your littermate?”
Turning, Tynan met her gaze in the straightforward fashion she’d come to love. “Admittedly, he’s less people oriented than I am, but we both live here. If I can put up with shifters coming to get healed, he can welcome an appealing female into the kitchen.”
Margery felt her cheeks heat. “I’m not appealing. I’m scarred and—”
“Sweetling.” Tynan moved forward, forcing her to retreat until she was trapped at the corner of the counters. With one hand on each side of her face, he tangled his fingers in her loose hair. “You have scars…as do I. Most male shifters do. Are you saying I can’t attract the females because I have white lines here and there?”
Her mouth dropped open. He did have scars, and she’d insulted him, albeit unknowingly. “No, no, that’s not what I meant. You’re really…” Her face felt as if it was on fire.
The satisfaction in his smile didn’t help. “Ah, progress. Does that mean you find me appealing?”
Appealing was such a small word for how much he attracted her.
She could feel the warmth of his body, so very close to hers, and…and unable to help herself, she leaned into him. He was all hardness.
His breath brushed her face, and oh, she wanted more. If she moved, just a little, she could…
She tipped her head, rose on tiptoes, and brushed her lips over his.
Like wildfire, heat lit his blue eyes.
With a rumbling growl, he slid an arm behind her, pulling her fully against him. His other hand was in her hair, holding her head as his mouth came down on hers.
Slowly, devastatingly thorough, he kissed her, plundering her mouth before withdrawing to nibble her lips, her jaw, her neck.
Desire opened like a summertime flower within her.
He gently bit the curve between her neck and shoulder, then returned to take her lips, deepening the kiss in a way that had her knees sagging.
“Tynan, could I get you to help with—” Donal’s voice stopped abruptly.
Margery froze, then tried to push Tynan back.
Chuckling, the cop captured her hands in his, taking the time to kiss her fingers before he turned. “Sure, I can help. What do you need?”
Donal stared at her, his gaze dark, then turned to his brother. “Can you hold a wound open so I can irrigate it? Get it cleaned out?”
“All right.” Tynan frowned. “Unless Meggie would work better. As a banfasa, she’d know—”
“No.” Donal scowled, not looking at her. “Your help is all I need.”
What in the world had she done to make the healer so dismissive of her? Or maybe that’s how he felt about all banfasas? Even as she thought that, the happy warm lust she’d been feeling disappeared. Anger turned into an icy flame directed at Donal.