How to Rattle an Undead Couple - Hailey Edwards Page 0,38
from his desk, he rose and crossed the room to me. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s not your fault.” I looped my arms behind his neck. “I never sleep well without you.”
Even when he stayed up all day, his fingers clicking softly on his laptop’s keys, I rested better knowing he was safe beside me.
“Lethe looked comfortable.” He ducked his head. “I thought it for the best she remain that way.”
Tickling his ribs, I grinned when I stole a laugh from him. “You’re not chicken, are you?”
“Chicken implies I’m afraid. I prefer to consider it due caution.”
“Very wise.” I drew him down for a kiss. “How did you spend your day?”
“Let’s head downstairs for breakfast, and I’ll give you an update.”
“That’s an offer I can’t refuse.” I rubbed my hands together. “What did you make me?”
“The smoothie is from me,” he admitted. “The rest will be Corbin’s doing.”
Taking his arm, I let him help me down the stairs. “Since when does Corbin cook?”
“He wanted to apologize,” Linus explained. “He’s not being evasive on purpose.”
“Let me guess.” I exhaled. “He signed an NDA.”
“Yes.”
“Even though your mother promised to exempt him?”
“So it would seem.”
“I really, really hate those things.”
“Trust, unfortunately, can’t be bought.” He guided her into the kitchen. “NDAs, magical or otherwise, are a requirement to work in sensitive fields. The contractors must accept the terms.” The corner of his mouth twitched. “They are, however, headache-inducing if you find yourself on the wrong side of one.”
“Have we ever been on the right side of one?” From their time working for Lacroix, Lethe and Hood had learned firsthand more about my mother and the father I had never met than I would ever piece together, but they couldn’t tell me a thing. “Every time we bump into this, it’s like smacking face-first into a brick wall.”
“That’s what happens when you make friends who work in law enforcement and personal security.”
We entered the kitchen, and he settled me at the bar before opening the fridge to retrieve my smoothie with an extra dose of Vitamin L that had me wetting my lips in anticipation.
Exercising my extreme maturity, I stuck my tongue out at his back.
“Your kid is so lucky to have you as his mother.” Corbin ducked into the kitchen and kissed my cheek on his way to the stove. “Just think how much you two will have in common.”
“Linus,” I whined and stomped my feet for effect. “Corbin is being mean to me.”
“Grier is a crybaby,” he singsonged. “Grier is a crybaby.”
“All right, children.” Linus sat beside me. “Are you going to cook or antagonize Grier?”
“I can do both.” Corbin grinned as Woolly showed him where the pans were kept. “You can have plain eggs, peppered eggs, or cheese eggs with a side order of burnt toast, charred toast, or…blackened buttered toast.”
“With such an extensive menu, it’s hard to choose.” I tapped my chin. “I’ll have peppered eggs with buttered toast—hold the char.” Behind my hand, I whispered to Linus, “Can you pass me the Nutella?”
Surely a few tablespoons of nutty chocolate spread would improve the taste of whatever he served us.
“I heard that.” Corbin brandished his spatula at me. “That was not an option.”
Leaning into Linus, I fluttered my lashes at him. “So…Nutella?”
“Yes.” He kissed my forehead. “I’ll even bring you a spoon so you don’t have to use your finger.”
“That’s half the fun.” I shoved him. “Are you going to share a plate with me?”
“I had a bite of candy apple earlier.” He rubbed his stomach. “I’m not ready for more yet.”
“Candy apple?” I perked. “Now you’ve got to tell me about your day.”
“You didn’t receive a delivery?” A crease bisected his forehead. “A basket?”
“I haven’t seen…” I swung my head toward the entryway. “Lethe.”
The floor shook with Woolly’s laughter, jostling the cabinet doors.
A quick scan of the house through the bond I shared with Woolly confirmed my fears.
Lethe had left the building.
That dirty little sneak.
“Why didn’t you stop her?” I glared at the ceiling. “You just let her escape?”
Hood, who was on patrol, would have accepted the delivery. With a food item, he would have brought it in and left it on the counter in the kitchen, which was folly. That was Lethe’s first and last stop each time she visited. Since Hood was the more honorable of the two, Linus must have trusted him to deliver the treats.
Pfft.
Not likely.
Great.
I hadn’t been training Keet, he had been training me.
“She was drooling when I got out of bed.” I should