I turn onto her street and spot her waiting on the porch, Valkyrie sitting obediently at her side. Even from a distance, she looks like she owns the night. She looks effortlessly good—black jeans, a fitted top, hair down, catching the last bit of evening light. As I roll to a stop, she scratches behind Valkyrie’s ears and murmurs something to her before opening the front door and ushering her inside. She then jogs down the steps toward me and my truck.

I lean over, pushing the passenger door open. “Evening, Valkyrie’s human.”

Selene smirks, sliding in. She moves like she’s completely in control—even in the simple act of getting into a truck. “Evening, Hot Shot.”

I chuckle as she fastens her seatbelt. “You ready?”

She lifts a brow. “Are you going to tell me what you had planned?”

I pull back onto the road, the truck humming along, familiar and steady. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Selene huffs, crossing her arms as she leans back into the seat. “You know, if this was an episode of Dateline, this is exactly how it would start.”

I glance at her, amused. “Oh yeah?”

She nods, dead serious. “Mysteriously sexy guy invites an unsuspecting woman out on a date and refuses to tell her where they’re going. Next thing you know, she’s missing, and his old, suspiciously well-maintained truck becomes a key piece of evidence.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Mysteriously sexy? Suspiciously well-maintained?”

“Well, yeah. Your truck screams ‘I change my oil and know how to get bloodstains out of upholstery.’”

I grin, playing along. “You think I’d be that obvious?”

“Serial killers get cocky. It’s their downfall.” She tilts her head, considering. “Then again, you run a cafe. Maybe your thing is poisoning instead.”

I let out a dramatic sigh. “Damn. You got me.”

She smirks. That sharp, knowing smirk makes me feel like she’s uncovered a truth I haven’t even realized yet. “Knew it.”

I shake my head, turning the volume up on the stereo. “Guess I better prove I’m not a murderer before we get to my place.”

Selene blinks. “Your place?”

I bite back a smile, keeping my eyes on the road. “Relax. You’re safe. For now.”

She eyes me like she’s weighing whether or not she needs an escape plan. Then she just shrugs, like she’s decided if I am a murderer, at least it’ll be interesting. She shifts in her seat as music fills the cab. The playlist kicks off with a bright, bouncy track—perfect for cooking and moving around the kitchen. I catch her nodding along, fingers tapping against her thigh.

“So,” she says, glancing over. “What’s with the mystery?”

I shrug, pulling into my driveway. “Thought it’d be more fun this way.”

Selene raises a brow as I throw the truck into park. “Depends on your definition of fun.”