Exhaling a laugh, I shake my head. “That’s us–I mean me. I bought the house, Valkyrie failed at the one job she was supposed to do so she got fired. So I’m the only one with a job at the end of the day, she’s just a freeloader.”

His lips part like he’s about to ask what she did to get “fired” but instead he just grins, a full, crooked grin that makes his already devastatingly attractive face even more infuriating.

Oh, no. He’s got the good type of smile—the dangerous kind. One that makes you forget why swearing off men was ever a thing.

Theo laughs and holds his hand out to her palm up in a silent offer of friendship. Valkyrie hesitates all of two seconds before shoving her snout into his hand, completely betraying me.

He whispers, “That’s okay girl, if you ever need any treats just stop by the cafe and tell them Theo sent you. They’ll give you a peanut butter cookie for being such a good girl.”

The way he talks to her—low and warm, voice just a little rough around the edges—has my traitorous heart skipping a beat.

Men are not in the plan.

Men are not in the plan.

Men are—

Then looking at me he says, “Maybe I’ll run into you two again—preferably when she’s not gunning for my tumbler.” His lips twitch, before he tilts his head slightly, weighing a decision. “Unless you’re going my way and want some company?”

My brain stutters for a second. The practical side of me knows I have deadlines, a to-do list a mile long, and an entire life to settle into. But the other part—the part that just spent the last five minutes getting absolutely steamrolled by this man’s presence—wants to say yes.

Instead, I smile, hoping my face isn’t betraying just how flustered I am. “We’re headed home. Besides, it’s a small town, we will run into each other again.”

With that, he lifts two fingers in a casual, almost lazy wave before he turns and continues down the trail, moving with an unhurried confidence that suggests he’s entirely comfortable being watched.

And I am watching.

I am watching way too hard.

Beside me, Valkyrie huffs, nudging my leg like she’s in on some secret I’m not.

I have a feeling she knew exactly what she was doing when she tackled Theo.

As I turn back toward home, cheeks still warm, pulse a little too fast, I can’t help but smile.

Shadow Grove is already proving to be full of surprises.

2

Theo

What the hell just happened?

I turn around to watch Selene disappear down the trail, Valkyrie trotting beside her. I’m left standing here feeling a little dazed.