“I do not lurk. I was merely keeping an eye on proceedings from where they’d least expect to see me. And lucky for you I was at hand to rescue your distressed self from between a croc and a hard place.”

“He has a point, Eli,” Park said, sitting opposite him on the couch. “Maybe you should go back north to the pack for a bit, at least until we can figure this out.”

Eli looked down at Boogie on his lap and rolled her to her back, a move that would have led directly to the emancipation of Cooper’s skin from his body had he tried it, but just made Boogie give a big, pleased stretch.

“I’d rather stay here,” Eli said vaguely. “Not here-here. Of course I won’t trespass on your hospitality by inviting myself into your home”—Cooper snorted—”but I assure you I’m perfectly capable of finding accommodations for myself.”

“And I’m sure we’d all have a big laugh when you pop up in the bird house or a panda tree or whatever else you next consider to be reasonable shelter,” Cooper said bitingly. “Don’t be ridiculous—if you’re staying, you can stay here.” He paused and looked at Park. “If that’s okay?”

Park had an odd expression on his face. Not unhappy, though, just a little surprised and thoughtful. “Yes, of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

Eli’s gaze darted between the two of them shrewdly. “Very well,” he said finally, then abruptly stood, expertly pouring Boogie out of his lap into a sleepy puddle on the cushion behind him. “In which case, I admit I’m in desperate need of a shift and a bath and perhaps some of that wine you take to bed with you,” he added, directly to Cooper. “Any order will do. In fact, cab sauv breathes beautifully in a large shallow bowl if you’re so inclined to put one out on the porch for me. Ollie? Care for a trot?”

Park glanced at Cooper, clearly reluctant to leave him alone. “Ah, not right now.”

Eli shrugged, already pulling out of his clothes. “Suit yourself.”

As he wandered into the kitchen and out of sight, Cooper heard the telltale clacks of a shift, like stone on stone, followed by the creak and slam of the back door.

“You could have gone with him,” he said. “I promise I’m fine. Even the headache’s gone.”

“I don’t need it. I got a shift in this morning.”

Cooper frowned, the wording of that reminding him just a bit too much of Arthur Crane, but bit his tongue. “As long as you’re staying, there’s something I need to tell you. Can Eli still hear us?”

Park listened and shook his head. “He’s probably a couple miles into the woods by now.”