Adare moved to a heavy-looking mahogany dresser and pulled out a long-sleeved T-shirt, socks, and sweats. “Go take a shower, we’ll eat something, and then we’re having a talk.” He handed her the clothing, his eyes a burning black, tension rolling from him with more force than the wind had blown earlier.

She opened her mouth to argue and then, her skin itchy, took the clothes and turned for the bathroom without a word. A shower would center her, and she needed all her faculties if she was going to argue with the badass Highlander. For one thing, they really needed to discuss the way he’d threatened to choke her out so she’d ride his ex-girlfriend, the cougar shifter, up a snowy hill while a fight to the death happened because she’d screwed up on the internet.

Life was just getting weirder and weirder. She also had to deal with the completely inappropriate and bizarre jealousy she felt for said shifter.

Adare wasn’t Grace’s. He never would be.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Adare’s body felt marginally better after a hot shower and clean clothing, although his temper kept pricking him from inside like a hot poker. He pushed his plate back, his stomach full and his limbs tired. Grace had been quiet during dinner, her mind seeming miles away. No doubt the human had never seen a bloody fight like the one they’d endured earlier, and she was probably in shock. His sweats had been too big for her, so she’d left them in their room. In his oversized shirt and socks, she looked adorably lost. He needed to get her into bed. To sleep. Just to sleep.

“Excellent, Benny.” As always. Most people didn’t realize the slightly crazy hybrid was an excellent cook who’d studied with the best through the years.

Ben, his long hair wet from his shower, nodded and swirled a glass of Scotch in one hand. “My pleasure. Let’s get some sleep and we’ll figure out how to acquire more explosives tomorrow.” He winked at Jacqueline. “Perhaps I could use my impressive powers of persuasion to start bargaining tonight?” His eyebrows wiggled, but his eyes were soft and serious.

Good Lord. He was making a play for the shifter.

“Then you’d just owe me more money.” Jacki winked and stood with her plate. “Adare? I would like a moment to talk and catch up, if you don’t mind.”

Grace finally looked up, and one of her elegant eyebrows arched.

Adare stood, taking Grace’s plate with his to the sink. “Let’s dicker over explosives tomorrow. Ben and I will pay ten percent more than last time, for the same order, because of the shorter timeframe. No more than that.” He looked around the demolished kitchen. While Benny could cook, he liked to destroy every pan at the same time.