It was time for him to shut this down. “I haven’t seen you for a century, feline, and that’s okay. We were close once, and I’ll keep those memories, but all we can be now is friends. So stop pushing me and accept those parameters.” There was no need to stop and consider her suggestion, because he was mated, and that was absolute. He nodded as Benny loped around the corner of the farthest storage unit.

Jacki sighed. “You used to like my tenacity.”

“Still do,” Adare said, dusting snow from his coat. “Doesn’t change the situation.”

Jacki huffed out a breath. “You don’t even see that woman for who she is. You have her on this stupid pedestal, thinking she’s so perfect, impressed that she managed to shoot toward an enemy without hitting you.”

“Actually, she hit me,” Benny said cheerfully, his overlarge boots leaving heavy tracks in the snow. “Not the first time a female has shot me, by the way.” He frowned. “That happens a lot, actually. Maybe I should take stock.” He was silent for a moment, studying his boots. Then he shrugged. “Nope. I’m good.”

Adare was done with the two of them. “Jacki, it has been a pleasure. Thank you for the explosives.” He held out a hand to shake hers, and she followed suit, rubbing her thumb on his palm. He released her. “Benny? I’m definitely driving.” Without waiting for an answer or an argument, he strode around to the driver’s side and slid inside, igniting the engine in an unsubtle way to get Benny on the move. They had to go back to the cabin and prepare.

Benny barreled into the passenger seat, flinging snow as he settled in.

Adare drove sedately down the drive between storage units.

Benny kicked out his boots, thunking them on the rubber floor mat. “I like that feline shifter. Would it bug you if I asked her out?”

“No,” Adare said. Benny had been hitting on Jacki for two days, so why he was asking now was a mystery that Adare couldn’t be troubled to solve. “Feel free.”

Benny flipped on the switch to heat his seat. “She was all over you. I know you have a history, so are you tempted?”

“No. I’m mated.” Adare leaned forward and peered at the snow before increasing the speed of the wipers.

Benny sighed. “That’s logical. But what do you feel about all of this?”

Adare turned the SUV out onto the main road and increased his speed. They could make it back home by dawn if Benny didn’t insist they stop to eat too often. “I don’t feel anything.”

“Yeah,” Benny drawled. “That’s something we need to talk about. Now is a good time.”

Adare partially turned, keeping an eye on the road. “You want to talk about my feelings?” Had Benny been watching too much daytime television again?