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He looked up with a broad smile when I walked into the kitchen. “Hey, roomie.”

Well, crap. He stood in our kitchen, barefoot. Delicious smells wafted from whatever he was working on at the stove.

A half-naked Drew floated by in my mind, waving gently from his cloud. Something about the smug smile on his handsome face called me a fucking hypocrite without saying a word. Maybe I should have been more grateful for his ghost act. Drew in the flesh might be more than my horny little heart could handle.Fuck it.

“Hi,” I said faintly.

There was nothing sexier than a man cooking. His feet were braced hip-width apart, his jeans lovingly hugging the contours of his thighs. He stood tall, his shoulders relaxed and a crooked grin on his handsome face. Utterly at ease in our kitchen, as if he cooked for us every night. It was bewitching. My dad left all things kitchen to my mom and me. He’d acted like meal prep was beneath him. Not Drew. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him look more peaceful.

“What are you making?” I asked.

“I picked up a few things at the market, and I’m cooking a big batch of chili as a thank you dinner. I appreciate you both taking me in.”

“Will you be with us much longer?”

Please say no. My fading willpower couldn’t take much more. He looked boyishly charming, a faded black Imagine Dragons concert tee stretched across his broad shoulders.

He shook his head. I released the breath I’d been holding. Small mercies. Having him underfoot was going to test me. I’d been kidding myself, thinking the aftershave fumes and ghosting were worse. Drew, taking up space, seducing me without trying, was infinitely harder to resist.

“Here,” he ushered me closer. “Taste.” He held out a spoon, cupping one hand beneath so sauce didn’t drip on our floor. He was solid and warm. Part of me wanted to sink closer. His forearm brushed my belly, sending a tumble of acrobats into backflips.Allof me wanted to sink closer.

I nibbled delicately, testing the chili. It was rich and spicy, but not with so much heat that I’d regret it later.

“Delicious.”

“Mm,” he murmured, watching my mouth.

Self-consciously, I licked my bottom lip. He swayed closer, the faint scent I’d come to associate with him enveloping me. His gaze lingered on my mouth.

“Do I have chili on my face?”

He shook himself, backing off. “Nope. Go relax. Dinner will be ready when Vi gets home.”

My usual routine was to shower on Wednesday nights. I had another early class on Thursdays and preferred to roll out of bed, brush my teeth, and head straight to the studio. Did I dare get naked with him only a few feet away? I swallowed. He’d turned back to his pot of chili, stirring as if it were a magic potion he had to get just right.

I slipped into my room, gathering jeans and a sweater. While the day had been mostly sunny with puffy white clouds, the evening was already cooler.

Twisting on the shower, I let it warm, stripping out of my yoga gear. Stepping under the spray was a welcome distraction from the man in my kitchen. I focused on getting clean, but thoughts of Drew kept slipping in. Floating on his fucking cloud. Taunting me.

I could only hope he got tired of our couch soon.

But the truth was, it was nice coming home to someone for once. Violet’s hours and mine overlapped, which I usually enjoyed. It meant I got some alone time but still had hercompanionship in the evenings. I liked that balance. But now, with Drew in the mix, it changed our dynamic. Our space wasn’t just ours anymore.

I toweled off, aware as I stroked the soft cotton across my skin, picking up stray droplets, that Drew was only a few feet away. Having him underfoot was going to challenge my ability to stay undiscovered. I’d made it almost a year without revealing the truth. In that time, I’d come to trust Vi and the others. But it didn’t mean I was ready to tell them everything.

The way he looked at me, half admiration, half concern, kept me too wound up to focus on keeping my story straight. His dark gaze made me want to admit to sins I hadn’t even committed yet. But how was I going to keep my distance when he’d given up on being a ghost? When he was living with us for real? Cooking for us?

His protective nature and SAR experience made him too eagle-eyed. Silently, I cursed Gran. Keeping my past under wraps and flying under the radar was how I stayed safe. She and her grandson were threatening everything I’d built. Everything I was.

But part of me wanted to risk it all for one more smile from him.

Chapter 13 – Drew

Chili was a terrible idea. Who needed more heat when I had Anya showering only a few feet away? One flimsy door separated us. I could hear the shower spray pounding against the floor of the tub.

I pulled open the fridge, enjoying the cool breeze as I pretended not to see the sour cream and cheese. I just needed a minute.

The shower shut off. Meaning Anya was naked. So close.