Page 3 of A Change of Heart

Seren hooked a lock of her striking red hair behind her ear as she turned to look over the back of the couch at him. “Is that sweat? Your T-shirt’s soaked.”

“Yeah.” He took a decisive step back. “Sorry. I shouldn’t get too close. The amount of pheromones I’m giving off will probably drive you both crazy.”

Keira snorted a laugh while Seren rolled her eyes.

“You’re gross,” she said. “I can smell you from here.”

“Try and control yourself.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, causing her to roll her eyes even more.

“I need to go,” Seren said, standing. “The stench is overwhelming.”

Kit looked to Keira. “She’s making out like she can’t stand to be around me, but in reality she just needs to get away quick before she tries to jump my bones in your living room.”

With an exaggerated sigh, Seren walked to the door. “In your dreams.”

“It’s kind of spooky, our connection,” Kit said dryly. “You even know what I dream about.”

“Don’t be gross.” She reached for the door handle and looked back at Keira. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Keira thanked her for picking them up from the airport and Seren called goodbye as she walked out. Kit watched the door close behind her.

“Where’s Noah?” he asked Keira, forcing himself to focus.

She gave him an odd look. “Upstairs. Making space in his wardrobe so I can unpack. Apparently he didn’t think to do that before I arrived.”

“Sounds about right.”

“Do you want a drink?”

“Water would be great.” He followed her to the kitchen and hopped onto a stool at the island. “I promise I’m not staying long,” he said, when she set a glass of water in front of him.

“You can stay as long as you want.”

He smiled widely. “You’re giving me a funny look. I do realise I stink. And you should know that we’re the sort of family who just tell each other that they smell and should go home and shower. It’s not the sort of thing we get offended by.”

“I wasn’t thinking that …” Her forehead creased and she turned away from him to fill the kettle.

“What’s with the odd looks then?”

“I wasn’t …” She trailed off, keeping her attention on the kettle until she’d flicked it on. “Maybe I was,” she said when she looked at him again. “I was just thinking …” She shook her head as though trying to get her thoughts in order.

“What is it?”

“I’m probably way off … but is there something going on between you and Seren?”

“No.” He gulped at the water. “There’s definitely nothing going on between us.”

“Sorry.” She stood across the island from him, her hip pressing into the edge of the counter. “I kind of thought there was some sexual tension between you.”

“Well, yeah, there’s that. But I don’t think you can count that as something going on between us. Especially as it’s very much one-sided.”

“So you like her?”

He was surprised she hadn’t already heard about his feelings for Seren from Noah. Briefly, he wondered whether letting her in on his secret was a good idea, but only briefly. “Yeah, I like her.” Thoughlikewas entirely the wrong word.

“How long have you liked her for?”

Kit had just opened his mouth to speak when the creak of the stairs made him turn.