Page 14 of Allie

My stomach seconded his suggestion with a timely growl.

"Breakfast sounds great," I replied, feeling the sweat cooling on my back now that the workout adrenaline was fading. "But I need a shower first. I can't be going to the magical library smelling like a gym mat."

"Fair enough," Roan chuckled, stepping aside as I gathered my things.

The elevator hummed a sleepy tune as we ascended to the tenth floor. Aspirin purred contentedly in my arms, her warmth seeping into my skin. A glance at Roan showed his eyes were on the numbers lighting up above the door, but I could feel the weight of unasked questions hanging between us.

The doors slid open, and I stepped out. Roan followed me out, his presence filling the corridor like a silent guardian.

"Make yourself at home," I told him, unlocking my apartment door. "Coffee?"

"I had a cup already," he said, leaning against the counter as I set Aspirin down and she scampered off.

"Okay. I’m going to go shower," I muttered. The promise of hot water was a siren call, and I couldn't ignore it any longer.

"Take your time," Roan replied, his gaze following me as I went to my room to grab a fresh set of clothes.

Steam enveloped me the moment I turned the shower on, heat sinking deep into my muscles, washing away the remnants of tension. But the solitude gave way to thoughts of Grant's stormy demeanor, the sparks that flew when our hands touched, and the unreadable expression on Roan's face when Grant left the gym.

I shook my head, as if I could scatter my thoughts with the droplets cascading down my back. This wasn't the time to untangle whatever web I’d found myself caught in.

Quickly, I dried off and dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a purple tee. When I entered the living room, I saw Roan standing at the window, looking out at it. His hands were stuffed into his jeans pockets. I took a few moments to admire him. His toned backside, broad shoulders, and thick arms were a testament to the hard work he put in at the gym. Or maybe it was his shifter genes that made him look so damn good.

As if sensing me ogling him, he turned. A smile tugged at his mouth as he raked his gaze over me. "Ready?" he asked, crossing the space between us.

"Starving," I admitted as I slid on my sandals.

We made our way to Bob’s Diner. It was a beautiful morning to go out and about. When we reached the diner, Roan held the door open for me. Our eyes met, and I smiled at him as I stepped inside the diner. It was pretty busy, but Roan spotted an open table against the back wall. He placed a hand on my lower back as we moved toward the table.

Not long after we sat down, a server appeared and took our orders.

Roan reached across the table and took my hand. The warmth from his seeped into me, stirring up all kinds of desire within me. "I could work out with you in the mornings."

"Trying to keep an eye on me?" I teased, arching an eyebrow.

He chuckled and lifted one shoulder. "Can't be too careful with all those grumpy fox shifters lurking around," he shot back, a playful glint in his eye.

“Fox shifter?”

“Grant.”

Ah. “I figured he was a shifter, but I didn’t know what his animal was.” After a brief silence, I asked, "Are you jealous of Grant?"

"No," he answered too quickly, then cleared his throat. "Just looking out for you is all."

"Uh-huh," I drawled, thoroughly enjoying the slight flush that crept up his neck. "Well, Mr. Protective, I would love to work out with you." And not just in the gym.

7

ALLIE

After breakfast, Roan and I made our way to the Silver Springs Public Library, or Spell Library, as the locals call it. The acronym for the library is SSPL, which everyone pronounces it as spell. Nat told me that the humans think it’s a cute name the locals came up with.

Roan led me to a set of stares that led down to the basement where all the magical texts were. A white-haired elderly woman sat behind a desk and watched us as we went to the search for the books on magical symbols.

Roan and I had been searching through spell books for what seemed like hours. My thoughts were mixed with finding out what the symbol means and my attraction to the man beside me and three others. I worried about what Roan would think about it. Was it normal?

"Everything alright?" Roan's voice cut through my thoughts.