Page 15

Grif

“ H ey, Sleepy-Boo, going to stay in bed all day?” A playful voice teased me into wakefulness.

“Mmmm, come back to bed, Pepperjack.” Eyes still closed, my hand tapped the empty and cold spot beside me.

“I have coffee.” The bed shifted as AJ sat down next to me, his vetiver scent teasing my nose.

Eyes opening, I focused on the steaming mug in his hands. My gaze lingered on his bare, muscular chest and how low he wore his cotton shorts. “Thanks for the coffee, but I’ll take some of that.”

AJ grinned, joy and lust coming through our bond. He set the mug on the nightstand. Right, we were in my room.

“Later. I’m making you food.” His look smoldered in promise.

“Two meals made by you in one day? Lucky me.” I propped myself up on one elbow, eyeing him. Pretty sure he was bare under those shorts. His body was just as fit as when he’d played professionally.

“A sandwich at five am doesn’t count as a meal. But we had quite the night.” More lust came through the bond as his eyes glimmered.

“That we did.” So much that we’d come to my room in the middle of the night. Lust hung in the air. Scents were getting more pronounced, but only a little. I hadn’t been lying when I’d told Verity I’d had one too many pucks to the face.

He leaned in and gave me a kiss, his lips tasting of coffee. “Make sure you put pants on. There are contractors renovating the bathroom, and deliveries and shit going on.”

“Oh, right.” The world’s fastest bathroom renovations were in full swing. I’d let Dean take charge of that because he enjoyed decorating.

AJ left, and for a moment, I lounged in bed, sipping my coffee. It had been a long time since anyone brought me coffee in bed.

I pulled on some sweats and came out to the kitchen. AJ had a hockey-themed apron on as he cooked bacon.

Kissing him, I poured myself some more coffee. “This is where I like my alphas, in the kitchen.”

He swatted my ass with a potholder. “Go get Dean and Jonas, please? They’re upstairs.”

Coffee in hand, I walked up the staircase in the corner of the living room. Bags, boxes, furniture, and pails of paint filled the landing, the small, open, sunken living area, and the hall.

I walked into the upstairs guest room, which had been transformed. The walls were dark green, though the built-in bookshelves on both sides of the glass door that led to the terrace were white. A little bistro table that hadn’t been there before sat outside. The chairs had green pillows with mountains on them. The room had green and brown accents, including the furry rug on the hardwood floor. Jonas was on the rug, putting a bed together.

One wall was now a giant black and white forest scene, which Dean currently highlighted with different colors.

“These are Mercy’s favorite colors. At least according to all the shop with me and decorate my room videos she has on social media,” Dean told me as he continued to dab color onto the wall with his paintbrush.

“You stalked a teenager on social media to make her room? Isn’t that creepy?” I took another sip. It did look nice.

Dean snorted as he dipped his brush in more green paint. “It’s her public social media. Also, you’ve been over to their place tons of times and all you could tell me was that she doesn’t like pastels, enjoys pizza, and is fond of nail polish and crafting.”

“I’m dating Verity, not her.” I shrugged. Those were all important details.

“Did you paint that?” I wasn’t sure where that forest was, but it was spectacular.

“That’s one of Mercy’s photos. She’s quite good, isn’t she?” Dean didn’t turn, continuing to dab a color on the wall.

Jonas grinned at me as he screwed the headboard into the frame. “Tough night?”

“It was amazing. Thanks for giving us space.” I wasn’t sure what time they’d gotten in, but it was pretty late.

“I’m so happy for you two.” Jonas continued to work.

Dean looked over from painting. “Me too.”

“Thanks. Oh. AJ says food is almost ready.” I took another sip of my coffee.

“Can you help me get this done? The delivery people will bring the mattresses later today,” Jonas asked.

Putting down my coffee, I helped him put together the bed while Dean cleaned up his paints.

We joined AJ at the glass dining room table, which was laden with delicious-smelling food. Someone had opened the curtains to reveal our incredible view.

“Oh, you made shakshuka.” I grabbed a plate and dug into the egg dish.

“I know how much you like it. There’s more coffee if anyone wants any.” Giving me a kiss, AJ sat beside me, his foot snagging mine under the table.

“Thanks, AJ,” Jonas told him. “Again, so happy for you two.”

AJ pulled me to him with one arm. “Me, too. We’ll have to wait to register the bond, but I have a mate agreement drafted for you to review.”

We had to wait because registering was for alpha-omega pairs.

“I’d like that.” It was pretty common to have some sort of mate agreement, especially among designations beyond alpha and omega. It added an extra level of legal protection.

AJ squeezed my hand.

“There’s been so much waiting,” I told them. “Now I feel like we can finally move forward.” Even though yesterday had sent my mind reeling, some of it was freeing, too.

“Me, too. Anyone talk to Verity recently? I got yelled at by Rusty this morning.” Dean drank his matcha latte.

“Isn’t it barely morning in Hawai’i?” AJ took a sip of espresso, eyebrows raising.

“It was like four am there when she called me. Wanted to know what we did to Verity. They were playing drinking games last night.” Dean frowned over his oversized mug shaped like a croissant.

“It’s us who did something? She’s not mad that Grif and I mated, is she? I mean, she texted me and told me to go for it.” AJ took a bite of buttered toast.

“What, no?” I gave him a reassuring kiss.

“Has anyone given any thought to how all this might impact her, given everything she’s been through in the past?” Jonas replied slowly. “How crazy fans trashing her greenhouse and months of hateful texts might be affecting her? That maybe hugs and promises to get her a new number aren’t enough? Chet was her first agent and was an asshole to her. Now we’re going after him legally–and some of his actions could be because of your relationship with her .”

“Oh.” My heart dropped. I’d been so into my own feelings about Chet that I didn’t consider that hers were just as valid.

Me

I love you with all my heart. It’ll be okay.

“Well, if she needs to stay over to make sure we’re safe at night, I’m okay with that. I volunteer my bed since her room isn’t done.” Dean grinned as he finished his eggs.

“Might be a good idea. Any plans for the day?” Jonas took a drink of coffee.

“Grif and I are going on a date tonight. I got us reservations at the puzzle house.” AJ squeezed my hand, and I squeezed it back.

I’d been wanting to go to a puzzle house for a while. Each room had a mystery to solve. At the end, there was food and drinks, sometimes dancing or a show, depending on the theme.

“After the mattresses come and the contractors leave, Jonas and I are going back to Blankets and Beyond. Want to come?” Dean asked me.

“If I have time, yes. Some flannel sheets and an extra cozy comforter would be nice. I’ve been living with mild winters for way too long,” I admitted. New pillows and a soft blanket might be on my list, too.

“Sounds like a good idea. We’re in for a big snowstorm. I’ll make sure the main supplies are topped off in case we get snowed in,” AJ added. “Jonas, do we need anything?”

Ugh, snowstorms. Something I hadn’t missed. As kids, they were great. Adults, not so much.

“I think we’re good. We have flashlights, batteries, generator fuel, and candles,” Jonas replied.

“If anyone needs their tux cleaned for the fundraising gala for the Squire Foundation, please leave them in the coat closet so I can take them in the weekly run,” AJ told us. “Grif, do you need help with necklace shopping for Verity? I already got shoes for her dress.”

“I’ve got it.” Why did he keep getting her shoes? That wasn’t a bad thing. I just didn’t understand it. Like why they were going to such lengths to fix the ruined dress.

But I’m sure it would be well worth it when I saw her at the gala.