Page 52 of Resonance

“Frankly, yes,” Ru said.

“I mean, in theory we know you live somewhere, and that it’s probably not a cave.” Ivy drummed her glittery nails against her jaw thoughtfully.

Owen cocked his head. “Did we ever fully toss the idea, though?”

“Actually, I don’t believe we did. Cave is still in play.” Ivy nodded definitively.

“Or shanty,” Owen piped up again. “Though we’ve debated that point, and also underground bunker.”

“McMansion.”

“Cottage.”

“Gingerbread house.”

“Wigwam.”

“Lair. I liked that idea.” Ru tacked on a growl for good measure.

“Tiny house.”

“We tossed that one. Impractical for his size.”

“Missile silo.”

I listened to the litany in amused silence, and when they began to space out like the final kernels of popcorn in a microwave, I asked, “Anything else?”

“Oh! Catamaran!”

I squinted at Owen. “The hell would I be doing with a catamaran in Middle Tennessee?”

“Ask Terryl.” He shrugged. “He has one.”

I shouldn’t have been surprised by that. What Iwassurprised by was that no one really knew and that it was of so much interest to them. I considered the trio. Had none of them ever been to my house, really? I didn’t think so. Then again, I hadn’t been to anyone’s except Owen’s. But I knew generalities about where each of them lived and with whom.

“Sorry to disappoint, but I live in a regular house. A farmhouse-style deal, I suppose you’d call it.”

“With ramparts and a cupola and drawbridge,” Owen muttered under his breath, and the three of them cracked up again as I rolled my eyes.

“I should fire you all for insubordination.”

“See, very kingly.” Ru cackled. “O, I think you might be right about the ramparts.”

I gave up and decided to play along. “Yes, and a throne where I’ll expect you to kneel and pay proper respects. One of you can start by getting me a coffee.”

Owen immediately colored, and it proved infectious. There wasn’t anything suggestive in the statement, but somehow the inadvertent throwback glowed between us bright as a vacancy sign on a dark highway. Owen’s gaze caught on mine briefly, long enough for the color to rise further; it was probably a mutual reaction as I imagined Owen on his knees in front of me. Again. Shit, this might be a bad idea.

He gave me a tiny, almost grateful smile that somehow had the effect of shrapnel on my insides. “I mean, if you’re sure you don’t mind? I can totally get a hotel, and Tinsley said she’d help pay for the stay and all—”

I sucked in a breath. “Nah. It’d be good. Since I’m heading out on the road in a week and a half anyway, you can stay as long as you need. House-sit and whatnot. Now for fuck’s sake, be employees and find something to do. Ivy, get off the clock and go home.” I skimmed a gaze over her and Ru. “Owen, you and I will discuss the particulars later.”

He nodded rapidly. “Thank you. Really, I mean it.”

“Don’t get your hopes up about ramparts and cupolas.”

“Dragons?” He sounded way too optimistic. Ivy snorted as she turned to go.

“One named Jezebel, and you’ll do good not to piss her off or she’ll use your stuff as a litterbox.”