Page 47 of Spy With Me

“Did you love Tasha?”

He should have known that would be her first question. “Ithought I did. But it was a crush. It was more about wanting to belong thananything else. With you…”

“Not what I asked.”

So they were playing this game. Well, he supposed it was astart. “All right. Anything else?”

She seemed to think for a moment. “Do you ever wonder?”

All the time. “About what?”

“What it would have been like if it had been you and notCooper who was adopted? Or if Cooper hadn’t been and he grew up with you?”

“No. Never. I wouldn’t have wanted my brother in some of thepositions I was in because of who our parents are.” There was a scenario hethought about quite a lot. “But sometimes I wonder what it would have been likeif Alex and Eve had the option of taking us both. If I’d grown up a McKay. Iplayed sports because it was a way to get out of my house. I liked being partof a team. Even if it was temporary, it made me feel like I was part of afamily, so I wonder if I would have given in to my nerd half utterly if I was aMcKay.”

“Because you would have been able to follow your interestssince you would have had a stable family.”

“I love my aunt. Hell, I love my mom, but they were bothtroubled in their own ways. And I was a lonely kid. So I see how my brothergrew up and I can’t help but feel some way when I think about what it wouldhave felt like. I can’t help but be jealous of Hunter and Vivian for getting tohave him as a brother.”

She shifted, and her head replaced her hand on his chest.“It was good. I only had one brother, but I had so many cousins and friends. Inever had to be alone unless I wanted to be. I had a great childhood. I wishyou had one, too.”

They went quiet but when he realized she was asleep on hischest, he moved his arm around her, cuddling her close.

He was content.

* * * *

Devi was frustrated. She’d basically told him she was downto do the dirty and he ignored her.

“He’s ignoring you?” Daisy sounded shocked. “Did you showhim your boobs?”

Devi’s boobs weren’t as impressive as Daisy’s, so no. Shehad not. “I can’t lift my shirt and expect him to fall in line.”

And she probably shouldn’t, though Kala’s words had beenplaguing her. She should use this time to get him out of her system, but he wasnot complying.

“I don’t know why,” Bri added. “It’s what Daisy does. Oh,hey, did you tell her about Harlow Dawson and the new guys?”

“No,” Daisy replied. “I’m too busy trying to solve her Zachproblems.”

Zach, who spoke way more languages than she imagined andcould do complex computer hacking and had a mom who might destroy the world.

Her Zach problems couldn’t be solved with her boobs.Daisy’s, maybe, but she had small, athletic boobs. Damn her boobs. “Wait. Guys?As in plural? Tell me about Harlow.”

Hopefully someone was getting some.

Week Three

There was nothing sweeter in life than a purring kitten.Devi sat in the comfy chair, a mug of tea at her side and three kittenssleeping on her lap while their momma rested at her feet.

Well, maybe that was sweeter. When a small creature with noreason at all to trust a single human chose to trust her. It hadn’t been easy,but days of sitting with her, feeding her, caring for her, and Sunny had cometo Devi when she went into labor in the middle of the night.

Zach had gotten up, made some tea, and sat up with her whileSunny gave birth to four perfect kittens. Well, three perfect kittens and oneshe named TJ because he was kind of klutzy and always, always hungry. TJ thecat was currently trying to climb up the curtains, testing those deadly kittyclaws.

“Hey, Lacey made some muffins. She thought you might likeone.” Zach put down a plate of what smelled like apple cinnamon muffins. Hefrowned. “Not today, TJ. Not on my watch.”

He gently gripped the kitten, who mewled furiously at thetaking of his right to unalive himself in the silliest way. Zach held him tohis chest and TJ calmed.

Devi looked up. “Are you okay?”