Page 82 of Clap Back (Carter Brothers)

Maven stiffened slightly at the wobble in Athena’s voice, the rag now wadded up and rolled into a ball on the floor.

“Athena,” Maven said carefully. “I’m at Auden’s house. What’s up?”

“So you’re telling me you never went to that hotel like you talked about?” Athena teased, still sounding off.

Yeah, that hotel hadn’t happened.

Neither had her going home to her house even after the alarm system had been beefed up.

Maven’s cheeks flamed, and she went to take it off speakerphone, but I called out, “Yes. Hi, Athena.”

Maven looked down at her bare feet.

I rubbed a hand down her spine, causing goosebumps to break out all over her shoulders and backside.

“Yeah, I’m at Auden’s place.” She paused. “But I did hire movers which Auden immediately made me cancel. They’re going to help me move out of my place over the weekend. As well as pack up the bakery and move it over. Shit, that reminds me, I still need to talk to Pepper. She might not want to make the move with me.”

“Can I come over?” she asked, ignoring Maven’s rambling. “I have something I need to talk to you about, and it might be good to have a cop’s perspective.”

I went solid at her words.

The worry started to sink in as well.

What could she possibly need a cop’s perspective for?

Was it something to do with Maven? Her father and brother?

“I’m here,” she said. “You remember how to get to his place?”

“Yes,” she replied breathlessly. “I’m already halfway there.”

Maven’s eyes caught mine. “Drive safely.”

“I will,” she said and hung up.

Maven looked at me with worry in her face. “The only reason she gets like this is when she makes a breakthrough in her sister’s case.”

“Oh.” I let out a relieved breath. “In that case, you have fifteen minutes to get dressed.”

She bent down and picked up the towel, then walked it to the laundry room where she threw it in the hamper.

“You need to put a shirt on,” she instructed.

My brows rose. “Do I?”

She looked at me over her shoulder with a narrowed gaze before saying, “What are we, Auden Carter?”

I looked at her with a more serious expression before saying, “You’re mine.”

She smiled before heading out of the room. But not without offering a parting shot of, “Then that means you need to put on a shirt. If you’re mine, too, that is.”

I went and put on a shirt.

I also changed my pants for good measure.

When she got into the living room, I was just letting Athena in, and her smile of approval was enough to set my heart to galloping again.

I always put my music on shuffle, then get annoyed when it doesn’t play the song I want.

---