Page 17 of Out of the Shadows

She rose and grabbed a bowl and spoon. “Xander, you know you’re my favorite, right?”

“What? No bowls for us?” Gavin teased.

Bean snorted as she eyed both him and Xander up and down before grabbing the bag of ice cream from Xander. “Please. Like you two eat this delicious, amazing garbage. You two”—she waved the ice cream spade at them before turning back to the counter to scoop her dessert—“are the my-body-is-my-temple types. So more tasty goodness for me.”

“From where I’m standing, B,” Xander said, “ice cream seems to be doing you well.”

Irritation flooded Gavin’s senses as Xander gave Bean a long, leisurely look. Without thought, he punched his friend in the arm. Hard.The fuck?he mouthed.

“You’re sweet, Xan,” Bean said, her back still to them as she placed the two gallons into the freezer. Turning, she walked past, overflowing bowl in hand, and playfully smacked Xander on the cheek. “A liar, but still sweet.”

Xander laughed and took the seat next to her at the kitchen table.

Gavin frowned. She should have smacked the fucker harder.

“You know, Bean, in all the years we’ve known each other,” Xander said, his tone deceptively casual with that obnoxious aw-shucks bullshit out in full force, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so... relaxed.”

Taking a bite of her cookies and cream ice cream, she shrugged. “I love my heels and pencil skirts as much as the next girl, but eating a delicious home-cooked dinner and ice cream calls for cozy clothes.”

While a part of Gavin preened at her complimenting the dinner he’d made, he also knew the shit she usually ate. The bar was sodamn low. Still...

“I’m starving. You have any leftovers?” Xander asked as a cell phone rang in the living room.

“Sorry, that’s mine,” Bean said, rising and wiping her mouth with a napkin. “Be right back.”

As she hurried out of the kitchen, Gavin caught the direction of Xander’s gaze—Bean’s legs and ass—and leaned over the table. “Stop eye-fucking her,” he hissed.

Xander’s jaw dropped. “What?”

Growing anger had his insides vibrating. “I said,” he growled through clenched teeth, “stop. Eye-fuc?—”

“I heard what you said, asshole.” Xander rolled his eyes. That damn smarmy grin Gavin was too familiar with lifted his friend’s lips. “One, I’m not. I was literally just looking at her since she was speaking. You know, that’s what normal people do when having a conversation. And two, even if I were, why the fuck is it your concern?”

Gavin’s fists clenched. He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. It was either that or strangle his friend. “Because it’s fucking disrespectful. This isBeanwe’re talking about, and you don’t?—”

“That was MacKay,” the woman in question said as she reentered the kitchen. “He’s going to call you in half an hour, boss, to talk about Tiny coming on full-time.”

Gavin nodded but didn’t take his gaze off Xander. The fucker’s smarmy grin was now a full-on smirk.

Bean cleared her throat. Loudly. “Whoa, boys. I don’t know what happened in the thirty seconds I was gone, but knock it off.”

Gavin turned his attention to Bean, who continued to eat her ice cream while side-eyeing them.

“Yes, ma’am,” Xander said with an easy grin. “And there’s nothing to worry about. The boss just got his panties in a twist. For no damn reason. Isn’t that right, Frazier?”

Gavin narrowed his eyes at the challenge he saw in hisfriend’s gaze. However, there was also enough humor staring back at him to make him wonder if he’d read Xander wrong. If he’d jumped to conclusions. If he’d just made a complete ass of himself.

He lifted his chin at Xander and turned to Bean. “We’re good. Nothing to worry about.” She looked at him like she didn’t quite believe him. “Really, B.”

While Xander fixed himself a plate of chicken and rice, Bean updated them on Tiny joining the fold. It was a move Gavin was completely on board with, not only because she would be going dark for the next day or two, but in general.

Guilt turned his stomach. She’d passed out. He had no doubt that exhaustion had played a significant role. She’d been burning the candle at both ends, and yet they’d kept piling more shit onto her already full plate. He wasn’t sure he’d ever forgive himself for not seeing it sooner.

“That’s great you’re getting some backup,” Xander said, digging into his food. “That’ll come in handy, especially this weekend.”

She sat up straighter, and that curious sparkle lit her eyes.

Gavin inwardly cringed.Curious sparkle?Holy shit, what was wrong with him?

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