Page 41 of Homecoming

Grace barked out a laugh. “Those are two very different names. Which do you prefer? And why do they call you Elvis?”

Drew smiled slightly. “I tend to get distracted and wander sometimes. The guys report sightings of me, like Elvis.”

Grace chuckled. “Have you ever gotten lost?”

“Well, not really,” Drew said, but Cookie barked out a harsh sound.

“The fuck you haven’t,” he snapped. “A week ago, we found you shivering without a coat on the far side.”

Grace saw Drew wince. “I don’t do that very often anymore.”

She felt bad for the guy.

“I’ll call you Drew, if you don’t mind.”

Drew gave her a slight smile and a nod.

“And how did you get the sweet, lovely name of Cookie,” she asked the belligerent driver.

“My name is Drogo Cooke, and all you fucking Americans have to come up with some cutesy name for stuff that scares you.”

He tossed her a look that did actually make her shiver. If she met Cookie in a back alley, especially in Whisper Hollow where there was so little crime, she would definitely turn tail and run. Cookie seemed like he might like the chase, though. “Is that a South African accent I hear?”

“What do you know of South Africa, little girl?”

It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to her like that, and despite his scars, she didn’t think Cookie was much older than she was. “I did a job down there years ago. It’s a beautiful country.”

He didn’t say anything for a long time, just drove.

She glanced back at Drew. “So, tell me about the other guys I’ll meet up there. Any other nicknames with fun backstories?”

By the time they arrived at the Foxhole, Grace felt like she had an idea about a lot of the men up here. Drew had a way of summing them up and making them memorable.

The headlights of the truck swung around, spotlighting Owen standing in the drive, waiting for them. Her heart began to race. Talking to the men had distracted her for a few minutes, but now her nervousness came back full force. As soon as it stopped, he circled the truck and opened the door for her, holding a hand out for her to hold on to. She smiled up into his scowling face. “Hi.”

“Are you okay?”

The question took her back. “Yeah, I’m good. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He glanced across at Cookie, but the other man was already out of the truck and heading inside, stomping snow from his boots.

“He did pretty good,” Drew said, getting out beside them. “I’ll take your dish in.”

“Thanks, Drew,” she said, smiling at him.

Owen was watching her curiously, and she wondered if shewasn’tsupposed to get along with the guys, or something. “Are you okay?” she asked, popping her brows.

Owen shook his head slightly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s get you out of the weather.”

He held her hand as he led her toward the lodge, and she tried not to be disappointed that he hadn’t kissed her hello. Maybe that was too fast for what they were doing. That was weird, though, because he’d invited her up for Christmas dinner. And they’d had fun last night, she’d thought. Maybe he was just nervous about introducing her to his friends.

Owen stopped abruptly and faced her, his eyes scanning her expression. Then, before she could question him, he swooped in and took her mouth in a soul-ripping, panty-dropping kiss. Grace sighed and leaned into him, her gloved hands cupping his neck. She wanted to strip her gloves off to feel his skin. The man made her shiver.

All too soon, he was pulling away. There was a light in his eyes, though, that told her he didn’t want to. “I’m going to apologize now,” he said, his voice low.

“What for?”

“For whatever the guys are going to do tonight. Or say. Just know, I’m sorry, and if anything strange happens, I’ll talk to you about it later.”

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