Page 113 of Packed in the Fire house

When my phone buzzed, I pulled it out and looked at the screen as I checked the dining room window.

Walker: Gil is thankful for the cookies you sent for him. Blaze is being a baby about it, but what’s new?

I chuckled. I told Gil that I would send cookies for him, and I wasn't going to let him down. Blaze had become oddly possessive about my baking of late, but I didn’t mind. It was nice to feel so wanted.

Sunny: I may have slipped a batch of chocolate chip cookies into your bag when you weren't looking.

Walker: You are perfect. Thank you. Would it be mean if I only agreed to share them with Blaze if he does some extra time in the gym? He’s getting soft from all the cookies.

Sunny: I think that's fair. After all, you're only looking after his health.

Walker: He's going to hate me for it.

Sunny: Tell him if he gives you any trouble, I will only use fake chocolate in his cookies and margarine instead of butter.

Walker: Oof, that’s brutal.

Sunny: Or I could make him cookies out of healthy seeds and no sugar. After all, I'm simply caring about my guys’ health.

Walker: And how are you looking after my health? Sneaking me cookies isn’t exactly healthy.

Sunny: Well, we have been doing a lot of increased activity lately, so I think you’ve earned them.

Walker: Great, now I have a boner, and I have a video call with a department chief in two minutes.

Walker: I love you.

Sunny: I love you. Good luck with your call!

Giggling, I stashed my phone in my pocket. Given the way our relationship had started, we had never really had a texting stage, so it was an unexpected pleasure during our time apart.

After I had thoroughly checked the main level, I made my way upstairs. The guest bedroom faced the front of the house and had large bay windows.

My phone buzzed again, and I couldn't resist a peek.

Blaze: That's a low blow with the cookies, sunshine. Walker is making me run drills! My abs are going to kill.

Sunny: If you're not fit enough to run drills, I guess you're not fit enough to do the things that we want to do together…

Blaze: Nevermind, I am Superman and will run all the drills!

Shaking my head, I turned to the window and checked that the latch was sealed. Every window had been locked so far. The guys were thorough, and I knew I probably wasn't going to find an open one.

Grabbing the curtain, I went to pull it closed when movement outside of the house caught my eye.

Stilling, I watched in the dark. I could have sworn I sawsomethingmove. The house was surrounded by beautiful trees and a lot of nature. It was probably just an animal, a deer or a racoon.

Yet the hairs on the back of my neck stood up straight as I peered into the night.

I was being overdramatic… but why did it feel like I was being watched?

Hastily, I closed the curtains before exiting the room and closing the rest of the house doubly fast. I wanted every curtain closed and every door and window triple locked. It only took me a few minutes, despite the size of the house.

Before padding back downstairs, I poked my head into the nursery, checking on Luka. He was splayed out on his back, fast asleep, without a care in the world.

Reassured he was fine, I trailed down to the kitchen.

My omega felt off-kilter, and I wasn’t sure why.

---