Page 10 of Secrets in the Shadow

“Spoiled rotten.” Cody grabbed a paper towel to wipe up the spilled grains. He gave her an exasperated look as she stared back at him from the top of the fridge, smug as ever. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

The cat tilted her head as if to agree.

Returning to the stove, he grabbed the spatula just as the bacon began to crisp. As he flipped the last piece, a strange sensation prickled over his skin. That same awareness he’d felt in the woods—and at the vet clinic yesterday—the undeniable sense that someone was watching him.

Gripping the spatula tightly, he glanced around the kitchen. Nothing. Just him and Duchess, who now watched him from her perch with eerie stillness.

“Okay,” he muttered, his voice tight. “This is fine. Totally fine.” He moved the cooked bacon to a paper napkin.

The feeling didn’t go away. It pressed against him, heavy and suffocating, until he couldn’t take it anymore. Whirling around, spatula raised like a weapon, he swung wildly at the empty air.

Thwack! The sound of metal hitting nothing echoed in the kitchen.

“Ow!” A voice, deep and sarcastic, filled the room. “Do I look like a pancake that needs flipping?”

Cody froze, eyes wide. “I knew it!” he swung the spatula but didn’t hit anything solid this time. “Show yourself, you—whatever you are!”

“I’d rather not get smacked with kitchen utensils again,” the voice replied, sounding amused.

“I’m serious! Either show yourself or I’m calling animal control!” His grip on the spatula tightened, wondering how animal control could help when it came to an invisible man.

A sharp flash pierced the room, and suddenly, he was there—the same half-naked man from the woods. “I don’t know why you insist on seeing my ugly mug.”

Cody stared, open-mouthed. Duchess Poppy Von Fluffington took one look at him, arched her back, hissed like her life depended on it, and bolted. Unfortunately, she misjudged her trajectory and smacked headfirst into a chair leg before scrambling out of the room in a flurry of fur and indignation.

The stranger raised an eyebrow. “Charming.”

“You’re real.” Cody pointed the spatula at him, ignoring how good he looked in those black leather pants.

“Unfortunately,” the guy replied, his tone dry as he crossed his arms, leaning casually against the counter. “And you’re still waving that thing around like you’re in a fencing tournament.”

Cody dropped the spatula onto the counter with a clatter. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Here to eat some bacon, apparently.” The stranger’s gaze flicked toward the stove, his expression amused.

“Don’t avoid my question!” Cody snapped, stepping back to put the small kitchen table between them. “How did you—” He gestured vaguely, frustration mounting. “I mean, you just—poof! And now you’re in my kitchen?”

The stranger tilted his head, an eyebrow arching. “Poof?”

“Yes, poof!” Cody glared, exasperation laced through every word. “And don’t act like this is normal! People don’t just—appear!”

“I’m standing here, so I beg to differ.” Completely unfazed, the guy reached for a slice of bacon cooling on the napkin.

Cody’s jaw dropped farther. “It’s a huge deal!” His gaze darted between the stranger and the bacon as the guy took a bite, his lids briefly closing in what could only be described as bliss. Did he always look like he was having an orgasm when eating bacon? “Hey, that’s mine!”

“It’s good,” he said, ignoring the protest. “Really good.”

Glancing at the napkin, Cody wondered if the strips would have the same effect on him. He’d never had a sensual reaction just from eating bacon.

“Thank you,” the guy said, his tone infuriatingly smooth.

Cody started to say something about the way the hunk stood there, so utterly at ease in his small kitchen, but the words faltered. Had his house just gotten hijacked by a runway model?

Whoever, or whatever, he was, he looked like he’d stepped out of a Renaissance painting, all bronzed skin and chiseled features.

“You still haven’t told me who you are and why you keep following me.” The demand was quickly forgotten, too focused on how the guy’s neck muscles slid up and down as he chewed and swallowed, making Cody wish he were that piece of bacon right now.

The gorgeous jerk stared him in the eye, licking every single finger with exaggerated effort. Now he wished he were those fingers and was dying to close the distance and lick the man’s lips.

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