Page 76 of Elora and the Crow

“He won’t,” Elora said. “He thinks that’s all he’s good at, and despite how Jonah’s acting right now, he truly is only interested in friends with benefits.”

“He’s giving you seriously mixed messages then,” Cece said. “Guys looking for sex only don’t usually have the girl move in with them.”

“He is,” Elora admitted, “which is annoying, but he’s lonely and worried about Caleb and their relationship, and he still can’t shift, which is freaking him out more than he’ll admit. I can’t bring myself to point out his mixed signals when he’s struggling like this. It seems like such a dick move on my part. Especially when I’m aware that why he’s doing this isn’t because of love.”

“You’re a good person, and I’m glad you can help him,” Cece said. “But I don’t want you getting hurt or having your heart broken because of him. You need to protect yourself, too.”

“I know,” Elora said. “Trust me, I know why Jonah is doing this, and I’m not blinded by love or anything. Once Jonah makes up with Caleb and he doesn’t feel so alone, his obsession with all things Elora will fade. The sex will start to be boring to him, and he’ll end our friends with benefits, and we’ll go our separate ways.”

“Are you sure about that?” Cece asked.

“Yes,” Elora said firmly. “I am.”

* * *

With a grunt,Jonah moved the heavy cement pot from its spot by the door to the space between the two shelves. It would work perfectly for the lemon tree he wanted to try growing.

He moved a few bags of potting soil and cleaned off the table before watering the aloe and repotting the pothos and snake plants. By the time he was finished, he was hot and sticky and covered in soil. He glanced at his watch. Elora was having coffee with Cece this afternoon and wouldn’t be back for at least another hour. That gave him plenty of time to shower and read the article Cece sent him on hydroponics. He’d wanted to try a hydroponic growing system for years and could easily install a small starter system right here in the greenhouse.

He gave the table a final sweep, smiling when he heard the greenhouse door open. Elora was home early, and if he was very lucky, he could convince her to join him in the shower.

“Hey, gorgeous. How was…” Jonah stared at the Black man standing in the doorway, his chest tightening. He studied the shelf to his left, wondering if he could make it to the gun he had stashed behind the tower of pots.

The man held up his hands in a friendly gesture. “Hello, Jonah.”

“Rick,” Jonah said. “What are you doing here?”

“I heard you were back in the city,” Rick said.

“From who?” Jonah asked.

Rick shrugged, sticking his hands into the pants pockets of his Armani suit. The gold bracelets on his wrist were new and most likely cost more than one of Jonah’s cars, but Jonah wasn’t surprised by that. Rick had expensive taste.

“You know how it is. Word gets around. Where have you been?” Rick studied the greenhouse thoughtfully, his sharp gaze lingering on the shelving. He was a smart guy, and there was no doubt he suspected Jonah had hidden weapons in the greenhouse.

Jonah picked up some of the empty plastic pots and pushed past Rick, carrying them outside. Rick followed him, watching as Jonah rounded the corner of the greenhouse and stuffed the pots into a recycling bin a few feet away.

“Why are you at my house?” Jonah asked, ignoring the cold air prickling at his skin.

“You’re not answering my texts,” Rick said.

“New number,” Jonah said shortly.

Rick walked toward him, stopping when Jonah reached inside the recycle bin and placed his hand on the gun strapped to the side. “Relax, Jonah. I’m a client, not an enemy.”

“A client I’m starting to regret giving my home address,” Jonah said.

“We’re friends,” Rick said, “Well, as much as men like us can have friends.”

When Jonah didn’t reply, Rick said, “Three years is a long time. Most of your associates assured me you were dead.”

Jonah laughed bitterly. “I bet they did.”

“The mercenary business is a cutthroat one.” Rick paused and laughed. “No pun intended. There were plenty of shapeshifters willing to step into the hole you’ve left for the last three years.”

“Then why aren’t you speaking with them?”

“I want the best,” Rick said. “So, do you want the job?”

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