Page 47 of Magic and Muffins

I shivered at the memory of his bite there and tilted my head to give him better access.

“Mmm, you’re teasing me again, Everly. But I promised Shepard all I would do is wake you.”

“I’m not awake yet,” I said, keeping my eyes closed. “I need a few more kisses.”

He chuckled and nipped my collarbone. Nothing to break the skin but enough to make me reach for him. My hands skimmed over material instead of a bare chest.

Slightly disappointed, I opened my eyes. A slash of light from the partially open curtains illuminated the room enough to see that his eyes were dark but not veined as he smiled at me.

“Good morning, beautiful. I need to meet Shepard at the TV station in an hour. Would you like to come with to watch, or would you rather spend the day here with Vena and Anchor? Fair warning…Vena is fully recovered and keeps begging Shepard to lift his sex relic ban so they can have another go.”

“I love that girl, but I’m not ready to witness that again. Ever. I’m sticking with the two of you today.”

I stood and saw I was wearing a long, silky nightgown. “Pretty sure I didn’t wear this to bed.”

“Do you remember going to bed?” he asked.

“I remember falling asleep on your shoulder and then…nothing.”

He grinned. “You’re cute when you drool.”

“Stop,” I said, covering my ears. “I’m perfect when I sleep. You’re ruining my illusions.”

His laughter followed me into the bathroom. He didn’t, though. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

I showered and dressed in something that looked business casual. When I emerged, I found Cross waiting for me. He looked incredible in the blue pin-stripe suit and paisley tie with color accents complementing his hair.

He caught my stare and turned slowly in a circle so I could see the exquisite cut of his suit that molded to his firm body.

“I like you in a suit,” I said when he faced me again. “I like you in jeans. And I like you in nothing at all.”

He kissed my cheek and stood back to examine my clothes. The shirt accentuated my chest, which wasn’t hard to do, but it also flattered my waist and hips.

“You look delicious,” he said. “Are you ready to tease Shepard?”

“Tease? How?”

“You’ll know when you see him.”

Cross and I met Shepard at the TV station.

When I saw Shepard in his suit, I almost forgot how to walk. While Cross had a classic, elegant look, Shepard looked like a professional athlete in his well-tailored suit, and I couldn’t stop staring.

Hugh and the producer for the nationally syndicated news show were also there and noticed our arrival when Shepard excused himself. He said a quick hello then left with Cross to introduce him to the producer, Aggie, a very anxious woman with bright red lipstick and short dark hair. They listened as she went over what they should expect.

On the way over, Cross said Hugh had chosen this show because the anchor wasn’t cutthroat when she asked personal questions.

“Just answer the truth every time,” Aggie said. “Denise can smell a lie a mile away, and she’ll pry further. Normally, I wouldn’t give anyone this advice. It doesn’t make for a good show when she’s not prying into your personal business, but I understand the need to reveal a different side to the story and set the record straight.”

Aggie walked us over to the set, which had three large cameras controlled remotely by an operator. She pointed at a dark window above our heads, indicating where the director, switchboard, camera, CG, and teleprompter operators were located.

I knew about half of what she said. The other half was over my head.

The audio person placed microphones on Cross and Shepard and had them sit on a sofa together. An assistant poured them glasses of water. I stood back in the shadows, out of the way and watching everything.

Shepard caught my gaze. I pointed to him and fanned myself. The corner of his mouth curved. Cross leaned over and said something softly to Shepard. Whatever it was, it had Shepard’s eyes flickering with gold.

Denise arrived two minutes before the floor director called out the warning to start the recording. She greeted Shepard and Cross and took the chair across from them. I recognized her, but I had never watched her show before. She always looked fussy and judgmental, even though people praised her for her casual interview approach.

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