Page 47 of Into the Shadows

“I’m sorry you had that experience. Kids can be such assholes sometimes.”

“I got close with a couple of guys in boot camp. One of them lives in Charlotte, although I haven’t visited him since I moved here.”

“Maybe once you’re feeling settled, you could take your bike down there.”

Teddy gives me a soft smile. “That’s a great idea, but only if you go with me. I think he’s married now.”

My eyes widen. “You’d want me to go, too?”

“Yeah, someone has to distract his woman so we can have a boys’ night.”

I gasp, my hand flicking out to smack Teddy in the chest as he laughs. “You’re a jerk.”

He reaches over to grab me behind the neck and pulls me in close. His nose bumps into mine as he presses a deep kiss to my mouth. I moan into it, immediately swept up in the intoxicating way he swipes his tongue against mine.

A knock on the window breaks us apart. “Can you two stop making out for a sec so I can hug my sister?”

“Caro!” I squeal, flinging myself out of the car toward my grinning sister. She laughs as I wrap my arms around her shoulders. “Oh, my god! I can’t believe you’re here!”

“Of course, I’m here. My big sister is finally bringing home a man. I wasn’t going to miss Dad’s posturing. Plus, I need to make sure he’s good enough for you.”

I point at her. “Do not stir the pot. Dad’s going to be bad enough on his own.”

Her grin is evil. “I’ll be good. I swear.”

“Show me your hands and then swear.”

“What are we, twelve? Come on, introduce me.” She nods to where Teddy is smirking at the two of us at the front of the car.

I don’t miss that she didn’t swear again. I figure Dad probably deserves a little needling after the stunt he pulled at my house.

“Caro, this is Teddy. Teddy, this is my little sister, Caroline.”

They shake hands while sizing each other up.

“Oh, yeah. You’ll do.”

I frown at Caroline. “What does that mean?”

She gives me a sly smile while wiggling her eyebrows. “I’ve always said you needed an alpha to take care of you. He looks like he can do that inmultipleways.”

“Caroline!” I admonish while Teddy barks out a surprised laugh.

“Come on, you two.” Teddy holds out both his elbows for Caroline and me to hold on to. He’s holding Mom’s flowers in his hand as well, looking like the perfect gentleman. He’ll absolutely be scoring points with my family.

I’ll have to come up with some form of reward for him later.

“Oh, come on, Dad.”Caro groans. “You did not justhappento be cleaning your hunting rifle the same night Lottie and I went to prom.”

“Total coincidence. I don’t know why you would accuse me of such a thing.”

I snort. “Vinnie was scared shitless while standing in our living room.”

“Almost literally. I thought he was going to need a change of pants,” Mom adds.

We all laugh while Caroline grimaces. “I was a little afraid I’d have to go alone because he couldn’t hold his bowels.”

“If he was too chickenshit to hold himself together, then he wasn’t good enough,” Dad says.

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