Page 22 of Midnight Mate
“Crowded today,” I said, searching frantically for neutral conversation. Experience told me he hadn’t missed my racing pulse, but I wasn’t about to let him call me on it either.
“Would you like to sit outside with these?”
I nodded and let him lead the way to the back of the house. Outside was perfect. More space between us. Less of a chance his wolf would notice my reaction to him.
At the end of the long hall, East opened the back door and held it for me. My ass tingled in a way that made it obvious he was checking me out behind my back. Heat rose to my cheeks. Not embarrassment, though. Mostly, it was pleasure at knowing Rudy’s outfit help had paid off. I kept my gaze averted until the fresh air helped to steady me again.
Finally, I looked up at the backyard sprawling to the fence line. A wall of green greeted me just off the porch. Ivy climbed along over railings, and large shrubs made a natural wall, shielding the space from the main road on the other side.
It felt private in a way that left me suddenly nervous.
East gestured to a couple of Adirondacks, and we sat, sipping in silence for a few minutes.
“I forgot how clean everything smells here,” he said finally.
“We had a pretty mild summer. Fall air arrived early.”
Why was I talking about the weather? Lame.
“I remember autumn being your favorite.”
“You remember that?”
He shrugged. “I remember everything, Cat.”
I couldn’t help the dark thoughts that followed his words. “Even the way you ghosted me on graduation night?”
He frowned but didn’t buckle under the pressure. Meeting my eyes, he said, “Especially that.” I didn’t miss the pain in his eyes as he said it.
But I wasn’t going to feel bad about it either. He was the one who had run away, not me.
“Nicole’s is busier than ever,” I said when the silence stretched. Again, with the small talk. I was terrible at this.
He looked around appreciatively. “I can see why. Place looks good.”
“I still remember my mom giving you all those compliments over the remodel,” I said, smiling in spite of everything. The memory was a warm one, and East smiled too.
“She recognized talent when she saw it,” he said, and I laughed.
“Right. That’s why she only gave you the easy stuff at our house like mowing and weeding. Angus did the construction if I remember correctly.”
“Angus had a crush on your mom. I was doing him a solid.”
My eyes widened. “He did not.”
“Older women get him every time.”
I shook my head. “I don’t believe it.”
“Yes, you do. I know for a fact he dated Vicki Hagerston a couple years back, and she’s eight years older than him.”
My lips twitched because I knew damn well he was right, but I wasn’t about to admit it.
“Well, my mom was a catch,” I said finally, and he laughed, eyes twinkling.
“Apple didn’t fall far.”
I ducked my head at the compliment, suddenly off balance again.
