Page 62 of Fated to the Hunters
Vince tried not to be jealous, nor let Ezra’s envy invade his mind. Scarlett wasn’t his to claim for himself and she’d always seemed the most comfortable around Mateo. It was only natural that she would want to spend more time with him out of the three of them. After all, Mateo welcomed her with open arms while the other two tended to push her away.
Unlike Ezra, Vince didn’t feel the urge to intervene. He ran the back of his palm over the painful bulge in his jeans andwondered what was happening. Was she enjoying herself? What made her tick? Was Mateo her first? She’d been so sheltered over the years that it was likely she’d never been with a man in any sense.
Vince waited and listened to the swirling emotions, only emerging from the workshop once everything had calmed.
He was surprised to find all three of them in the living room. Mateo was on the loveseat and Ezra was on the couch, intently watching his little princess curled up in Mateo’s lap.
Vince showered, dressed, and joined them in the living room just like the night before. This felt oddly good and maybe her kind was truly right. Isis did have plans and even though he hadn’t agreed with them, having Scarlett in his home felt right. And yes, maybe it helped that he wasn’t going to be the only one who she would seek out.
He’d hardly begun to doze when movement caught his attention. In the dim light, he saw Scarlett stretch and look around the room, trying to gather her bearings.
“It’s okay,” Mateo hushed, running his nose along her jawline. “Would you like me to take you to bed?”
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” she said in place of an answer.
“It’s no bother, but you looked so peaceful.”
Scarlett sat up, noticing the other two men in the room. “Why are you two not in bed?”
“Why would I?” Ezra retorted.
Scarlett didn’t respond, instead worrying her bottom lip.
“Would you like me to reheat your heating pad before you go to bed?” Mateo asked, helping her with the decision she clearly struggled with.
She nodded, but Vince was the one to head to the kitchen. A minute later, Vince returned Scarlett’s heating pad to her. She clutched it tightly to her chest, rushing up to her room and shutting the door. They all followed and just like the other two,Vince left his door open, in the hopes that she would take it as an invitation.
Early the next morning, Vince found Scarlett in the kitchen, cutting fruit into a bowl of yogurt. When she looked up, fatigue still lingered in her face. Judging by her damp hair, he assumed she must have been up for a while too. Vince stepped around the counter, smiling softly to himself when the fluffy pink slippers came into view. Maybe he could make her feel at home after all.
He started the coffee maker and waited for his cup to fill, noticing that Scarlett hadn’t gotten around to making hers yet. “How do you like yours?”
Confused, it took her a moment to realise what he was asking. “Oh. I’ll take juice.”
“Orange?” he asked, already walking to the fridge.
“Yes, thank you.”
He poured a glass for her, then joined her at the island with his coffee. She ate slowly, as if she knew her body needed it, but her appetite had been lost. He’d never been a breakfast person but unlike Scarlett, he was typically ravenous by lunchtime. Maybe they just didn’t have her favourite foods nailed down yet.
“Would you like me to show you how to drive?” Vince asked, breaking the silence.
Scarlett tilted her head, grinning softly at him. “Promise not to laugh at me?”
A smile teased the corner of Vincer’s mouth. “I promise.”
“Do you have an old car? I have a feeling I’ll dent it.”
“Do your worst with any of them.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Cars can be replaced, Scarlett. You can’t.”
Scarlett’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open in surprise. Vince wanted to reach his hand out and run his thumb over herlips, to see if they were just as soft as they looked. Had Mateo kissed her the night before?
Mateo came down the stairs, pulling her out of her stupor. “Please tell me you don’t usually get up this early,” he muttered, beelining for the coffee maker.
“I don’t.”
