Page 24 of Forbidden Devotion
“Fine,” Nathan said, then took a huge bite, polishing off half a burrito in one go.
Sinclair nodded, grabbing his glass and taking a drink.
With no explanation forthcoming, he continued, “I came because I’m going to the hardware store this afternoon. The cabin’s roof needs to be redone before winter. You guys need anything?”
“Yeah, actually,” Nathan answered. “The screen door on the back porch has been busted since Charlie ran into it two full moons ago. We need new hardware and a new latch. If you pick it up, I’ll install it.”
“Good deal.” Mitchel laid both hands on Nathan’s shoulders and gave him a friendly squeeze. “Anything else?”
“Not that I can think of.”
“How about you?” On a whim. he reached out and gave Sinclair’s shoulders a squeeze as well. The muscles tensed under his fingertips. “Need anything?”
Sinclair relaxed a fraction. “I’m good.”
Mitchel removed his hands.Don’t make it weird.“Either of you want to help an old man put on a new roof this Saturday, huh?”
Nathan shook his head. “Sorry, gotta study.” He grabbed his dishes and made a hasty exit.
“Oh,nowyou have to study,” Mitchel called after him. He knew he’d be on his own. No one would want to waste one of the last warm, pretty days of the season on a working construction project.
When they were alone, Sinclair said, “You’re not old.”
“Maybe not, but roofing will make me feel like I am.” He rubbed his lower back. “Climbing up and down with loads of shingles, stooped over all day working a nail gun. It’s going to suck.”
Sinclair picked up his plate and carried it to the sink. “I could help…if you want. I’m not busy this weekend.”
An image of Sinclair from the last time he was at the cabin flitted through Mitchel’s mind. Adorable. Standing there with an armful of squash, cheeks blazing, radiating sweetness. “You’d help? Really?”
“Sure.” Plates clinked as he rinsed them and loaded them into the dishwasher. “Nothing else to do.”
“Why?” Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but Mitchel couldn’t figure it out.
Sinclair shrugged and dried his hands on a dish towel. “You asked. I’m surprised Nathan didn’t offer. They worship you.”
“Ha! Now I know you’re joking.”
“I’m not, though. You should hear them when you’re not around. ‘Mitchel said this, and Mitchel did that.’ They all look up to you.”
His heart warmed at the thought. He knew they liked him well enough, but at most, he was only a temporary alpha for this crew. They’d all move on to bigger and better things. They’d all leave him eventually. Best not to get too attached. “Thanks.”
Sinclair watched him, and Mitchel felt uncharacteristically self-conscious in his gaze. He stuffed his hands into his pockets.
“When do you want me?”
“Come by Saturday morning, and we should be able to knock it out sometime in the afternoon. I’ll provide pizza and beer after.” Mitchel’s mind caught up with his mouth. “I mean, if you like pizza and beer, that is. I really don’t know what living vampires eat aside from cereal and… Did you eat that squash?”
“Yes.”
“Squash, then.”
Sinclair grinned. “If you don’t provide pizza and beer, I’ll be disappointed.”
Mitchel smiled. “Can’t have that.”
“See you then.”
Mitchel ducked out the way he’d come, through the broken door Nathan promised to fix.
