Page 21 of Wolfish Hunger
I sit at the dining room table, watching him cook with a giant smile on my face. I've barely gotten three sips of coffee into me when my phone lights up with Edward’s name on the screen. "Hello?"
"I saw you on the news!" he exclaims.
"W-what?"
"Yeah. The Wolfe Mountain general news website. There was a photo of you with a bunch of huge guys all outside the grocery store. They were talking about how you were getting food and water to the people without power outside of Cedarvale."
"Oh. Wow. Yeah. Yesterday was a trip." I catch Kane's eye, and he grins.
Edward chuckles. "Never thought I’d see the day when my shy little sister was hanging around with so many guys she just met."
"First off, seven minutes does not make me your little sister, so knock it off."
He snorts. “Whatever.”
"Secondly…" I can see that Kane is holding back a smile while at the same time forcing himself not to look at me. "Yes, I met most of them yesterday. And they were all really nice. But I've known Kane a bit longer.”
Edward scoffs. "It's been less than a week, sis. What's the deal with you two? Are you all official and shit already?"
Kane is close enough to hear every word through the phone, and I look over to him with a helpless shrug. He shrugs back. "Tell your brother whatever you want,” he says. “But I think youshould tell him we've completely fallen for each other, and you'll be moving in with me as soon as possible."
I sputter, as if all my breath has suddenly left my body like air whooshing out of a balloon.
Then Edward and I speak the exact same word at the exact same time. "Seriously?"
Kane busts out laughing, pointing between me and the phone. "Okay, I hear the twin thing now."
"I think I need to meet this guy," Edward says. "Someone who can bring you out of your shell, and actually wants to put up with you on a full-time basis? He must be a saint."
"Just be glad that I'm moving out of your delightfully stylish but microscopic house, buddy."
There's a clatter, and I look over to see Kane holding a plate while the spatula bounces across the marble counter. "You’re really moving in? You're staying with me?"
"I'm hanging up on you now, but the three of us should have dinner soon." I hear a laugh just before I tap the red button and cut Edward off.
I set down the phone, then step into Kane's waiting arms. "If you're serious, yes. I would love to live with you."
Even though he's grinning like a maniac, my gaze is torn to the plate on the counter. "Wow. That looks fantastic."
He beams with pride. "If a beautiful woman is going to be staying in my house, I'm going to have to up my cooking game. It might take a few weeks, but I want to pull my weight." His palms work circles down to my lower back. "I want you always to be hungry for me, baby. Food, we're going to take care of together. But this…" His hand slips down to grab my ass firmly, pulling us together until I feel the hot, hard ridge of his erection. "I know we're never going to be completely satisfied."
"I don't know if you're being arrogant or honest. Either way, we should eat first."
He kisses the tip of my nose. “Good plan.”
13
KANE
Under Sammie’s direction, breakfast turned out amazingly well, if I do say so myself.
It felt like a good step forward. Not only is she speaking up more, she's becoming comfortable in my space and with me. It all feels very healthy. I'm going to do everything in my power to be encouraging, but never pushy.
There are still a lot of details we need to figure out, like stocking up on her favorite foods and coffee and shampoo. Which of the spare bedrooms will she want to use as her office? Does she want to rearrange or paint anything? Will she be overwhelmed when my whole family gets together? I’m thinking we need to develop a code word for that.
But the reality is, this sweet girl is now in my life permanently, and my heart feels like it's going to explode.
As we’re tidying up, I run a hand down Sammie's back. "Hey. I haven't bought a new car in a few years, so I asked Walker yesterday to send me a list of dealerships on the mountain these days. We need to get you a vehicle you're comfortable with that will work on these mountain roads. A truck, Jeep, SUV. Something sturdy with all-wheel drive."
