Baden expelled a breath. “Remind me to kill you later.”
“Welp.” Duke slapped his knee. “Since we’re staying… how about that game, wolf?”
Lake eagerly nodded and jumped up to grab the chess board. He set it up at one of the smaller tables near the window before they dove into a match. They each played a few turns before Lake swiped one of Duke’s pieces.
“Oh stop with the smile.” Duke huffed. “I let you take that pawn. It’s all part of my plan.”
Lake’s fluffy ears twitched, as did the muscle in his cheek.
“Why is he crying?” Baden bumped my arm and motioned to Briar.
Chin quivering, Briar stared at Lake and lifted his glasses to wipe at his eyes.
“Hey, handsome.” I grabbed his arm. “You okay?”
“He’s made a friend,” Briar slurred. “Our sweet wolf. He’s—”Hiccup.“—come so far.”
“Yeah.” I rubbed his back, trying not to laugh. The man was drunker than old Cooter Brown. “He has.”
“All right, physician.” Maddox pulled Briar into his arms. “I’m taking you to bed. Say good night.”
“No.” Briar slumped against Maddox’s chest and closed his eyes. “Not sleepy yet.”
“Oh, I believe you.” Maddox tossed me a look, and I pressed my lips together. “But I’m taking you anyway.”
Briar wiggled his shoulders, eyes still shut. “No.”
Yep. The cuteness was going to make me explode. When sober, Briar was a prim and proper scholarly type. But when drunk? Apparently, he became a brat.
“Prepare to become a sack of potatoes.” Maddox swept Briar off his feet and held him like he did with me.
Laughing, I kissed Briar’s temple. “Good night, handsome.”
“Night… love.”
Maddox cleared his throat.
“What?” I smiled at him. “Do you want a kiss too?”
He returned the smile and bent forward, lightly bumping our heads together. “I always want your kisses. But for tonight, I suppose I’m willing to share.” His gaze shifted to something behind me. “With a certain cinnamon roll, perhaps.”
After another nuzzle, he turned and left the dining room. Briar’s hiccup echoed from the hall, followed by steps on the staircase.
Sneaky captain. He was playing matchmaker.
For the second time that night, I locked eyes with Callum. And just like before, my blood heated.
“Guess I better head to the kitchen,” I said, cursing the shake in my voice. “Can’t let Baden kill Quincy over a sweet bun.”
I spun on my heels and headed that way, thankful for an excuse to leave. Being around Callum jumbled everything in my head. Baking would give me a much-needed distraction. Cookies wouldn’t take long to make. I had several recipes in my arsenal that didn’t require the dough to chill before baking.
But when I reached the kitchen, someone stepped in behind me.
“Allow me to assist you, milord.” Callum joined me at the counter. “Don’t want you cutting yourself. Or tripping and falling into the oven.”
“Rude.”
The sound of his laugh kickstarted the butterflies in my belly. His scent surrounded me, stronger now than it’d ever been. Vanilla bean and warm bread. It was so damn comforting, like that feeling you got during the holiday season when cuddled around a crackling fire and surrounded by the smell of sweets baking in the oven.
