Page 82 of Knot That Serious

“Yesterday? And he’s already courting you?”

Her mug clacked to the counter and she stepped over to the fridge to pull out her iced coffee and creamer. “Yep,” she answered.

“But how—I mean, that’s a little fast, don’t you think?”

Eli turned to him and arched a brow, setting her ingredients down on the bar and reaching to get her mug. “Says the alpha whose new boyfriend has been staying with us for over a week now.”

Jack rolled his eyes. “That’s different.”

“Oh, yeah? How?”

“His apartment’s flooded! He has nowhere to go!”

“You’re telling me his carpet didn’t dry in the last eight days?” she drawled, pouring her coffee into the mug.

She added her creamer by the time Jack finally answered. When she glanced up, his lips were pursed. “Okay, that’s valid. I’ll allow it.”

Eli pursed her lips. “It’s okay if you like having him around,” she said, gaze flicking over the bouquet in the vase next to Jack, noting the abundance of greenery that snuck its way between the flowers.

“Courting isn’t a commitment. It’s just getting to know someone,” she said, paraphrasing the words Raj had said to her just the day before.

Jack squinted at her. “And you want this alpha to court you?”

Eli shrugged, returning her ingredients back to the fridge. Jack was already jealous. It was working!

Oh, she couldn’t wait to tell Raj. “Yeah. Why not? He’s so sweet, he smells delicious, and Jack, I mean, I know you maybe only got a glimpse, but that man—” She bit her lip. “He is one fine alpha.”

A strangled noise spilled from Jack and she shut the fridge before spinning on him with an arched brow. “Have something to say?”

“No. Nope.” Jack shook his head. “Just different to be on the other side of this, is all.”

“What side?”

“Listening about a handsome alpha,” he muttered, crossing his arms.

Was Jack pouting? This motherfucker…

“He is handsome. And he wants to take me out tonight.” Her gaze trailed to the clock. “I’ve got to get to the bakery.”

Jack sputtered as she capped her mug and locked it so it wouldn’t spill before leaving the kitchen and heading toward the door. She pulled her jacket over her shoulders and grabbed her helmet.

Jack had twisted in his chair and was staring after her. She’d be lying if she said his sudden attention wasn’t a little bit addicting.

“And I better not see you anywhere near the bakery before your time to relieve me, or I am chopping you up and baking you into my new recipe: annoying alpha brownies.”

Jack gasped and placed a hand on his chest. “Threatening cannibalism!”

“I never said I’d be eating them, did I?”

Jack gasped again. “You’d waste me on the customers?”

Eli couldn’t help it—her lips twitched. Ugh. Jack was always so good at disarming her, no matter how much armor she was wearing.

“I won’t come by the bakery earlier than necessary just to bug you about Raj,” Jack promised after a long moment.

Eli nodded. “Good.”

“See you later,” he grumbled.

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