Cam slid his arm around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder, and the sensation was surreal. I’d dreamed of him doing shit like that for years. “I forget sometimes that you live here.”
“So do I.”
“You like it, though, don’t you? Being outside and away from everything?”
“It ain’t quiet in the summer.”
“Quieter than the clubhouse, I bet.”
Nothing came to me. On instinct, I leaned back a touch, absorbing as much of him as I could without putting pressure on his arm.
Cam hummed, low and thoughtful.
I didn’t ask.
And he didn’t tell me.
“Did you ever put that wood burner in the van?”
“Yeah.”
“Show me?”
I shrugged and led him back through the trees, stopping to check on the bird boxes that had already been hammered to the trunks when I’d bought the land a few years ago.
Cam laughed.
I ignored him and stomped back to the van, emerging from the copse into the last of the daylight and a sight that made my chest burn.
Alexei.
He waited for us, lounging on the bonnet like the sexy-as-hell assassin he was, golden winter sun glinting off his hair. It was quite a look for a man who had eyes like starlight. “You tracked me.”
Alexei smirked and held up a phone that was clearly not the one Cam had tossed out the window. “It was only fair.”
I accepted that and had no regrets. Stalking him had brought us together, as allies if nothing else. “I’m not that interesting. You’re gonna get bored.”
“Unlikely.” Alexei’s gaze flickered with heat, but as Cam appeared at my side, I couldn’t be sure who it was for.
“All right, I’ve had enough of this shit.” Cam stepped between us. “Saint, light your damn fire. Then you two gotta start fucking talking.”
I was nothing if not obedient. I slid the side door open and climbed inside the van, letting them do whatever they wanted to do. Pretty sure I heard them kissing, but whatever. I liked it, the intimacy they shared. It was nice.
And hot, but I gave Cam the respect of not losing my mind to the gutter. He needed to know what he’d missed. It’d wind him up forever otherwise.
I built a fire in the stove, using pinecones as kindling, and lit it, watching the flames dance a moment before I shut the door.
Then I slung my beat-up kettle on the gas burner and waited for them to join me.
Alexei came first, stepping into my personal space before I heard him coming. “How was your day?”
“It isn’t over yet. Thought you’d be gone till tonight.”
“Disappointed?”
“No.”
“Do you have coffee?”