Page 43 of Paws & Order

Later, the hairs on my arms rise again.

Not from fear.

Because Cassian has settled beside me on the sofa, notebook open, pen moving across the page in tight, clipped loops.

Gomez is back in his window perch, tail twitching at absolutely nothing.

I pretend to read.

My book hasn’t moved past the same paragraph in twenty minutes.

“You ever wonder what people say about us?” I ask quietly.

Cassian pauses.

“About who?”

I roll my eyes.

“You and me.”

Understanding flashes across his face.

“Oh.”

“Exactly.”

A smile tugs at his mouth.

“People in this town need hobbies.”

“They have hobbies.”

“They need better ones.”

I laugh.

The sound lingers between us.

Then fades.

Neither of us looks away.

The room suddenly feels smaller.

Warmer.

Dangerously so.

“I think Ravena has us engaged by now.”

Cassian groans.

“That’s an improvement.”

“Over what?”

“Last month she was convinced we were secretly married.”