Page 66 of Jonas

“I’ve got calls to make,” Zane announced, suddenly looking weary.

I didn’t think that was a good sign.

Obviously, Jonas spoke to Zane. “C’mon, Dee Dee, let’s go take a walk.”

Oh, we were being dismissed.

“Shouldn’t we stay and help?”

My question was for naught; everyone else around the table was already standing. Jonas wordlessly pulled out my chair. Together we all exited the basement with me being second to last, Jonas coming up behind me.

By the time we made it into the living room upstairs, only Cash and Lore were still in the house.

“I’m taking Derrika out for a walk.”

Well, that made me sound like a dog.

“Do I need a leash?” I quipped. “Or is Zane’s property free range?”

Jonas startled, then glanced down at me with a broad smile.

“We’re leash-free around these parts.”

The wink he added at the end almost made me swoon. Thankfully, I caught myself before I gave anything away.

“We save puppy play for the office,” Cash tossed in.

“I’d pay good money to see you collared,” Lore snickered.

Cash’s crystalline eyes zoomed to Lore. It wasn’t so much his lascivious smile that sparked my interest, it was the way his eyes fired with mischief that caught my attention.

Boy-oh-boy, Cash had Trouble with a capital T written all over him.

“All you have to do is ask nice, Stella.”

Oy. There it was.

“I don’t do nice,” she supplied. “But I wouldn’t mind a game of animal control if you’re willing to play the part of the stray.”

Weirdly, Jonas stepped closer to me. The easygoing look on Cash’s face evaporated. Along with that, the sex-on-a-stick smirk turned into a wolfish grin that looked less sexy and more homicidal.

“If strays are your thing, darlin’, then you’ve come to the right place.”

With a dip of his chin, Cash turned and walked into the kitchen. Lore’s gaze followed. I looked up at Jonas, wondering what the hell just happened.

“See ya around, Lore,” Jonas told her, and tagged my hand.

Once we were outside far enough away from the house I felt safe to ask, “What happened back there? One minute the two of them were getting hot and heavy with each other and the next Cash looked like murder was on tap.”

Without stopping our trajectory towards the woods, Jonas answered.

“Cash was raised in the system.”

“You mean foster care?”

Jonas blew out a breath that sounded like he was exhaling nothing but pain for his friend.

“Yeah. When he was really young his mother surrendered him.”