Page 104 of Falling for the Enemy

Jocelyn flung his touch away. “I’m fine.” When both of them frowned, she apologized. “Sorry. I don’t know how to act.” She looked specifically at Soren. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to you touching me in front of people.”

Wren smiled. “I think it’s cute.”

Needing a distraction, she glanced at the pink box Wren brought with her. “What is that?”

“Whoopie pies, from Esther’s.” She pulled the string and lifted the lid.

A whole box meant she intended to stay for a while.

“Aren’t you supposed to be watching your sugar intake?” Soren asked.

All the softness left Wren’s face as she glared at him. “Aren’t you supposed to be minding your business?”

“Dear God, man, don’t anger it.”

Soren held up his hands. “My bad. Forget I said anything.”

Wren reached into the box, pulled out a thick whoopie pie, and bit into the chocolate sandwich. “That’s right, it’s your bad.” The cream filling filled her mouth as she grumbled, “Like I need another Hawthorne helicoptering over me. I’m eating for two!”

“Okay,” Soren said slowly, setting Cordelia on the ground where she immediately barked. “I’m going to wait in the den while you two talk.”

“Wait.” Wren’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “I didn’t mean to snap. I’m just…tired and pregnant, and I wanted to eat a whoopie pie in peace.”

“It’s cool. I get it. Eat your pie, Wren.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll be catching up on emails. Don’t…cry.”

Jocelyn hid a laugh as he rushed out of the room. As soon as he was gone, she looked at Wren. “I like this new evil side of you.”

Wren laughed, all signs of tears gone as if they never existed. “A Hawthorne man can handle almost anything, but a woman’s tears will always be their kryptonite.” She slid the box to Jocelyn. “Whoopie pie?”

Jocelyn chuckled. “You’re evil. You were messing with him on purpose.”

She shrugged. “It helps keep the cockiness at a minimum.”

Jocelyn pulled a giant confection out of the box and tore it in half. When she bit into the chocolate cake, cream exploded in her mouth, and she had a proper response: she shut her eyes and moaned. “Orgasmic.”

“I’m convinced Esther’s a witch and she puts spells in her baked goods to keep us coming back.”

Jocelyn closed her eyes and nodded, too engrossed in the experience to form words.

“You guys are really cute,” Wren commented.

She opened her eyes and tried to scowl rather than acknowledge her squishy feelings, but the truth was, she was too happy to pretend she was angry. “I think we’re in that goofy butterflies stage. My stomach’s been swooping and pitching all day. At first, I told myself it was just gas, but…” She shrugged. “I got absolutely no work done today.”

Her brows lifted. “Was he here all day? That’s not like him to take off⁠—”

“Oh, no. He went to work. I just mean…” She shook her head. “I couldn’t focus. Whatever this thing is between us, it’s stronger than my ADHD meds. I kept staring off into space and daydreaming about this weekend.”

“Aw, that’s really sweet.”

“Sweet? I have a deadline. Leander and Thora are never going to figure out their baggage if I don’t get my head out of the clouds. Every time I try to move the plot, they just keep having sex. Really. Hot. Sweaty. Sex.”

Her gaze unfocused as she dragged her hand down her throat, picturing more scenes from this weekend.

Wren cleared her throat. “Joce?”

“Shit. Sorry. See? This is what I’m talking about.”

Wren bit back a smile and silently giggled. “It looks to me like you’re in⁠—”