Page 78 of Reaper & the Lioness
She ignored the dig. Probably because I was right.
“What’s the point of having smart appliances if they don’t work?”
I chuckled and pulled her into my arms, kissing a floury cheek.
“We need to go buy a cake, by the way.” She gestured to the chocolate-covered catastrophe on the granite countertop.
I smirked at her. “I’m sure the one you baked doesn’t taste bad. It just looks …” I paused, unsure of how to describe her baking disaster. “Like I should probably be in charge of desserts from now on.”
Eva halfheartedly punched me. “It’s fine. Kenna and I will just go out for dessert this weekend. She won’t be surprised that her celebratory cake was a massive failure.”
Eva’s best friend from college, Kenna, had left the East Coast to help manage Eva’s growing roster of clients in Houston and San Antonio. Her consulting business—now renamed Lioness Communications—had grown faster than she’d ever expected.
I watched with pride and awe as she juggled client calls, strategy sessions, and proposals while settling into our new life together. I’d even let her take the lead on the business side of Grimm Construction, and I’d hired two new project managers just to keep up with the contracts. I admired this side of her I hadn’t appreciated before—the sharp, ambitious businesswoman who could command a room even from miles away.
We’d planned to help Kenna move into Eva’s old house. When we pulled up to the small home on my bike, now vacant and waiting for its new occupant, the memories of the night I’d saved Eva’s life blasted through me. It was more than just a memory. It served as a goddamn before-and-after snapshot of my life.
If I’d let her take a fucking Uber home that evening, she’d be dead. And … fuck, the thought alone made my gut clench.
Fifteen minutes after we arrived, Kenna pulled in behind the wheel of a rental truck smaller than I expected. Turns out you can’t amass a lot of stuff in a D.C. studio apartment.
Kenna stood barely five feet tall, petite, with curious green eyes, a sprinkle of freckles across her cheeks, and shoulder-length auburn hair. She looked more like a librarian than a savvy consultant, wearing a blue polka-dot sundress. But I’d learned long ago that appearances could be deceiving.
I observed with amusement as she and her best friend-turned-business partner argued about the best way to organize a closet in between debating brand taglines for a new client. It was refreshing to witness Eva in her element. After watching her adapt to my world, I was intrigued to glimpse a part of hers. She appeared more animated, and the dark, warped sense of humor she shared with Kenna sometimes startled me.
I’d recruited Merrick and Hatchet to help with the heavier pieces of furniture. They’d agreed, probably because they likedbeing around Eva. She had a way of speaking her mind, a frankness that amused them—primarily since she remained the only person who could get away with the pointed comments she lobbed at me.
Merrick tripped over himself to carry a vintage table for Kenna. She seemed more intrigued than intimidated by his massive size, scars, and stoic stare.
“Careful with that,” I warned. “It’s probably worth more than your bike.”
Linc's background check on Kenna had uncovered a few interesting facts—including that her parents were beyond rich. She likely had expensive taste. With an enormous trust fund in her name, Kenna only worked because she wanted to.
Kenna laughed. “It’s just an old piece I brought from home. Are you sure you don’t need any help? It’s the least I can do.”
Her eyes lingered on the tattooed biceps straining against Merrick’s shirt sleeve. She made no secret of admiring my men as they helped move her furniture.
Merrick grunted. A rare hint of shyness colored his cheeks. He didn’t clam up around women. Hell, for the past few years, he’d rarely acknowledged them, preferring his solitude over relationships. It was a subtle shift, but I noticed it.
Hatchet stepped in, hoisting a bulky armchair over his blond head like it weighed nothing. “I got this, ma’am. Where does it go?”
I shot him a sharp glare. Hatchet caught it and hesitated. For a split second, the cocky tilt of his mouth faltered. He could chase any piece of ass in Texas, but I didn’t want him crossing the line with Eva’s best friend.
Kenna’s gaze followed him. “Wow, impressive. Let me show you.” She flashed Hatchet a grateful smile.
Eva nudged me with her elbow as she helped me move the endless boxes of books to the living room. “Hatchet likes her. I think they’d be adorable together.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “You and Rhetta and your goddamn matchmaking.”
Eva grinned, undeterred. “She’s my best friend, and I want her to find someone worthy here. I think a Maverick is just what she needs to move on.”
I let out a long sigh. Eva stood ready to meddle, just like Rhetta had been with us.
After Eva and I returned to our house after a long afternoon, I found myself in the kitchen, making her favorite pasta with salmon and a lemon-cream sauce—even though Eva had insisted ordering pizza would be fine. Despite feeling tired and sore, I wanted to prepare something nice to celebrate. Kenna planned to join us after a quick shower following a sweaty day.
Eva wanted to help, but cooking wasn’t exactly her forte—a fact evident when I asked her to add the noodles to the water. I’d assumed she understood the simple assignment until she snapped them in half before dropping them in the pot.
I stared at the mangled mess. “The fuck are you doing?”
