Page 16 of Killian
Zander’s hand slipped into my free one, and he breathed me in. “I got nothin’,” he whispered.
“Good.” I smiled and backed away. “They are spending the night; if you want to come back after lunch or just stay? I’m not sure what your day looks like.”
“I have a meeting at two, but I can be back by five?” He raised his eyebrows.
“That works.” I tried not to look at how well he wore those dark denim jeans and cleared my throat. “So, I wanted a couple of things. One is a pavilion out there somewhere, possibly covered, with a bathroom. Not bein’ mean, but I don’t want them in my house.”
“I can do that,” Zander nodded and made notes on his phone. “You want something with picnic tables and maybe a grill?”
“Whatever you think?” I shrugged. “I don’t have a clue, Zander.”
“Zee,” he murmured. “My friends call me Zee.”
“Mine call me Killy,” I smiled, and he winked.
“What else can I do for you, Killy?”
“What are the property boundaries? I want to set a shield, but from the house back. I’m hoping there’s room to run out there.”
“You haven’t seen the backyard?”
I shook my head.
“Well, come on. The doors out here are from the back of each hall,” he said, letting me through the side gate beside the one for the vehicles. Dante’s and Gio’s SUV was parked in front of the third bay. The door opened, and we waited as Indy stood by the door into the house, and Gio walked out to park it.
Dante joined us. “Killy, you need a shield.”
“We’re discussing that. Hello, Dante,” Zander greeted.
“Hey, Zee. It’s good to see you,” Dante smiled, and we continued to the back of the house.
“The stone goes back to the trees there,” Zee said, pointing beyond the basketball court. “There should be plenty of room to run furry back here. I also put in a playground for Jules,” he said, leading us around the house.
We passed the first set of French doors, and I stopped to take in the view. I had a patio, with another pavilion away from the house done in cedar. It was covered with a tin roof and housed a full outdoor kitchen. Just beyond it was a fenced-in playground with a slide and swings.
“This is sweet,” Dante whispered, and Gio walked out of the French doors leading to the gamesroom.
“Oh, I like this. Dante, set a shield,” Gio said.
“From the front porch back?” Dante asked.
“That works,” I nodded, and Dante disappeared. The magic rippled around the house like a wave and glowed white in the treeline, giving me a reference point for the boundary.
“Perfect,” Gio murmured and headed back into the house.
Indy joined us then with all three boys. Each one had a juice cup, and Indy carried a plate of ham and a basket of bread. Gio followed with a bucket of beers and a tray filled with condiments. We were eating out here.
Chapter nine
Zander
Lunch was fun. I’d been inside the shield when it was set so the house would let me in when I showed up for supper. Axl wanted the pool inside so he could swim all year long. He also wanted to play outside. Killy loved the separate spaces, and we talked about doing something like the pavilion in the front, just with a bathroom, a hearth, and a way to close it for winter gatherings.
We bounced around ideas for possible entertainment, and Gio suggested soccer. There was enough space in the front to play on the other side of the gravel drive, adding a little more fun to Pride meetings.
Killy liked the idea after he asked me if I thought MacLaden Pride would like it. Sophie showed up, and Killy invited her in again. She joined us, and I was there long enough to meet her and leave again to make my appointment.
I couldn’t stop thinking about all the little touches between Killy and me. His skin was warm, and his hands were calloused. What would they feel like on other places?
