Page 38 of The Return
Matt sighed, but his smile came back. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Kinsey insisted. “I was being rude, and I had no call to be.”
Matt pulled up in front of the shop, then got out and opened the door for us.
“Thank you,” Corey said, giving Matt a wink.
The puppy-dog expression on Matt’s face told me everything I needed to know. He wasn’t in love with Corey, but he had a huge case of hero worship going on. It only made sense. Corey had put together a shelter in the yard, just because Matt wanted to watch the stars. I’d dealt with a few Alphas and their mates before, and none of them would deign to do something like that for thehelp. It’s another thing that made Corey better than any other person I knew.
Now if I could only be sure what he was going to do when the Council arrived.
CHAPTER11
JONAS
Corey hadhis routine down pat. When we got in, he had the three of us sit at the counter, while he went in the back. The sounds of cooler doors opening and closing, then baking tins sliding into the oven was the first thing I heard.
“Core? You need help?”
“I’m good. I’ve been doing this every day for years.”
That was all well and fine, but I wasn’t about to let my mate work his fingers to nubs while I sat on my ass. I got up from my seat, then ensured the sugar caddies, salt and pepper shakers, and condiment station were all full. Then I did the same for the dish ware.
“What can I do?” Matt asked me.
“Matt wants to help,” I called out. “Do you have something he can do?”
The door opened and Corey stepped out. I could see traces of flour and shiny spots, probably from the nonstick spray we used in the pans, on an apron he’d donned. He smiled at Matt. “Which do you prefer, hot chocolate or tea?”
“I can have coffee.”
Corey leaned in, his arms resting on the counter. “Matt, do you like coffee?”
He hesitated a moment, then shook his head.
“Then I ask again, hot chocolate or tea?”
“Hot chocolate, please. If you tell me where the things are, I—”
“Can sit here and enjoy.” He faced Kinsey. “And what can I get for you?”
Kinsey frowned. “I want to say I don’t need anything, but whatever you’re baking smells amazing.”
“Choux buns,” Corey replied. “They won’t be ready for a bit, and then they need to cool down and get frosted. I have a few left from yesterday, if you want.”
He folded his hands in front of him, his fingers laced together, smiling like a kid being offered a special treat by grandma. “Yes, please.”
Corey grinned, then turned to me, with a smile that lit his entire face. “What about you, Jonas?”
My wolf perked up at seeing Corey taking care of his pack. We wanted our mate. My wolf was tired of waiting to claim him, and I couldn’t agree more. Tonight it would happen.
“You could let me help. I did a good job before, didn’t I?”
“You did, and I’m grateful for everything you did. Without your help, it would have been a disaster, or I would have been a zombie by the end of the day. Now it’s my turn to take care of you.”
Inside my head, my wolf was dancing. Our mate wanted to care for us too!
“I’ll have a choux bun and a hot chocolate, please.”
