Page 19 of Holly Jolly Heat
It was a stupid thing to say. We'd driven four hours to have a serious conversation about professional boundaries and pack dynamics, and the first thing out of my mouth was about a succulent.
But Michelle smiled.
Actually smiled. It was small and slightly disbelieving, but it was genuine.
"Hi," she said back. "Welcome to Cedar Falls."
She stepped aside, gesturing us in.
And that was it. The invitation. The opening.
We were being let in.
I grabbed George from the passenger seat (I'd actually brought the plant, like a complete dork), and the three of us moved toward the porch. Dex brought up the rear, carrying the more practical overnight bags, moving with that controlled grace that meant he was on high alert.
As we climbed the porch steps, Michelle's scent got stronger. My alpha wanted to purr, to press close, to mark her as ours. But I kept my distance, being respectful.
Being respectful was very hard.
Up close, I could see the dark circles under her eyes. She hadn't been sleeping well. None of us had, the pack bond pulling even at a distance was uncomfortable, like an itch we couldn't scratch.
"Thank you for having us," Ro said, his voice measured and polite. "We appreciate you opening your home."
"Thank my mom," Michelle said. "This is her house. I'm just visiting."
As if on cue, a woman appeared behind Michelle, late fifties, warm smile, salt-and-pepper hair, and eyes that were far too knowing.
"You must be Lucas, Ro, and Dex," she said. "I'm Janet, Michelle's mom. Welcome! Come in, come in. Bill's making lunch, and the kids are dying to meet you."
"Mom," Michelle said, her tone suggesting this was an ongoing battle.
"What? They are. Josh has been refreshing your subscriber count for two days."
I grinned despite my nerves. "He's a fan?"
"He's a fanboy," Michelle corrected, stepping back to let us enter. "Fair warning, he's going to ask you a million questions. Maya's going to be worse. Bill's going to try to feed you constantly. And Mom's going to meddle."
"I prefer 'gently facilitate,'" Janet said cheerfully.
We stepped inside, and the house was just as warm and welcoming as it had looked from outside. Hardwood floors, comfortable furniture, Christmas decorations everywhere, but not in a matchy-matchy way. More like accumulated family memories. Handmade ornaments, photos, mismatched stockings hung on the mantle.
It smelled like home. Like food cooking and wood smoke and underneath it all, Michelle's peppermint scent that had permeated every surface.
My alpha sighed with contentment.
A man appeared from what I assumed was the kitchen, wiping his hands on an apron that said "Grill Sergeant." He was tall, bearded, with kind eyes and the build of someone who'd once been very active but had settled into comfortable dad-energy.
"Bill Williams," he introduced himself, offering a hand. "Michelle's stepfather. You boys must be starving after that drive. Lunch in twenty minutes."
"That's really not necessary—" Ro started.
"Nonsense. I made extra." Bill's smile was genuine. "Michelle told us you'd be arriving around now, so I planned accordingly."
Before I could respond, footsteps thundered on the stairs, and two teenagers appeared, a girl around sixteen with dark hair and a knowing smirk, and a boy around fourteen who looked like he might spontaneously combust from excitement.
"Oh my god," the boy breathed. "You're really here. In my house. CozyLuke is in my house."
"Josh, breathe," the girl said, but she was grinning. "I'm Maya, Michelle's sister. This is Josh. He's trying to be cool and failing."
