Page 51 of In Knots

Cam stares up at me. His eyes are hazel framed by fair lashes, and light brown hair hangs around his face. He sweeps it back with his hand and smiles at me, almost a little shyly, making that something in my stomach spin. “A tea sounds great. Make mine pretty dark, no sugar. Bear will have his the same with one sugar. Buzz likes his milky as fuck,” he grins and shakes his head, “and Ryan’ll have a black coffee.”

“OK, I think I can handle that.”

“I’m sure you can.” He catches my eye before looking away, and the stomach somersaults start again.

It takes me some time to locate some dirty mugs in a sink, to wash them, and then track down the tin of tea bags and jar of coffee. Eventually, I have the four drinks made and I carry Cam’s over to him first.

He climbs out of the car and takes the mug from my hand, his fingers brushing over mine for a fraction of a second, sending electricity racing across my skin.

I stare down at my hand. What has happened to me? An alpha’s touch used to leave me cold. Now the fleetingest of connections has my whole body heating.

Cam puckers his lips together and blows across the surface of his tea. “No sugar?” he asks me.

“No sugar.”

He takes a sip. “Just right.”

I smile at him and we stand staring at each other.

“Baby!” I turn and see Buzz and Ryan strolling towards me. Buzz reaches me first and takes a good look at my face before he cups my face and kisses me. As he draws away, he whispers in my ear, “You smell particularly damn sexy today.”

I blush a little, wondering if he knows about last night, or can smell his pack mate on my skin.

Ryan kisses my forehead.

“I made you tea and coffee.”

They follow me into the office and Bear is there too.

“One of these mine?” he asks.

“That one.” I point to a Studworth United mug. “Dark with one sugar.”

He dips his head. “Bingo.”

Then I hand Ryan his coffee and Buzz his tea.

Ryan takes a gulp, then motions to the desk. “I better deliver the bad news to Mr Kent.”

Bear chuckles. “Good luck with that mate. I’m going to start that MOT.”

Buzz wraps his arm around my waist and tugs me in close. “You wanna see our place?”

“Place?” I ask.

He shakes his head with a smile and places his mug on the counter. “We don’t just work here, we live here too.”

“Where?” I ask glancing around at the cars and the machinery. He peers up at the ceiling. “Oh,” I say.

“So, you wanna see?” He squeezes my waist.

I nod and I know the others are watching as he leads me across the workshop to a door. On the other side is a flight of stairs that opens up into a kitchen and living room area, the space dominated by three large sofas and an armchair. Although the space is open plan, it still feels small, roughly the size of my bedroom.

“This is where we hang out.”

I nod.

“That’s mine and Ryan’s bedroom.” He points to a door to the right. “Next door’s Cam and Bear’s. And that’s the bathroom.” He points across the room to another door.

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