Page 10 of Don't Bait Me (Nora Jacobs 3)

I wrinkle my nose. “That’s weird.”

“It’s convenient. I know you like me. What’s holding you back?”

Um, my fear of men.My fear of physical intimacy. Oliver. Parker.“I’m just not ready to date.”

“Lie!” he and Wulf chime together.

“Ugh!”

I throw my elbow back into Rook’s stomach and twist away from his grip. He gives me a very canine smile when I turn to glare at him. “Well done, Nora. You executed that move perfectly. Which reminds me, we’re going to resume your training on Monday, if you’re feeling better.”

“I’m feeling great—back to normal—but are you sure us training together is such a good idea anymore?”

He gives me another heated stare. “I think it’s the best idea I’ve ever had.”

“Rook! I’m serious.”

Rook finally sobers up, and all play aside, says, “I can behave myself. You need the training.”

He’s right. I do. “Okay.” I give in. “But you try any funny business, and I’ll make Wulf take over.”

Rook holds up a hand as if swearing an oath in court. “Strictly professional.”

I continue to eye him suspiciously until the door slams again. “I’m here!” Ren’s singsong voice calls as he descends the stairs. He strolls into the dining room, carrying a large pan covered with a cloth. “Can you guys believe this weather? We’re going to have eighteen inches of snow by morning.”

The smell of freshly-baked bread hits my nose, and I groan with pleasure. “Wow, that smells good.”

Ren holds out the pan to me, beaming with pride. “It’s my secret recipe. Dinner rolls cooked to perfection, light and fluffy yet still a little doughy in the center.”

“Ren, you are my hero.”

He winks. “I’m just a fellow carb junkie.”

I grin at him as I take the pan. “Kindred spirits.”

“You know it, honey.” He blows me a kiss.

I glance around the group. “Well, we’re all here except for—”

“I’m here!” Nick calls out from the stairs. “And I have pie!”

Nick rounds the corner, carrying two huge pies in boxes with a bucket of Cool Whip stacked on top of them. “Pumpkin and pecan,” he says, setting the pies on the counter.

Terrance snorts. “Store bought?”

“Damn straight. These are from Mama Rita’s Bakery. Have you ever had their pie? It’s only the best pie in all of Detroit. Plus, I didn’t have time to make them. It’s been busy at the Agency. I’ve got this new agent—woman is driving me crazy—and she’s working with a damn human cop, of all things. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

“It’s all right, Nicky,” I tease, lightly patting his cheek. “You’re off the hook. I’m sure the pies are great.”

Nick glares at me, but the corners of his lips twitch. “Damn it, woman. You are so aggravating.”

“And yet…you love me.”

He cracks a smile. “Don’t tell anyone.”

I laugh. Nick Gorgeous is one of my favorite people in the world. “Our secret. You ready to eat? Because I’m starved.”

He wrinkles his nose. “Well, if we didn’t have to wait until sunset for the damn vampire to wake up, we could have eaten hours ago like the rest of the country.”

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