Page 12 of Don't Bait Me (Nora Jacobs 3)

I cock a brow at Ren. “Go to a mall at midnight and have to fight hordes of sale-crazed psychos only to stand in checkout lines for hours? Yeah, I’ll pass on that, thanks.”

“I’ll go with you, darling,” Cecile offers.

“Thank you.”Ren shoots her a wide smile before giving me a “so there” look.

“It’s all about Cyber Monday now, anyway,” Oliver says. “The sales are just as good, and you can do all your shopping in half an hour right from your laptop. Plus, everything gets shipped right to your front door.”

“Ooh!” I pat Oliver’s leg. “Nowthatis a plan I can get behind.”

Oliver chuckles. “I’ll come over Monday and we can shop together, but we might have to have our stuff shipped to Wulf and Rook’s place, because I doubtSecond Support Pillar Under the Ambassador Bridgecounts as a shipping address.”

We all laugh at that until what he said registers with me. “We couldn’t have our stuff shipped to your place?”

Oliver sighs a long, heavy sigh. I don’t like the weariness in it. “Ollie, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I squeeze his arm, letting him know I’m not fooled and want more info. He sighs again. “My roommate flaked on me and took off for Chicago. I can’t afford the place on my own, so I’ve got to move out by the first of December. I haven’t found a new place or a new roommate yet.”

I open my mouth to offer him a place here until he can figure something out, but, surprisingly, Parker speaks up first. He sits up and spins around to face Oliver. “You’re looking for a roommate?”

Oliver shrugs, squirming in his seat a little, as if this subject makes him uncomfortable. Parker watches him, and a sudden look of vulnerability sweeps across his face. “Would you be willing to consider a vampire?”

Oliver’s eyes bulge.“You?”

Parker glances away and shrugs just as awkwardly as Oliver had. “I know it’s unconventional for a vampire to live with other species, but since Henry severed my sire bond, I am clanless.” He meets Oliver’s stare again. “Vampires are social creatures. It would be nice to not be alone.”

My heart flips in my chest. Everyone else in the room is just as shocked. It really is unheard of for a vampire to live with anyone besides other vampires. I mean, with the sleeping all day and the drinking blood and whatnot, it can get awkward. But Parker is a great guy, and Oliver is the best. They would be good for each other.

“I’m also still looking for a new place,” Parker continues. “I’ve just been staying in a hotel since Henry kicked me out, because I wasn’t sure if I was going to join another clan or not. Plus, I hate the idea of buying a house only to live in it alone. If you’re interested, we could find a place together.”

My heart is going crazy right now. Parker is being so sweet to Oliver. He’s genuinely asking Oliver to be his roommate. That’s a big deal. Especially to Oliver. I know Ollie is lonely, and he’s got some abandonment issues thanks to his stuffy, elitist douchebag parents. His roommate ditching him had to have stung, too. Parker’s offer means more to him than Parker probably realizes.

All eyes focus on Oliver now. His body is tense beside mine.

“I—” Oliver starts, then promptly cuts himself off.

He’s struggling for words, and he’s starting to blush because of it. I squeeze his arm again, and he looks at me as if seeking an answer. I give him an encouraging smile and nod my head once. Parker would be a great roommate for Oliver. He’s stable, and Oliver needs that.

Oliver gulps and warily looks at Parker again. “Are you sure?”

Parker’s face softens. Maybe he does know how much this means to Oliver. My heart melts just a little bit more for the vampire. “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t,” he says. “I’m considering taking Director West up on her offer to join the Agency. You and I have a lot in common. I think you’d be an excellent roommate.”

“I—” He gulps again and takes a deep breath. After letting it out slowly, he finally nods. “Okay. Thank you, Parker.”

“I should be the one thanking you for being willing to room with a vampire. I’m excited for the company. How about we go on your next day off and look at some places?”

A throat clears loudly, and then Terrance’s deep voice says, “No need. You’ll both stay here.” It’s not a request; it’s a demand.

The room freezes. No one makes a sound except for my soft gasp. I glance Terrance’s direction and squeak a little as I say, “Really?”

Terrance folds his huge arms across his chest and assumes his “bouncer” stance. He frowns at Parker and Oliver, who are both gaping at him. “It will make Nora happy, and as she said at dinner, we’re family.”

His frown turns to a downright glare. He shoots that look at everyone in the room, as if daring us all to laugh or contradict him. None of us do. We’re all in too much shock. Accepting me into his home was one thing; he was influenced by my allure, and his protective instincts had already kicked in. This is different. It’s completely insane. By taking them in, he’s accepting them as clan. He’s adding to our little two-person family.

My eyes gloss over, and I sniffle. I can’t believe it.

“Holy shit,” Ren whispers.

“And I thought I’d seen everything,” Nick mutters.

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