Page 7 of Don't Bait Me (Nora Jacobs 3)

“But—”

“Our den is very well protected, and I need to rest.”

That shuts me up. Terrance may be healed, but he still lost a lot of blood. His body still needs time to recuperate. Heaving a heavy sigh, I rise to my feet and follow everyone out into the main office. Darla returns to her desk now that all the drama is over. Ren gives me a loose side hug, trying to comfort me without getting blood all over his work suit. Nick ruffles my hair like I’m a little kid, then wanders over to his messy desk and leans against it to watch us leave. I doubt he actually sits at his desk, in his actual chair, to do actual deskwork, very often. “Oh, hey,” he says just as Terrance and I make it to the door. “You never said what time tomorrow.”

My mind is so scattered after everything that happened that I don’t know what he’s talking about. “Tomorrow?”

Nick cocks a brow at me. “Thanksgiving dinner? Don’t tell me you’re reneging on my invite. You’ll break my heart, little lady.”

Oh! Thanksgiving! My heart plummets as I realize my plans are ruined. I was really looking forward to having dinner with everyone.

“Thanksgiving dinner?” Ren asks, getting up from his desk again and approaching me with a wide grin. “Like a real, traditional Thanksgiving dinner? I’m invited, right?”

I crack a smile. Even the man’s pout is ridiculously sexy. “I would, but I think dinner’s off now.”

Ren frowns deeply.

“Canceled?” Nick asks. “Why?”

Terrance grunts, as if agreeing with Nick’s question. I give him a look. “Seriously? Nick, Terrance almostdied. He needs rest.”

Terrance huffs. “I just need a nap. I’ll be fine by tomorrow. We can still do dinner.”

“But we left all the groceries in the parking lot. I’m sure they’re gone by now.”

Terrance gives me a hard stare. “We can get more groceries. Parker will happily take you shopping when he wakes up this evening.”

“We can do it potluck style,” Ren insists. “We can all bring something so that you and Terrance don’t have to do all the cooking. Come on, Nora. I’ve always wanted to have a real Thanksgiving dinner.”

My resolve cracks. I want this dinner as badly as he does. I shoot Terrance a questioning look. “Are you sure?”

He folds his arms over his enormous pecs. “This means a lot to you, and we’re not ruining your Thanksgiving because of me. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

My smile softens, and I give Terrance a gentle hug. “Thanks, T-man.”

Ren claps his hands. “Woohoo! I’m having Thanksgiving dinner!”

We all chuckle. “You didn’t already have plans?” I ask him. “You don’t have some kind of demon family to meet up with?”

Ren scrunches up his face, as if the thought is disgusting. “Demons don’t have families. We’re solitary, unless we join a horde.” He shudders. “That’s more like joining a gang than a family.”

Huh. It seems I really did make friends with the biggest group of misfits in Detroit. “I suppose if that’s true, I should invite Cecile, too.”

Ren grins. “I’m sure she’d love that.”

Glancing around the room, I look at both Darla and Director West. Thankfully, they both shake their heads and tell me they have other plans. Not that I dislike either of them, but they aren’t my friends, and I really want this dinner to be just people I care about. I want it to be special. “Okay. Well, I guess…Ren and Nick, I’ll see you both around six-thirty?”

“I’ll be there,” Ren chirps.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Nick adds.

A thrill of excitementsurges through me when I finally take the turkeys from the double ovens. “They’re so pretty.”

Oliver moves to stand beside me, chuckling. He drapes his arm around my shoulder and admires the golden brown birds with me. “I told you we could do it.”

“Yeah, thanks to our good friend YouTube.”

“Whatever works.”

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