A laugh bubbled out and she headed toward the cabinets and began slicing bread. “You’re the guest; of course not! Put your purse on the table by the door and have a seat. We’re almost ready.”
Austin claimed a spot at the head of the table while I lingered, uncertain of where to sit. I hadn’t grown up in a home where we ate together at a table, but I knew most people had regular spots where they liked to sit, and I didn’t want to impose. He watched with amusement and steepled his fingers in front of his face.
I carefully walked around the table and finally chose a spot facing the windows that I thought no one would want.
Austin let out a short “humph” and leaned back. “Lexi told you all the rules, I take it? About our secret.”
“Yes, she did. It’s a little hard to swallow,” I admitted. “Just don’t shift in front of me or I might freak out.”
“We don’t live that way,” he said. “Our animals are a part of us and we let them out when they get an itch to run. But we don’t walk around shifting at will for the hell of it; we have no direct control over our animal, so it’s important not to give them too much power. Just keep in mind that entrusting you with this knowledge is a privilege, so just take care not to—”
“Austin, we discussed this,” Lexi sang from the kitchen. “Let’s just have a nice dinner.”
He averted his eyes and dropped the subject.
The place settings were gorgeous, with mosaic plates and cloth napkins—each person had a different color. I ran my finger along the yellow plate in front of me. Ivy set two bowls, one of mashed potatoes and the other of peas, on the table. The steam rose from the large bowls and my stomach growled.
Denver waltzed in wearing a shirt with a tie printed on the front and dark pants. “Damn. It smells like heaven down here. I can’t wait to dig in.”
Austin locked his fingers behind his head. “Word is you’ve been digging in all day. Stay out of the kitchen when they’re cooking and wait like everyone else.”
Denver stood with his arms folded and glanced at Maizy, who was sitting at the tiny white table to my right. “C’mon, Peanut. You eat with us tonight.”
“Can I sit next to you?”
Denver sat on the edge of his bench and left about an inch of space to his right. “Can you fit right there?”
Maizy giggled and he scooted over, allowing her to sit beside him. When the twins walked in, Ben changed direction and grabbed a beer from the fridge, delivering a toothy grin as he strolled around the table and sat across from me.
Wheeler, the one who’d given me the stink eye earlier, sat to his left. Ben wore a white polo shirt with red sleeves and a collar, while Wheeler was in his usual cutoff black shirt. I didn’t like the way he kept staring at me, so I sipped my wine and turned away to watch Lexi in the kitchen.
“Are you sure I can’t help?” I offered.
Two strong hands gripped my shoulders and I stiffened as a deep voice barked, “Someone’s in my seat.” My heart raced and I glanced up at Reno.
Holy smokes, he looked amazing.
The room was a little warm for a long-sleeve cotton shirt, but if he was aiming for sexy, he nailed it. Reno’s charcoal shirt was tight all over, showing off his impressive physique. I glanced down at his dark jeans and the leather belt with a square silver buckle. It seemed strange that only Austin could lead the pack when Reno was an alpha male in every way. Even his dark hair was styled as neat as a pin. I took a deep breath, flooding my senses with his cologne, which I loved so much.
“Is this your seat? I’ll move.”
But he held my shoulders firmly and stepped over the bench to my right. I wondered if anyone in that room knew about Reno hanging around my house. Did he talk about me with them? Had he told them that he’d slept naked in my bed and kissed me?
Just sitting beside him and remembering the feel of his body against mine gave me goose bumps. Especially when his arm brushed against mine and I began to feel the heat from his nearness.
“Jericho’s not coming,” Lexi said, setting two baskets of bread on the table. Austin immediately snatched the end piece and buttered it. “He’s still in the doghouse.”
“He also has a gig tonight,” Denver added. “Jericho showed up at Howlers and we talked for a little while. I think you need to sit down with him, Aus. You know how Jericho is, always playing jokes and trying to liven up the party. He does stupid shit, but it’s not with bad intentions.”
“Do you have to work tonight?” Lynn asked Denver, sitting to Austin’s right.
Denver plucked a pea between his fingers and set it in the center of Maizy’s plate.
“Eww,” she said with a giggle.
“I go in later,” Denver replied, elbows on the table. “Jake moved me to a later shift so I can earn higher tips. He seems satisfied with how I keep the alcohol moving and the customers happy. Our peak time extends after midnight, so that works for me.”