Alice seemed out of sorts. Her chin was lifted, but a vein pulsed in her neck. He moved closer and put his arm around her waist. Cain’s glare didn’t go unnoticed, but tough shit. One wrong word to Alice and her daddy was out the door.
“Let me introduce you to my team,” Cain said. “This is Maya, Clelia, Lann, Sean, and our team leader, Josselin.”
Josselin nodded and said with a French accent, “Call me Joss.”
Ivan measured each person as Cain presented them. Definitely paranormals.
“Have a seat,” Alice said. “Tea, everyone?”
Lann accepted politely while the others requested coffee.
“I’ll give you a hand,” Ivan said, following Alice out of the room.
In the kitchen, he closed the door behind them. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What?”
“We don’t have time for games.”
“It wasn’t important.”
“He left you when you needed him the most?” He still couldn’t get over it. All this time, he’d thought Alice at least had her doting dad, when, in reality, she’d been through the ordeal alone. Had he known, he would’ve followed her to London. “How could he do that to you?”
She smoothed back her hair, tugging loose ends into the bun. “We had our disagreements.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I like him less and less.”
“This isn’t about liking. It’s about getting the help you need. I don’t want to see you dead.”
His heart warmed in the same inexplicable way it had when she’d called out his name just before her orgasm. She didn’t want him dead, and she was willing to face Cain for him, after whatever had happened between the two of them.
She cared. Even if she’d admitted it with her own pretty lips last night, the meaning couldn’t carry stronger. Actions spoke louder.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He had no words. There was nothing he could say in reply to the sweet affirmation she’d just given him. All he had to offer was his kiss. He pressed his lips to hers, finding hers warm and soft. The proximity of her body hardened him instantaneously. The hard-on pressing against her stomach had to have alarmed her, because she pushed away with her palms on his chest.
“Not now.” She turned away to switch on the kettle.
For the moment, he let her go. In time, he’d make her understand that his need for her knew no manners. It didn’t care that her father was in the room next door any more than it had nine years ago. She was his, and the whole world could hear him claim her for all he cared.
They worked together in silence, preparing the drinks and laying out muffins on a plate. He watched her from under his lashes. Something was eating Alice, something other than this dirty business with the shifter and her father. From the way she kept avoiding his eyes, it had something to do with him.
He turned her to face him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Stop lying to me.” He reached for her glasses.
She pulled away, but he took them off, anyway.
“What are you doing?” she called out in alarm.
“You’ve got a splatter of flour on them.” He cleaned them with the hem of his T-shirt before returning them to her face. “What’s bothering you, Princess?”
She contemplated her answer for a while before saying, “Why do you want me to sing with you?”
She was still stressed about the damn singing? “Why not?”
“Nothing,” she said again.
There was a knock on the door. It opened to reveal Cain’s imposing form. He looked from Alice to Ivan, his gaze cold as it settled on him. “I hate to interrupt, but we need to get started.”
Bullshit. His only intention was an interruption. Ivan gave him a slow smile. He kissed Alice on the lips, which made her flush a little, before picking up the tray. He didn’t look back to measure Cain’s reaction.
In the lounge, Alice played hostess while he took a seat, waiting patiently for her to finish. What he had to say wasn’t meant for her ears. He’d rather deal with the situation without making her worry more about his mental stability. Once the business of pouring tea and coffee was over, he took her hand and looked up into her pretty, albeit pale face.
“I’d like to talk to Cain and his team alone.”
She gave him an incredulous look, her eyes whipping him from behind those sexy glasses. “I’m staying.”
For once, Cain voiced his agreement. “He’s right. There’s no need to put you at more risk than you already are.”
Her father was the next target of her condescending scowl. “I’m an adult, and you’re under my roof.”
“Believe me,” Cain said, “I’m only thinking about your best interest.”
“You can’t protect me from the truth. I’ve known what you’re involved in for a long time.”
“I see.” His mouth set in a thin line, but he didn’t argue. “Tell me about Ivan’s attacker.”