Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [33]
“I don’t know. I’ll call you when she leaves.”
“Fine.”
Braden shoved the carton of orange juice back in the fridge. “Has Jason been taken care of?”
“I handled it.” Chase’s voice was quiet, and Braden wondered exactly how he’d handled it.
“Chase…”
Chase cut him off. “Call me in the morning.”
The line went dead before Braden could say anything else. Tossing the phone on the counter, he flipped the lights off in the kitchen and made his way down the dark hallway, quietly pushing open the door to his bedroom.
Soft light from the balcony spilled onto the empty bed, revealing twisted sheets spilling over the side of the mattress.
He glanced toward the bathroom, the door hung open and the lights were off. As he turned to head back into the hallway, a shadow of movement on the balcony caught his attention.
Braden stepped through the open door, the fresh scent of impending rain heavy on the night air.
His breath caught in his throat when his eyes landed on Beth. She stood at the railing, eyes closed and head tilted toward the sky, the wind caressing her face and fondling her hair. Barefoot and in nothing but the shirt he’d worn last night, the soft glow of the street lights illuminated her silhouette beneath the thin fabric. A spark of awareness touched her, and she glanced over her shoulder, her dark blue eyes capturing him.
“Sorry.” She pulled at the hem of his shirt. “I woke up and you were gone. I just needed a little fresh air.”
When Braden couldn’t make his tongue wrap around words, she continued, “The view is incredible.”
“Yes, it is.” The wind caught her hair and lightning flashed in the distance. He pulled Beth into his arms, running his hands up underneath the hem of the shirt, delighting in her breathy moan as his fingers skimmed across her inner thigh, slipping higher to gently caress her. She arched into him, tilting her face for a kiss, and all thoughts of Chase and Markko fled into the night air.
Chapter Nine
Beth glanced at the time and dialed the café.
“The Grind.”
“Hi, Marianne.”
“Hey, girl!”
“I’m running a little late this morning. Is the café really busy?”
“Nah. It’s actually a little slow.” Marianne paused, Angie’s screaming in the background filtering through the line.
“You tell him!”
Beth winced as Marianne’s shout slammed into her ear. “What?”
“Ah sorry, honey,” Marianne said with a laugh, “Angie’s shouting at Joe again. He’s dropping off some produce.”
“What is it this time?”
“Whether or not the cherries he delivered are in season. But we both know that’s just the excuse.” Marianne lowered her voice. “I swear, one of these days, I’m going to walk into the storeroom and find those two going at it.”
Angie’s voice rang out loud and clear. “And if Joseph Taylor would stop delivering substandard produce, I’d stop yelling at him.”
“Sure you would. For a week, maybe two. Then you’d find a new reason,” Marianne countered.
“Ridiculous!”
The light changed as Marianne and Angie continued to bicker, Beth momentarily forgotten. Still, she felt as though she were standing in Angie’s kitchen, rather than sitting in her car. She could see it all, Angie’s glare and thin, pressed lips, Marianne’s casual posture and dismissive expression.
When did I come to know these women so well?
“Well, it’s true! Fighting, flirting, it’s all the same to you!” Marianne’s voice cut through her thoughts and Beth choked out a laugh.
“You’re on speaker and I can hear you laughing, Beth. Don’t think I’ll forget it.”
“Oh, don’t listen to her, she’s just frustrated.”
Beth only laughed harder. God, she loved these crazy women.
“What you need is a long night of hot sex. It’s done wonders for Beth.”
Beth choked and nearly dropped the phone. “What?”
“Well, it has. You’re running late. And I’ve never heard you laugh so much in my life. I put two and two together.” Marianne’s voice sang with the smugness of someone who knew she was