Page 66 of Rook
Grim grunted. “He’s smiling.”
Ledger nodded. “It’s unsettling.”
Stone lifted his mug. “Makes me think we should check him for a fever.”
Avery blinked. “He’s not smiling.”
Four men pointed at Rook at the same time.
Havoc: “He is.”
Grim: “Definitely is.”
Ledger: “It’s subtle, but it’s there.”
Stone: “It’s the ‘I’m pretending I’m not smiling’ smile.”
Rook muttered something under his breath, and Avery caught the faintest hint of color at the tips of his ears. The sight made her chest warm in a way she wasn’t prepared for.
Havoc jabbed his fork toward them. “He’s extra grumpy too. That’s how you know he’s flustered.”
Avery’s cheeks heated. “He’s not flustered.”
Grim raised a brow at her. “He’s been flustered since you showed up.”
Rook shot Grim a look sharp enough to cut steel, but Grim didn’t even blink.
Ledger pushed his glasses up his nose. “He pulled out your chair. Rook doesn’t pull out chairs. He barely pulls out his own.”
Stone nodded. “Man’s practically domesticated.”
Havoc slapped the table. “Housebroken!”
Avery choked on a laugh, and Rook’s glare swept the table like he was mentally planning their funerals. It only made them grin harder.
Then Fish, quiet, steady, impossible-to-read, finally looked up from his plate.
“She looks good next to you,” he said simply.
The table went silent.
Avery felt her breath catch. Rook went completely still beside her, the kind of stillness she’d learned meant he was feeling something he didn’t want anyone to see.
Havoc whispered, “Damn. When Fish talks, it’s basically gospel.”
Grim nodded. “Man’s not wrong.”
Avery tried not to smile too hard, but it was impossible. The warmth in her chest spread, settling somewhere deep and steady.
She shook her head, still smiling, and Ledger leaned back in his chair, eyeing her with a thoughtful squint.
“So,” Ledger said, “you’re the one who fixed up the bakery.”
Avery blinked. “Trying to.”
Grim nodded once, approving in his quiet, granite-like way. “Place looks good. Smells good too.”
Havoc grinned. “Yeah, walked by yesterday and thought someone was baking. Nearly followed my nose inside.”
