Page 24 of Cain

And, there was a sweet sugar and vanilla scent to her. Like sugar cookies.

“You okay?” I asked when she tilted her head up to look at me.

My breath caught at the heavy-lidded, lip-parted look she angled at me.

But, like the world was telling me not to touch, a blood-curdling scream ripped through the speakers, making Georgie break away from me, her hand going to her heart.

Right.

Well, a sign was a sign.

I exhaled hard, trying to shake off the rush of desire, then pushed the exit door open.

Georgie winced against the bright late afternoon sun after being ensconced in darkness for so long.

“There you are,” Ronan said, making his way over. “The girls are grumbling about needing disco fries and milkshakes. We’re dragging them to the diner. You coming?”

I knew I needed to get on my bike, follow them to the diner, and put some distance between myself and Georgie.

“I’ll catch up later,” I said. “This is Aviela’s sweater.”

“She already conned Spike out of his jacket,” Ronan said, head shaking. “Hi,” he said to Georgie. “I’ll see you back at the clubhouse.”

With that, he was gone.

“Clubhouse,” Georgie repeated, brows furrowed until she glanced back over at Ronan and saw the club’s logo on their back. “Oh. Oh. Wait, so you don’t do construction?”

“In my spare time. More of a hobby than a profession.”

“Why aren’t you wearing your matching vest?” she asked, making a little chuckle escape me.

“Honestly? It looks stupid as fuck on top of a long-sleeve shirt,” I admitted. “And it isn’t cold enough for the jacket version yet.”

She glanced back toward the lot where the guys were sheep dogging the princesses into the SUV, then back at me.

“Yeah, I think you made the right move. So, this found family of yours…”

“It’s the club, yeah. The girls over there are the club princesses.”

“I’m not sure I know what that means.”

“The daughters—and sisters—of club members.”

“So it’s your job to protect them.”

“And escort them to fall activities, it seems.”

I reached out, touching her hip and scooting her to the side as another group came rushing out of the haunted house.

“They’re missing the haunted woods, leaving before sunset.”

“Oh, I’m sure they’ll be back. Do you want to check out the pumpkins or crafts?”

There it was again, that sweet smile. But there was something in the roundness of her eyes. Almost like some part of her couldn’t wrap her head around the idea that I would want to.

“Yeah.”

There were three crafts for adults: leaf-shaped faux stained keychains to paint, felt banners for a door, and autumnal coasters that you could add stickers to and seal.