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“Definitely never had stuff like this when I was a kid.” He shrugged.

Nolan tried not to cringe. No, little references like these made him pretty sure Jace had been dumpster diving to survive back then. “Hey, you’re never too old to enjoy a bowl of half-candy cereal. Pour me some?”

Nolan erased any lingering awkwardness by joining in. And even if the stuff was nasty, it was worth choking it down to see Jace’s less-rare these days smile. He’d have to run an extra five miles later but he’d live.

Laurel reached over and squeezed Nolan’s knee under the bar, which made it an even more worthwhile sacrifice. Somehow he had fallen into this role, smoothing over the unintentional emotional paper cuts they inflicted on each other, and he didn’t mind one bit.

They cracked him up when they dealt a bit of shit. Impressed him with their resilience, taking everything that had happened in stride and rolling with their new reality. Finding joy in things others would easily overlook while playing down the bad shit that came their way. He figured dogged positivity was a skill they’d had to learn early on to survive in Draven’s empire. He couldn’t think about that for long or he’d grab his gun and fuck up their entire well-thought-out mission in a flare of rage he didn’t often experience.

On top of that, they were innocently making him jealous as fuck as he witnessed their incredible intimacy. Hell, they were constantly touching each other. Even now they were cuddled up on the couch as Jace hummed a melody he and Kason had been working on in their first session the day before. His fingers idly combed through Laurel’s damp hair, which he’d dried with a fuzzy-as-fuck towel after refusing Nolan’s offer to scrounge up a blow dryer from one of their new neighbors. He’d said he didn’t want to impose, but Nolan wouldn’t blame the guy if he’d simply wanted to touch Laurel’s silky locks and encourage her soft moans as he massaged her scalp in the process.

Plus, there was the way they slept together.

Nolan would never admit to the rest of the Shields how much of each night he’d spent staring at the two of them wrapped in each other’s arms as the moonlight streamed through their window. The truth was, they were so damn exhausted they’d slept for more than twelve hours each of the first three days they’d been under his watch. His shoulders went back and his chest puffed up knowing they’d relied on him to keep them safe when they passed out, the weight of their responsibilities temporarily lifted from Jace’s ripped and tattooed shoulders and worry erased from Laurel’s soul.

Maybe that’s why Nolan was drawn to them, more every moment they spent together. They tripped his protector instincts. Or maybe it was because they were so damn appreciative for every tiny kindness their new friends in Middletown, who were quickly knitting themselves into an iron-clad support system, showed them. Their dazed wonder at simple decency made Nolan realize exactly how much he’d taken for granted in his life. So he’d arranged for a few surprises.

He paced the floor of the bungalow he shared with his two new obsessions, crossing from the kitchen through the living room and to the front door all too quickly. He couldn’t wait for them to see what he and James had been cooking up and hoped he wasn’t about to make a fool out of himself.

Though it would be worth it if he earned one of Laurel’s wide smiles or Jace’s fist bumps.

Right on time, as always, a triple tap came at the door. “Yoohoo, it’s me. James.”

Laurel grinned and bounded the handful of steps between the couch and the entryway to let him in. Nolan stepped in front of her, wrapping his arm around her waist to keep her from bouncing off of him and into the fireplace. He’d been careful not to touch her, afraid of spooking her or invading her personal space. To his surprise, she didn’t recoil, so he left his hand splayed on her lower back, ignoring the glare that Jace shot him from the couch.

“I’m sure it’s fine, but why don’t you let me do that?”

“Oh. Right.” The corners of Laurel’s eyes tightened, making Nolan want to put his boot up his own ass. A sense of security didn’t come naturally for either Laurel or Jace, so knowing they were already growing comfortable in Middletown, surrounded by their allies and in his presence, did something funny to his insides.

That didn’t mean he was taking any damn chances. No, it meant he’d be extra careful.

He reluctantly released Laurel, then rested his hand on the grip of the gun tucked in his shoulder holster instead. Nolan glanced out the door. James flashed him the all-clear hand signal and there was no indication of any unwanted visitors on the gently winding path behind him that led from their sanctuary to the Hot Rides motorcycle shop in the background.

“It’s fine,” he promised Laurel, then grinned as he flung the door open and yanked James inside. Oops. Sometimes he forgot the guy was shorter and more slender than most of the Shields. He certainly didn’t act weaker in any way.

But his manhandling was nothing compared to Laurel’s welcome. She flung herself at her baby brother and wrapped her arms and legs fully around him. James laughed and shoved the package he was carrying at Nolan so he could catch Laurel instead. “I missed you too.”

“It’s still such a rush. Every time I see you, my heart is happier.” Laurel kissed his cheek, and slid down until her toes touched the ground again. Then she noticed the wooden box he’d set on the ground before knocking. “What’s that?”

Nolan held his breath.

“It’s a new house for Dottie.” James beamed. “It seems only fair to upgrade her too.”

“You built our lizard a castle?” Laurel’s eyes went wide and misted over. “That’s so…sweet.”

“I can’t take all the credit. It was Nolan’s idea, I followed his plans. With a few embellishments, of course.” James picked up the cage and brought it inside, setting it on the counter top. “I mean, what lizard doesn’t enjoy a red rock tanning bed or a stick maze with a leaf hammock, am I right?”

Nolan had to admit it looked even more impressive than he’d imagined based on the stream of texts he’d been exchanging with James.

Laurel bounded into the bedroom she shared with Jace, then emerged with Dottie riding her shoulder. She opened the front gate and leaned toward it. Dottie hopped into the cage, her really impressive tongue flicking out as she explored every nook and cranny of the space, just like Laurel had the bright kitchen and claw-foot tub in the tiny home.

From the couch, Jace grunted. “Make sure there’s nothing she can get hurt on in there.”

“There’s not. It’s perfect.” Laurel beamed at James and then aimed the sun-strength wattage of her smile in Nolan’s direction.

“I could probably have made her a better cage if we’d had the resources.” Jace crossed his arms over his chest, adorably defensive and grumpy. Nolan thought he had just the cure. Well, one that would be professionally acceptable as opposed to kissing the pout right off his sexy lips.

“I’m sure you could have.” James smiled kindly, though Nolan figured there was no way someone could have crafted a masterpiece like Dottie’s cage on command without the decades of skilled experience James had from his previous career working for Powertools, and a hell of a lot of natural talent. Which Jace had too, when it came to music.


Tags: Jayne Rylon Powertools: The Shields Erotic