Last Female Sypher and Her Brother's Friends novel Chapter 11

Barric leans back against the counter.

“You sure do have a lot of questions tonight.”

I glance at him over my shoulder.

“Damn,” I say. “Is the clock running out of time?”

His brow lifts.

“Clock?”

“You know,” I continue casually, walking around the room and running my hand along the smooth surface

of the coffee table. “The one you all must have that allows exactly thirty seconds to answer any of my

questions honestly.”

His mouth twitches.

Not quite a smile.

But close.

“It must be exhausting,” I add, “always being on the defensive.”

The words come out lighter than they feel.

Because I know exactly what that’s like.

There are maybe three people in the world I can relax around.

Everyone else gets the armor.

Barric watches me for a long moment.

Then he pushes away from the counter.

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Chapter 11

“How about this?” he says.

My attention sharpens.

“We get you changed.”

I glance down at my dirt–streaked clothes.

Then slowly raise my eyebrows.

“Aww,” I say sweetly. “Are you going to help me?”

I gesture pointedly at my shirt.

His eyes flick down for half a second.

:

Then immediately back up.

“No,” he says flatly. “I meant you’re going to change, and I’ll get the clothes.”

I laugh.

Okay, that reaction was worth it.

“Alright,” I say. “And then what?”

He considers me for a moment.

“Then you get to ask me three questions.”

My interest spikes instantly.

“As long as,” he adds, “I get to ask you some in return.”

I don’t even hesitate.

“Deal.”

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Chapter 11

He nods once.

“Follow me.”

Barric leads me down a short hallway and opens a door to what’s clearly a guest bedroom. It’s simple but

comfortable–a large bed, thick blankets, a wooden dresser, and a small lamp glowing on the nightstand.

He sets a folded pile of clothes on the bed.

“Sweats and a shirt,” he says. “They’ll be big, but they’ll work.”

I pick up the shirt.

It’s definitely his.

Warm.

I swallow unexpectedly.

“Thanks.”

“The show is right down the hall. I’ll be downstairs if you need anything.”

He leaves, closing the door behind him.

The silence settles around me.

For a moment, I just stand there.

Then I head across the hall to take a quick shower. There are extra towels in a cubby along the wall, and

shower gel inside.

Quickly, I wash away the day, making peace with the fact that I now smell like Salt and Stone.

When I get out, I finger–comb my wet hair and get dressed.

The sweats hang low on my hips, and the shirt swallows me whole, the sleeves brushing past my fingers. I

roll them up and catch a faint scent of soap and pine that definitely belongs to him.

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Chapter 11

Why is that… comforting?

Ten minutes later, I head back downstairs.

The sound of movement draws me toward the kitchen.

Barric stands at the stove, barefoot, placing a kettle on the burner.

For a second, I just stop in the doorway.

Because somehow the change in clothes has changed him too.

The rugged, guarded man from earlier now looks… relaxed.

Comfortable.

His sweats hang low on his hips, a loose tank top revealing powerful shoulders and thick arms. The

lamplight highlights the strong lines of his back as he reaches for two mugs.

And the fact that he’s barefoot makes something about the scene feel strangely intimate.

Like I’ve walked into a private moment.

My throat tightens.

What the hell is happening to me tonight?

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