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rather nice, rather expensive suit, with bribes to ensure my good humor, and he insulted me. Maybe he hadn’t meant it as an insult, but it was certainly how I took it. That wasn’t gaining him any points in the “gotta have” column, but it sure did chalk up a perfect ten in the “toss him back” column on the keep or go checklist.
    I opened my mouth to answer, but no sound came out. I tried again, but still couldn’t do more than shake my head. The opening of the front door saved me.
    “Morning, Beauty,” Orifiel called and strolled in the door with Starbucks and a covered dish of fruit. “I brought breakfast. Oh.” He looked crestfallen to see me sitting there with a nibbled scone. “Someone else beat me to it. I’m not late, am I?”
    The men in my life could play at being normal when they wanted. I watched him make a show of looking at his watch and shaking his head.
    “No, I’m right on time.” Turning his head, he gave a quizzical look to Gray. “Now, I know you didn’t sleep here, don’t have a key, and you’re not dead. You have to be doing something right, but it was probably just the coffee.”
    Have I mentioned that I love it when the men in my life back me up? Well, I do. It makes me feel all warm and cozy inside. After Gray’s pounce, I needed the support. It made me wonder if Orifiel had been lurking about unannounced. Ordinarily, it would have made me mad. Today, I was grateful.
    “Gray Devereau, this is one of my assistants, Orifiel.” I pushed the cup of coffee he’d brought back to him and reached over to scoop up one of the ones Orifiel brought in with him. Starbucks cup or not, it was by far better. I rarely warranted the special treat of coffee snatched from exotic places. If we’re talking doing things right, I must of done a great thing in his opinion with Honora.
    I savored the treat with a deep sigh as he set the bowl of fruit in front of me.
    “Orifiel is doing the groundwork for the Angels’ demo track. Appropriate, don’t you think?”
    Orifiel’s and my gazes met and we shared a laugh between us as I shrugged and continued on, addressing Orifiel, this time.
    “How’s that coming, by the way? Gray popped in to make sure we were as good as our word or if we were just trying to monkey with everyone’s ambitions.”
    “That’s not what I said,” he objected, but I cut him off with a cold smile. Maybe I was overreacting, but that was my right.
    “Yes it was.” I stood and stretched, tucking my coffee cup close to my body. “You two work out the details while I get ready for the day. I’ll finish breakfast when I get out, so please don’t throw it out.”
    I strolled from the room and sighed into my coffee. They’d have to cut off my hand to get it away from me. The rich blend was making me feel human, after all.
    “It’s rude to walk out on your guests.”
    I blinked and turned around to face Gray’s scowling expression. He didn’t insult me and then call me rude in my own house? I reached up, rubbed my forehead, and started counting. I gave up at thirty. Just when I thought the man had potential, he had to go and ruin it by being a
man
.
    “Mr. Devereau, you started calling my phone at seven this morning and then show up on my doorstep, unannounced, because I wouldn’t talk to you. I did not invite you. I’m hardly going to sit here and discuss business with you in my pajamas. In fact, I’m
really
curious as to how you got my number and my address.”
    “Honora gave them to me last night after she got home.”
    That had my brow raised. Home? The way he said it made me wonder if they were living together despite knowing about her boyfriend. I beat down the surge of jealousy at the thought. They’d be perfect for one another, I told myself even as I tasted the ashes of wants I hadn’t even acknowledged to myself.
    “I guess I’m going to have to move and change it, then.”
    I was being petulant and I knew it as I sniffed. I watched his scowl turn to