Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove, #1)(56)

My son’s face scrunched like he tasted something bad. It was likely a response to the seriousness in my tone. But the fact that an unknown someone had called me from Nova’s phone meant we needed to take extra care. I tried to remind myself that I was number one in Nova’s favorites list on her phone. Maybe someone had simply found her phone and called the number. I could’ve freaked them out by the way I answered.

But something told me that wasn’t the case.

Steeling myself, I peeked through the window at the top of the door.

Dex.

Looking far too good. I ran a hand over my wild waves and knew it was no use. They wouldn’t be tamed anytime soon.

“It’s him. You can open the door.” I stepped back as Owen rolled his eyes.

“Of course it’s him, bruh.”

“You keep rolling your eyes like that, and they’re gonna get stuck,” I muttered.

Owen grinned and opened the door. “Sorry, Mom had to do seventy million safety checks before she let me open the door.”

Dex’s gaze flicked to me. “Seventy million, huh?”

“Maybe more,” Owen amended.

Dex stepped in, carrying a grocery bag and a duffel. “Sounds like she loves you a whole lot.”

Owen’s nose wrinkled. “I guess.”

I pinched that nose. “Then stop acting like you smelled something bad.”

He laughed and wiggled away from me. “I just don’t need the mushy stuff, bro.”

I made the same stabbing motion Dex had earlier and clutched my heart. “No mushy. And I’m a mom, not a bro.”

Dex chuckled. “They grow up fast.”

Too damn fast. As I straightened, I took in the bags again. “You moving in and didn’t tell me?”

“You could totally sleep over,” Owen offered. “No one sleeps in that third bedroom.”

No one did because it was Nova’s room. Her headquarters. And when I got her back, it was where she’d live. I had to believe that.

Dex must’ve seen my bristling because he swooped in. “I’m more of a camping-in-the-backyard guy.”

“I loooooove camping,” Owen cheered. “I used to go with my Cub Scout troop, and it was the best. Mom, do you think there’s one here?”

“I know there is. Already got you set up for the fall.”

Owen did a little half jump and started for the kitchen. “That’s gonna be dope.”

“Is dope a thing again?” Dex whispered, leaning toward me conspiratorially.

My mouth curved. “Apparently.”

But as I spoke, I inhaled. Damn it, that was a mistake. Dex’s scent wrapped around me—clean, like a soft wind after a hard rain, cedar and sandalwood mixing together but so light it made you strain for another hit.

Hell. Dex had turned me into some sort of animal, wanting to roll around in that scent and rub against him for a little more.

Our eyes locked. Close. Too close. The kind of nearness that meant I could feel the heat rolling off him in waves. His gaze dropped to my mouth as if he were memorizing the shape.

Yeti scrambled between us, breaking the spell. All the dog cookies for her.

I cleared my throat, putting some distance between us. “You never said what the bags were for.”

Dex eyed the newly formed space but didn’t comment. Instead, he lifted the grocery bag. “Pancake necessities.” He raised the duffel. “Gear for your new alarm system.”

My jaw went slack.

“That’s bussin’,” Owen called as we entered the kitchen. “Are you putting it in? Can I help?”

Dex deposited the duffel in a corner of the kitchen and the grocery bag on the counter. “You can totally help. We’ll have a lot of sensors to put in.”

“Excuse me, but shouldn’t you be asking if I want a system?” I cut in.

“Bruh, it’s gonna be awesome. We can play James Bond. You got any lasers in there?” Owen asked, peering into the bag.

“No lasers. And this was all approved by Blaze. He wants some outside cameras to catch the kids having keggers without him.”

I wanted to laugh, but my head was swimming. “You should’ve asked me.”

Dex moved into my space, that scent teasing again. “You’re right. Hellion, can I put in an alarm system at your house? You’ll be able to check who’s at the door with a camera, and you and Owen will be extra safe.”

His eyes met mine on that last sentiment, giving voice to unspoken words. Because someone out there wanted to scare me.

“Fine.”

Owen cheered the moment the word was out of my mouth. “Can you teach me how to break an alarm?”

Dex grinned. “I could, but I think your mom might ground me.”

“Dexter Archer. If you teach my kid to become a hacker, there will be H-E-double hockey sticks to pay.”

“Bruh,” Owen muttered. “You know I can spell, right?”

I turned to him. “No hacking.”

He grinned widely, exposing the tiny gap between his front teeth. “Who, me? I’d never.”

I turned to Dex, pointing a finger at him. “The worst. You are the absolute worst.”

Laughter radiated from Dex, lighting the air around us. I wasn’t sure I’d ever heard him laugh like that. Like he meant it.