Teya woke early the next morning. She slid carefully out of Jericho’s arms and left him sleeping while she slipped on her robe then tiptoed into the kitchen to make coffee. She was sitting in her favorite chair, sipping her first cup, and staring at nothing as she waited for the caffeine to jumpstart her brain. Her cup was still half full when a soft knock sounded on the front door of the apartment, followed a few seconds later by the click of the lock as Rachel opened the door.

She peeked around the edge of the door as if making sure Teya was there before coming all the way in.

“Oh, good. You’re up.” Rachel gave Teya a relieved smile. “I was afraid with that fine male you have, you might still be in bed.”

“I haven’t been up long.” Teya watched as Rachel headed straight to the kitchen and made a cup of coffee for herself, as was her habit on mornings like these.

“So, how was your night?” Rachel grinned and shot a pointed glance at the bedroom door. A slow smile crept across Teya’s face as she pondered how much to say.

“I’ll just say it was, um—” Teya hesitated “—mind blowing, and leave it at that.” She glanced at the door and wondered when Jericho would get up. “How was your evening?” Rachel rolled her eyes as she pulled the mug from the coffee maker and took a sip.

“Just when I think I’ve met the worst my aunt can come up with, she finds another one.”

“That bad?” Teya wrinkled her nose.

“Worse.” Rachel brought her coffee into the living room and sat on the closest end of the sofa. “He spent the first twenty minutes telling me all the wonders of Tampa...and the next hour explaining how he was ready for young so I will need to be prepared to stay home and raise them.”

“He didn’t ask how you felt about any of this?”

“Not once.”

“Did he even notice that you weren’t hanging on his every word?”

“Didn’t seem to.”

“Was he at least fun to look at to make up for being a total ass?”

Rachel flattened her mouth. “Only if you like 5’6” and stick thin.” She sighed. “He didn’t have a bad face, but it wasn’t worth staring at for two hours, either.” They laughed together.

“Did you give him the line about not being ready to become a baby factory yet? Or what about telling him you can’t wait and want at least ten little rug rats, but he’s going to have to be the one to stay home with them because your position with the Fraction is too prestigious to give up?” Teya loved dreaming up things for Rachel to tell the males her family tried to fix her up with. Rachel rarely used them, but it amused Teya to come up with them. It added a little spice to her life.

Teyacapan? Where are you? Jericho’s voice whispered in her mind.

In the living room. Rachel is here. You might want to put pants on before coming out. “Jericho’s up,” she said to Rachel. “He’ll be out in a few, I’m sure.”

“I should go. I don’t want to impose.” Rachel started to stand.

“Nonsense.” Teya waved one hand. “He might as well see what he’s getting into from the start. Besides, you haven’t told me what you said to Mr. Baby Daddy.”

Shaking her head, Rachel settled back onto the sofa and sighed. “I apologized and told him I was sorry my aunt had brought him all this way, but I felt no spark toward him, certainly nothing like the legends of a mated couple, and I wasn’t willing to settle for less.”

“What did I tell you about apologizing for what your aunt’s done?” Teya leaned forward and set her empty mug on the table in front of the couch. “It’s her place to apologize to them, not yours.”

“I know. I just feel so bad that she keeps dragging people across the world to fix them up with me, and they end up with nothing.” Rachel stared into the darkness of her coffee cup.

“I know you do, but it’s not your responsibility or your fault. It’s hers, and she can own up to it.”

“It’s just hard. You know, getting past the ideas you were raised with. Sometimes old habits kick in before you realize it.”

They both turned when the bedroom door opened and Jericho stepped out in the slacks he’d worn the day before, barefoot and shirtless. Teya’s response to Rachel flew out of her head. Her mouth watered as she watched him move.

“Sorry, ladies,” he said, going to where the bags from the store had been left the night before and digging through one until he found a shirt. Once he’d pulled the T-shirt on, something clicked in Teya’s head and she could think again. Not being able to think when Jericho didn’t have clothes on was not a good thing if she wanted to ever win a disagreement with him. If she were smart, she would never let him see it. Standing, she picked up her coffee mug then went into the kitchen.

“Would you like some coffee?” Teya watched Jericho while she waited for his answer.

“Sure.” He glanced around the room, as if unsure what to do.

“You can have a seat and I’ll bring it to you, or you can come in here and I’ll show you how to make it.” She waited to see what he would decide to do. He hesitated a moment then padded barefoot into the kitchen. She walked him through how to put the pod in and start the machine. They waited until her coffee was done then she took the cup, opened the cabinet, and handed him a mug. “Now you try.” She stood by and watched as he did exactly as she had. “Good, now give it a minute or two and yours will be done. When it is, come have a seat.” She stretched up and brushed a kiss across his lips before taking her coffee and going back to the living room where Rachel waited.