Imogen rolled up to Lee’s house a little after 6:00. Turning the rearview mirror to look at herself, she noted the stains on her shirt, the smeared mascara and eyeliner, the messy updo, and her generally unkempt appearance.

She’d thought about going home to change but knew that there must’ve been a reason for Lee’s insistence that she shower at his house. Maybe he wanted his mate to see her looking awful, so she wouldn’t consider her a threat.

In the end, it didn’t matter.

“This is who I am, the person I’ve fought to be. Piper needs to see it if she’s gonna accept me.”

Grabbing her backpack, she opened her door and jumped down from the seat.

Lee appeared on the doorstep and said, “Hey! You’re early.”

“Is that okay? My last client rescheduled, but I can drive around for a while if you want.”

“Oh, my!” Piper said with a giggle, as she sidled up behind Lee. “Honey, come inside and get yourself cleaned up. That just won’t do.”

As she approached the house, Imogen tilted her head to the side, wondering if Piper had insulted her.

“What can I say? I’ve got a dirty job.”

“You’re gonna turn into a franchise. You know that, right?”

“From your lips to God’s ears.”

“No, it’s happenin’.”

“Why?” Imogen asked, as she went up the stairs to the porch. “What’re you doing?”

“Me?” Piper said, placing her hand over her heart. “Nothin’ but spreadin’ the good news about the best groomer around.” Imogen smiled, happy that her earlier thoughts were wrong. “So, what’d you bring to wear?”

Piper reached for Imogen’s bag, and she shifted it behind her back.

“Jeans and a top. Why?”

Piper looked at Lee with a worried expression, and he shrugged in reply. She then began hustling Imogen into the house and gave her a little shove towards their master bathroom.

“Go get in the shower, and I’ll take care of the rest of it.”

“What?”

“Just do it, Immie,” Lee said, leaning against the doorjamb. “Trust us.”

Suddenly, the way they were acting became crystal clear in her mind.

“Wait a minute.” She pointed her finger at each of them in turn. “Are you two trying to hook me up with someone?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t call it that,” Piper murmured, as she rummaged through her closet, glancing back at Imogen, giving her a onceover.

“Then, what would you call it?” Imogen shrieked, angry at their arranging a blind date without telling her first. “I know that you two are all hot and heavy, and I’m thrilled that you found each other. And Piper, I’ve done everything I know to do to show you that I’m not interested in Lee romantically. I’ve never looked at him in that way. So, what’re you doing, throwing your castoffs at me? I’m not desperate.” Tears threatened to fall, and she fought them and her embarrassment back at what she perceived as their treachery. “And I sure as hell don’t need a pity fuck!”

“Of course, you don’t! Imogen, I’d never think that of you.”

“Immie, it’s nothing like that,” Lee said softly. “It’s what you shared with me earlier... and the secret job I’ve been involved in.”

“You told her?” Imogen asked, hurt at his apparent betrayal.

“No!” Piper protested, as she swished hangers left and right.

“Not all of it. Come with me.” He went to her, took her hand, and led her into the bathroom. He sat on the side of the tub and let her go. “Why would you think I’d tell anyone what you shared with me in confidence?”

“Because you did! I can’t believe....”

Lee shook his head and raised his palms toward her, and she stopped talking.

“Not like you’re thinking. Hear me out. If you want to rip my head off afterwards, so be it.”

“Fine. Talk.”

“There’s a guy I met who’s central in this operation I’ve been working on. I thought you two might hit it off.”

“Why?”

“Well, I think he’s the guy in your dreams.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Just what you told me about him.”

“Describe him.”

“Tall, brown eyes, dark curly hair....”

“That could describe a lot of men.”

“Yeah… but….”

“What?”

“His name.”

“Well?”

“It’s Gunner.”

“I’m not sure where you’re going with this.”

“There was a 9 mm on the nightstand in your dreams, right?”

“Yeah.”

“I think it represented him. Why else would it have been there, Immie? Like you said, you hate guns. Plus, he’s a part of law enforcement for supernaturals. It makes sense to me.”

Sucking in a breath, Imogen dropped the backpack she’d been holding, as memories of her dreams slammed into her mind, and the impact of what Lee was saying hit her.

She whispered, “You’re kidding.”

Reaching for her again, he pulled her down to sit beside him.

“I’m not, Immie. I think something might be happening between the two of you, drawing you together. I want to make sure that you meet him in a safe environment. At any rate, it’s worth checking out.”

“You think I could be in danger?”

Cocking his head to the side, he said, “Considering what’s going on with this case, yeah.”

“Can I come in?” Piper asked from the other side of the door.

Lee arched a brow at Imogen, and she said, “Yes, of course. It’s your house.”

Piper breezed in and went to stand in front of Imogen.

“We need to clear somethin’ up, Immie.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t want you to feel defensive around me. I’m not threatened by you at all. I get that you and Lee have a history and a bond that you and I will most likely never have, and I’m fine with that. I appreciate what you’ve done in givin’ us space to try to get settled together, but you’re a part of his life, and I don’t want that to change. You’ve already shown me that you respect our relationship, and I thank you for that. I’m happier than I’ve ever been, but it’s still been a scary time for me, movin’ into a new house with a man I barely know. Even so, everything in me is tellin’ me I need him as much as the air I breathe.”

“I can’t even imagine what you’re dealing with.” Imogen stood and went to Piper, who was holding back tears. “I’m so sorry I added to your stress. I didn’t mean to do that.”

“But see? Because of what I went through—even though it’s better than I could’ve imagined—I wanna make sure that if you’re connected to this vampire, it works out for you. I care about you!”

“I overreacted, and I’m sorry, Piper. There’s so much happening to us all so fast. It’s been a whirlwind. Please don’t cry!”

“Your happiness and connection to Lee is as important to me as it is to him. You’re my sister now, too.”

Imogen nodded and said, “And you’re mine. Like I told you, we’re family, and I did mean that.”

Imogen drew her into a hug and felt the tremors of emotion pass through Piper, as she struggled to regain her composure.

“Wait. He’s a vamp?”

Lee nodded, and she and Piper let go of each other.

“Wow. I guess you’re right, and this is really something, then.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I gave up vegetarianism. I had these overpowering cravings for red meat. They came out of nowhere once the dreams started.”

Piper gasped, and Lee sighed.

“I had no idea,” he said. “That’s a huge lifestyle change. I wish I had known. I wasn’t there for you.”

“It’s okay. You had bigger and better things going on. I didn’t get sick or anything from it.”

“I’m glad, but the next time you have a life-altering occurrence… I don’t care what’s happening with me. I want you to call me.”

“I will.”

Slapping his thighs, Lee said, “You’d better get cleaned up, Immie.”

He and Piper walked out of the bathroom, and Lee locked the door behind them, leaving Imogen alone to ponder the unexpected sequence of events that led to where she was at that moment.

While she washed her hair, rather than fear of the unknown, a sense of excitement grew within her. She rinsed the bubbles out, added conditioner, and then began scrubbing her body. As she did, she felt his hands on her, urging her closer to his chest and then pressing her to the wall. Her breathing hitched higher, as the heat inside the compartment ratcheted up, having nothing to do with the temperature of the water.

Without a thought, her fingers found her clit and rubbed it, as two from her other hand pressed inside her channel, pumping in and out as fast as she could. Propping her foot on the shower seat, she spread her thighs, allowing her fingers to plunge deeper between her walls.

Biting her lip to stay silent, as she reached her crest, she heard his voice in her ear.

“Mine.”