"No worries, Dusty. Everything's okay," she assured him.
"Everything's not okay. It was an amateur mistake."
She sensed nothing she could say would placate him. Instead, she hugged him. He hesitated then wrapped his arms around her, resting his cheek against her head. She loved his scent, the feel of his hard, warm body against hers. He stroked her hair.
"It won't happen again," he said with conviction.
"You get the couch from now on," she teased.
"Screw the couch," he responded.
The front door opened, and Jenn peered in.
"I've gotta get going," he said, withdrawing.
"Boss, we're ready," Jenn called. "Bianca, we'll be out back in the command center for a bit."
Dusty kissed Bianca's forehead and strode away. She couldn't help wondering about the two of them and why she felt suddenly jealous, even though Jenn could give Dusty something she wasn't willing to. They made a sexy pair.
Conflicted, she returned to the kitchen to find Jonny seated on a stool near a counter. He was glaring at Darian, who sat across the kitchen on another stool.
"Tell him whose cookies you'll make first, sis," Jonny said testily.
"God, boys," she said. "I can make more than one kind at once."
"Peanut butter," Darian demanded.
"Chocolate chip," Jonny said in the same tone.
"What about peanut butter chocolate chip?"
There was a pause as the two eyed each other.
"I can live with that," Jonny said slowly.
"So can I," Darian agreed.
She rolled her eyes and started her cookie prep.
Jonny looked towards the door to the kitchen suddenly, and his gaze darkened. He rose and left. Startled, Bianca turned to face the doorway, recognizing the petite blonde woman who saved her from Dusty's bullet in Talon's garage.
"Hi, Sofi," Darian said in a quiet voice.
"Sofi," Bianca repeated, brightening. "I've heard so much about you."
The woman had Dusty's cold beauty, with feminine, chiseled features, long blonde hair and large blue eyes lined with silver.
"Nice to meet you finally, Bianca," the Oracle said. "Sorry for scaring off Jonny."
"A lot of people run from her," Darian added.
Bianca smiled, puzzled why anyone would run from the small, beautiful woman. Sofi glanced at Darian. He rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I'll fix it," he said. "I'm just taking a break."
"Don't make me call Dusty," Sofi replied.
"You're not the boss of me."
She raised an eyebrow at him. With a noisy sigh, he slinked out the back door of the kitchen towards the barracks. Bianca waited until he was gone to release her chuckle.
"Teens," she said.
"I know," Sofi agreed. "I was never like that."