All Over Again (Sequel to Wanted Man)

Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"What is this even about?" McKenna asked as she and Loki stood in Tony Stark's private elevator, being whisked up to the penthouse.

"All he said was that son of-I mean, Coulson-requested we all meet this evening."

"We were lucky Allison was available." She skimmed her hand down over his arm, before slipping her hand into his. "Are you all right? You look a little... ill."

"I'm not overly fond of this building," he replied, giving her hand a squeeze.

"I'm sure if Dr. Banner is here, he won't Hulk out on you again," she teased, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"Funny," he replied dryly. "I'm glad my suffering provides you with some entertainment."

"Oh, that's not true and you know it, Loki. I'm the one who took care of you after the pounding, remember? I introduced you to Advil."

"And childproof caps."

He said it with a smile and she hugged his arm against her. "What cologne are you wearing? You smell delish," she said, pushing up onto her tiptoes to sniff him.

"The Bulgari. Blue? Green? One of them. The one you gave me for Christmas last year."

"Aqua."

"That one."

She bit back a sigh. Not only did he smell wonderful, but he looked even better, dressed in his jeans and black Henley. It'd taken him a while to get used to how jeans fit, and once he did, he practically lived in them. She wished she could hug the original Levi Strauss and thank him for his jeans. No man on earth could even come close to looking as good in Levis as Loki did.

The elevator drew to a smooth stop and the doors slid open into Tony's amazing penthouse. McKenna had been there several times over the last three years, and it never failed to dazzle her just how much chrome, steel, glass, and leather one man could use to decorate his apartment.

Stark's girlfriend, Pepper Potts, came striding toward them, tucking a lock of strawberry blonde hair behind one ear. "McKenna, Loki, please tell me you couldn't find a sitter. Tony said you might have to bring Selig with you."

"Sorry, Pepper," McKenna replied, holding up her hands. "We have an awesome sitter, so Selig is tucked away in bed, as he should be, instead of being spoiled by everyone here."

"Well, I suppose we'll just have to hope to see him next time." Pepper gestured for them to come into the living room, which looked more like a command center, considering the amount of computer equipment all around.

McKenna swallowed hard as Loki's hand pressed into the small of her back to urge her into the room. There, seated along a long, suede sofa, was the team known as the Avengers Initiative-Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Dr, Bruce Banner, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov, and Agent Phil Coulson, who served as their heartbeat. Pepper was not only Tony's girlfriend, but his right hand. Only McKenna didn't belong.

But that didn't stop her from forcing a smile to her lips as Tony Stark rose from the sofa and crossed over to them. He smiled, bending to brush her cheek with a kiss. "Good to see you, Beautiful. Still wasting time with Rock of Ages, I see."

"Funny," she said, glancing over at Loki, whose smile could only barely be called such. "How are you, Tony?"

"I'm good." He stepped back and his gaze dropped while his smile widened. "I guess I don't need to ask what you two have been up to. When's the big event?"

Loki's arm came around her waist, his hand resting on her hip. "February. Valentine's Day."

"Congratulations, big fella." Tony held out a hand. "I don't have a joy buzzer in my palm, you know."