Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
He took gentle hold of my wrist, stopping me, so I had to return my gaze to his.
“I’ve been meaning to come by your place, but I’ve been so busy setting up my construction business in Lewisburg, as well as getting Evan settled in school, that I just haven’t had a chance.”
I nodded again like a simpleton.
“From the outside, with the arch and all the cobblestone,” he said with a grin that lit up those eyes of his, “she’s a beauty.”
I cleared my throat. “Thank you.”
“When’s the best time to come so it’s not crazy busy?” he asked, running his thumb over the underside of my wrist, taking a step closer.
Oh, I was a big fan of confidence, of men who didn’t hesitate, who you didn’t have to guess whether they were interested or not. The way he was looking at me, the warmth of his gaze, how close he was, and his touch were doing wild things to my breathing, and I couldn’t quite get it to even out. My face felt hot as well.
It was insane. I was a living contradiction. Because I was older than the trees but could become utterly flustered by a gorgeous man giving me attention. Killing was easily done. The art of flirty banter was a whole other matter.
“I was thinking maybe I could come by and have a tofu burger or a bean burger, whatever it is,” he teased with a chuckle, “and talk to you while I eat.”
Really nice of him to keep the conversation going, since I didn’t seem to be able to get my voice to work at the moment.
“If that would be okay.”
I coughed softly. “That would be great.”
“At the moment, my brother and I, we’re in one of the cabins here on the property, but eventually I’m going to build a house for the two of us on the corner of the pack land, close to you. It’s prettier the farther up the hill you go.”
“Have you been on my land?”
“Yeah,” he husked, and I saw him swallow, releasing my wrist to move a piece of hair out of my eyes. “That area with all the birch trees is beautiful. I swear, though, with how dense it is, you could lose an elephant in there.”
I smiled at him. “Yes, you could.”
“Maybe we can take a hike together and you could show me around.”
“I would love to do that.”
“Good,” he said, almost under his breath.
It was my turn to say something. “You must enjoy spending time with your family.”
“My family?”
Shit. “I mean, living on the same land as your aunt and uncle, and your cousin.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry. I thought you meant Evan. I should’ve followed that, but you’re shorting out my brain just a bit.”
I was? He was the one turning me into an idiot.
“I’m back,” Justin announced, as though there should have been fanfare, slipping around the other side of me. “Now, Merritt, please do tell me what kind of—”
“It’s interesting,” Cole murmured, slipping a hand around the back of my neck, easing me closer to him. “What you said to Narah about your land being under a spell. Most people might be frightened by that.”
I cleared my throat. “My ancestors found it comforting, and so do I.”
“I would too.” His hand slipped down to the slope of my back. “This sweater is really thin. If you’re cold, I can run to my place and grab you a jacket.”
“Thank you, but I’m fine.”
“My brother was pretty freaked out when the rest of the guys with him just flopped down in the grass once they crossed the border of your land.”
“I’m sorry about that.” I cleared my throat again, trying to get my voice to work properly. “But I did warn Justin, Reggie, and Fletcher that hunting on my land wasn’t permitted.”
“Evan’s fine now that he understands what happened,” Cole assured me. “I think he was relieved, actually. He’s not a hunter.”
“And you are?”
“What’s happening right now?” Justin muttered.
“Oh no.” Cole grinned at me, his eyes glinting. “Hunting’s not something I have any interest in.”
“No thrill of the chase for you?”
“That is not what I said,” he replied, and his voice got low and silky. “Chasing something, catching a prize, keeping it…that interests me.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Justin rushed out, grabbing Cole’s bicep, wrenching him away from me, yanking him around to face him. “I told you about him. I said I was interested in seeing him and spending time with him and—”
“Watch yourself,” Cole warned him, grabbing hold of Justin’s wrist and peeling his fingers off his arm before shoving him a couple feet back. “You know better than that. You don’t put your hands on me. Ever.”
“Is that right?” Justin asked, baiting him, glaring at Cole.
“You know it is.” Cole’s voice was flat as he held his cousin’s stare.