Yep, a very dangerous situation that couldn’t go any further. Yet even though I told myself that all over again, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
She nursed her beer, trying to act as if my presence wasn’t bothering her. “I hope you’re hungry. I have steaks. But I will ask another favor. I mean if you don’t mind.”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“I haven’t used the grill yet. I guess my father finally bought a new one. I can diagnose a case of parvo a mile away but can’t figure out how to light a grill. Do you think… I mean if you don’t mind helping and…” She laughed. “This is ridiculous. Do you mind firing up the grill for me?”
The woman was so unabashed, so entirely different than I was used to that I found myself willing to do just about anything.
“How about I cook the steaks for us?”
“That would be fantastic,” she said, breathing a sigh of relief. Even her lower lip quivered. Damn, every little action drew my attention.
“How do you like them cooked?”
Her expression changed, becoming sultry like I’d seen before. “Rare. Blood rare.”
Well, shit. A woman after my own heart.
Now I was in trouble.
CHAPTER 6
Viper
“A sanctuary, huh?” I asked when the conversation had moved to uncomfortable silence.
Grace nodded, lifting her wine in another contemplative moment. “I have the vision in my mind, even a few ideas on paper. It’s all about money.”
“Did I hear a lamb or a goat or something when we were outside before?”
“Question. Where did you grow up?”
“Why does that matter?” When I bristled, every muscle tensing, she narrowed her eyes. “Colorado, but where I grew up, we didn’t have an opportunity to be around animals much.”
“Oh, well, you heard right. I have three sheep and two goats, four chickens and a pain in the ass rooster I adore.” When she talked about any animal, other than referring to direct abuse, her face lit up.
“A regular menagerie.”
“All by accident, except for Thor and Ellie May. She’s my little rock.” She glanced over her shoulder, sighing heavily as she did.
The time spent had been a huge surprise. “If anybody can make a dream like yours come true, you will. You’re determined and very smart.”
“You mean I’m hardheaded and a pain in the ass.” When I didn’t answer right away, she burst into laughter. “Don’t worry. I know I am.”
I raked my hand across my forehead, whistling when I did. “Thank God for that.”
“Oh, you’re a brutal man,” she purred, her smile fading a few seconds later. “Why Viper?”
The question was one I’d been able to tell Grace was dying to ask me. She didn’t mince words any more than I did. I considered her caustic mouth just another special trait, but I bet she managed to get herself into all kinds of trouble.
The kind of trouble this boy didn’t need to submerge himself in.
I leaned against the porch column, noticing how pretty she looked in the silhouette of the bright moon. With the light breeze whipping wisps of hair against her face and the way she was crouched over as if cold but refused to put on a jacket, it was impossible to drag my attention away.
What the hell. Why not tell her the truth?
“Because I’m a sharpshooter. Or I was another lifetime ago.”
