Page 23 of Frost and Venom

She didn’t want to disappoint him, but she was already feeling too vulnerable and raw. Too many memories had surfaced, ones she’d tried hard to keep buried.

Wilder came closer to her, his palm at her neck again, heating her bare skin. “We’ll get us to a place where you believe I’ve earned your trust. For now, how about going for a walk? Rainier approved when I told him I’d be walking with you. He isn’t worried I’ll overdo it as long as I’m with you. That should tell you how much faith Rainier has in you. He thinks you can stop me from exceeding my limits.”

“Is that possible?”

His light green gaze held hers with burning intensity. “Absolutely, you could. Haven’t you figured out yet that you’re the only person I’m going to trust with my life?”

Once again, his statement had a ring of honesty to it. His question did as well.

“Why me?”

“You’re everything I ever wanted in a woman.” He was decisive as he took her hand and tugged her toward the door. “That little beagle of yours will be happy for a long walk.”

“What did you want?” She tried not to sound as suspicious as she felt. She was blessed with good looks. There was no denying that fact, but she didn’t want anyone to want her for her looks. Because she didn’t allow anyone to get close to her, to know her, she couldn’t imagine what he thought he saw in her.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Harlow. You’re the most beautiful, sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I thought you were beautiful when I first saw you, but it wasn’t until I spent time watching you that I realized you were the woman for me. Number one trait you have that is highest on my list—loyalty. You aren’t the kind of woman to ever betray your man.”

He held out his hand for the keys to her studio. She might not lock her house every time she went for a run, but she locked her studio. He carefully locked the door and handed her the keys.

“You don’t betray confidences. That is important to me. If I share my background, I wouldn’t want my woman confiding in anyone else, not even her friends. You wouldn’t do that,” he said with every confidence.

“Raine is beautiful and loyal and definitely would never betray a confidence,” she pointed out, determined not to let him make her a believer.

Misha dashed ahead as they took the path behind her studio toward the border of her property.

“Raine isn’t you. And I don’t poach on a brother’s territory. I prize loyalty, Harlow, so I would never be disloyal.”

She supposed that made sense. The truth was, she couldn’t help the warmth spreading through her at his very adamant statement that Raine wasn’t her. She loved Raine and thought she was beautiful and intelligent. She was loyal and absolutely would never betray a confidence. She was also very lost. Harlow was protective of her. Still, it felt good that Wilder chose her because, truthfully, Harlow had never really looked at anyone else.

“What do you mean you won’t poach on a brother’s territory?”

He tightened his grip around her hand and sent her a small grin. “Do you think I’d make a play for Stella, Vienna or Shabina?”

“No one in their right mind would make a play for any of those girls.”

The smile faded from his face, leaving those strong, chiseled lines. “We have a brotherhood. I only have a very small circle of friends, Harlow, and they mean the world to me. I wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt them. That includes going after their woman.”

“I understand because I feel the same way when it comes to my circle of friends. They’re family to me,” she agreed. “I have never understood when a sister sleeps with her sibling’s boyfriend. It seems such a terrible betrayal.”

She indicated the fence line they were approaching, hoping to move on to lighter topics. “This is the border of my property. My neighbor Helen McKay has a little mini ranch. She’s obsessed with animals.”

Chapter Six

“Helen has goats and these little donkeys that are so cute,” Harlow said as they walked slowly along the fence line. She matched her pace to Wilder’s, aware he was still weak. He didn’t seem to realize it, but she knew from her years of nursing that patients didn’t recover as quickly as they expected from surgery. The will was there, but human bodies weren’t made to take the shock of multiple stab wounds or bullets no matter how fit the person was.

She tugged at her hand. She didn’t hold hands with men. She just plain didn’t hold hands. She wasn’t certain why she put her hand in his and walked close to him. Instead of relinquishing his hold, Wilder tightened his fingers around hers, curled her wrist, and brought her hand to his chest as they strolled along the fence line.

She didn’t want Wilder to walk too far. The outdoor terrain was uneven. There was a trail but no pavement. Grass and small rocks covered the ground. Ground squirrels made holes in the soil. Not just ground squirrels, but quite a few other animals. It would be easy for him to step into a hole and hurt himself.

“You were telling me about your neighbor,” he prompted.

She sent him a small, genuinely amused smile. “You’re reading my mind again and want me to forget all about your safety.”

He gave an exaggerated groan. “Woman, I’m trying to impress you. The last thing I want is for you to think I’m going to fall on my face.”

“How is it you know what I’m thinking all the time? You claim it’s because I don’t have a poker face, but I’m beginning to think you really can read thoughts.”

“If only I could read your mind. I think I’d discover how you really feel about me.”