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A devious smirk spreads across my lips.
“Um … can you come inside for a second?” she asks.
Narrowing my eyes, I put down the wooden bowl I was working on and stalk toward her.
Her eyes widen slightly as I tower above her, and for some reason, they linger on my chest.
Is she … checking me out?
Her face turns red, and she immediately spins on her heels and marches back inside, pointing at the table.
When I follow her gaze, I notice the whole array of berries and … leaves on the table. I make a face.
“What is this?”
She pats the seat and grabs a bowl and chucks in some of the leaves and berries. “C’mon.”
Is this some kind of trap?
Still, I do as she asks, thinking it might make her easier to deal with. If it bores me, I’ll just take what I want anyway. I stare at the leaves and the berries in front of me as she does too. What is this supposed to mean?
“Well?” she asks.
I raise a brow. “What?”
“Eat.”
I frown. “This?” I laugh. “This is not food.”
Without a smile in sight, she leans back, folding her arms. “Really?”
I nod firmly. These are plants. They’re for other animals, not for humans.
“You can eat this. Trust me.” She picks up one of the leaves and puts it in her mouth, chewing it. “Tastes fine to me.” She shoves the bowl closer to me and adds, “Try it.”
“No.” I shove it back again.
“Why not?” She shoves it closer again.
I get up from the seat, open the box in the kitchen, and take out some jerky. I take a big bite and show it to her. “This is food.”
She sticks out her tongue. “Ew …”
“Why don’t you eat meat?” I ask.
“I’m a pescatarian,” she says, sighing.
“A what?”
She sniggers but hides the smile from me with her arms.
Goddamn … she actually smiled for the first time since she came here.
And it’s beautiful … but she’s hiding it from me, and I don’t like that one bit.
“What are you laughing at?” I ask.
“You,” she says.
I frown. “Thanks.”
“You can eat berries and leaves, you know. Humans aren’t carnivores. They’re omnivores.”
“Yeah …” I have no idea what she’s saying right now, but whatever. I don’t like grass. I like meat.
“It means you can eat a lot of things. More than just meat.”
“Nope,” I say, and I sit down with my jerky instead.
I’ve eaten enough green stuff in my past, and I never liked it. Not one bit.
“Fine.” She sighs again as she sits down in front of me and pulls the bowl toward her, eating her leaves and berries instead.
Why doesn’t she want my jerky? And why is she trying to feed me leaves and berries?
When I thought she might start cooking for me, I didn’t picture this.
Still, when I watch her eat the berries with glee, I can’t help but smile. She does really like that stuff. I wish I could share the enthusiasm, but deep down, I’m a meat man only.
However, there’s still that sadness in her eyes that won’t go away. I wonder if it’s because of the people who died in that metal bird thing, or if it’s because she’s stuck here on this island … with me.
I clear my throat and say, “Tell me why you’re here.”
Her eyes perk up, and she stops eating entirely. “Here? This hut?”
“The island.”
She swallows down the food and puts down the berries, licking her lips. “Research. I’m a wildlife biologist.”
“A what?”
She chuckles, and it’s the cutest sound I’ve heard in a long while. “Someone who studies wild animals and plants in their natural habitat.”
“Oh …”
Her brow rises. “Oh, what?”
I’m surprised she actually had a reason. I thought this island was a safe place, away from the people, but apparently not. They even come here, to this remote island, just for … studying. Whatever.
She shouldn’t have come.
The jungle can be dangerous for fragile women like her.
She probably wouldn’t survive a day out there without the comfort of this hut.
I gaze up at her from underneath my lashes. “This island isn’t good for people like you.”
“Why not?” She folds her arms. “I can take care of myself. I know how to survive. How to adapt.”
She doesn’t understand … She didn’t grow up the way I did.
Didn’t fight her way through people just to be fed.
Didn’t have to live in a cage for years on end.
Didn’t have to survive—her entire fucking life.
This place is my home, but it’s not always as pretty as it looks.
“This place … it’s dangerous.”
“So?” She shrugs. “I can handle it.”
I doubt that, but I like her tenacity. That alone deserves some points.
I wonder how she’d do with a spear in her hands. Probably not that well.
Of course, I’d be more than willing to let her handle my private spear … but I don’t think she’d be so eager.
