AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What would he tell them? Why do they care about me?”
I take her hand to keep her from bolting. “Because I care about you. Relax. They will be annoying and embarrassing, but mostly to me. You are safe.”
“Morris is bringing coffee and cake in five minutes if we promise to stay out of the kitchen,” Finn says as he carries a chair from the dining room across the lawn to the lighted patio where an intimate dinner for two is about to be ruined.
Behind Finn are my other four brothers, each carrying a chair.
“Maybe I should go,” Britta whispers.
“Not on our account.” Silas sniffs the air. “Sorry. I’m a wolf, Miss Daniels. Whispering doesn’t really work around here.”
One by one, they put down their chairs in a circle around the table for two and introduce themselves to Britta.
It’s not easy to see them touch her hand. I want to kill Silas when he holds it a beat too long. However, I love the way she sits up straighter as if she refuses to be cowed by monsters of any kind. Shrugging, I say, “You wanted a story, this should at least give you some content. Though I have no idea if it will be usable.”
Silas straddles his chair and leans his arms on the back. He stares at Britta for a long minute. “You’re very beautiful.” The surprised tone ruins the compliment.
“Thank you?” She looks from me back to Silas. His hair has grown out in the last month. He’s also grown a beard. “You said you’re a wolf? You look like a man to me.”
“I generally only change on the full moon, but I’ll be happy to demonstrate if you’d like.” Silas grins and looks every bit the big bad wolf.
Noah, Griffin, and I all say “no” in unison.
I keep my focus on Britta who waits for some clue as to how to continue. I say, “Silas’s wolf would ruin whatever’s left of a nice dinner.”
“I can control myself.” Silas can’t keep a straight face when he says it.
On Britta’s other side, Finn clears his throat. “I understand you’re writing a news article?”
“It’s why I came here.” Somehow her noncommittal response makes me happy.
Griffin grumbles. “What will you say? I met six monsters.” He points to me, Declan, Silas, Finn, Noah, and himself itemizing us. “A vampire, the grim reaper, a wolf shifter who offered to shift for me, a dragon shifter, the very rare phoenix shifter, and a demon.” His eyes roll full black. “Who do you think will believe you?”
I’m not sure what I expected, but not for her to burst out laughing. “When you say it like that, it seems ridiculous.” She calms and grows serious. “I don’t know what I’ll write, but I will write something.” She gives me an apologetic look.
Morris arrives, carrying a large tray with cut pieces of chocolate cake and a large carafe of coffee. “Perhaps you should remember your manners and stop interrogating Miss Daniels. She came here to have a nice dinner with Oliver, not to be berated with insipid questions from the five of you.”
Noah takes a piece of cake. “Morris is right. Forgive us, Miss Daniels. We’re merely curious and perhaps a bit protective. If Oliver trusts you enough to disclose his nature to you, we will have to believe you are worthy of that trust.”
The conversation turns to polite banter and a few embarrassing stories about me as a child learning to hunt.
Britta seems intrigued by my brothers. I can practically see her mind working to figure each one of them out.
After two hours, I offer her my hand and walk her to her car. “I regret that my brothers’ arrival may alter your decision to go back to the inn or stay here with me tonight.”
ChapterEleven
Britta
Ilean against my Jeep with the man I want more than I’ve ever wanted anything. My sensible mind tells me to get behind the wheel and drive until I’m home in a city full of people I don’t care about. The real me knows that’s not what I’m going to do. “You’re right that I wouldn’t feel comfortable staying here tonight.”
He presses his forehead to mine, closes his eyes, and runs his hands up and down my arms. “Honestly, I don’t blame you.”
Here in the warmth of a New York summer night, it feels as if we’re in our own little world. I can almost forget my job and his family. It’s as if it’s just the two of us. “Come back to the hotel with me.”
Oliver stills. “I have very good hearing, but will you say that again, sweetheart?”
“I’m inviting you back to my place in hopes you’ll stay the night, Oliver.” I really have lost my mind and more.
