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In just a minute.
“You’re a very strange pack.” I say without thinking. I instantly wince and wait for the explosion.
He chuckles. “We are. We’d be the first to admit it, too.”
I relax beside him and finish my drink. There’s no reason for me to stay, but I find myself lingering, wanting to prie words from this quiet giant of a man, just one more minute of not being alone.
“Jet wants you to come to dinner tomorrow.”
I frown. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It’s lonely up here. We’re used to having people around. It would be nice to see someone different.”
There’s a hesitation in the words there, like they are all the words he wants to say, but he’s picked them carefully.
“Gold won’t agree with this.” I point out.
“He will.” Acton says calmly. With certainty.
I entertain the idea for a moment and then shake it off and away. How preposterous. His hand slides onto my wrist. I snap my eyes to the spot, my skin heating, my heart racing. I can’t look away from where his thumb rubs over my pulse.
“Are you scared right now?” He murmurs quietly. “Your heart’s racing.”
I shake my head, stupefied by the question.
He stands up abruptly, letting his hand slide off my wrist. I stand up, too. We are chest to chest, barely a hand’s width between us. I inhale and find my eyes drifting closed as coffee wraps around me, pulling me close. Gran always had pots of coffee on. Home. Safety. That’s what I associate with that scent. And now Acton, too.
There’s such a calm, comforting energy that rolls off him. He’s the mirror smooth surface of the ocean. Powerful and deep.
His fingers tilt my chin up, and I gasp at the touch. I stare up at him, caught in the powerful need and want that’s twisting me up inside.
“Come to dinner.” A demand.
“I, I, I…” I fight to say the word ‘can’t’, but it’s locked in my throat. I hold his gaze and feel myself start to burn. What’s the harm? It’s one dinner. Do it, get it over with, and never see them again. Be a good neighbour. “Okay.”
He smiles, and I choke. That’s one helluva punch he’s got in his grin. Panty-melting. Ovary-exploding. I stumble back, almost falling over the stool before I can get myself together.
“I have to go. Bed. I need to sleep.” I mutter stupidly and dart past him.
I think I hear him chuckle, but I can’t be certain.
I curse myself long into the night. I should stand him up, lock myself in my house, take another path. But instead, in the cold morning, I wait at the hill until Barren appears. Jet smiles and waves. I can’t escape Pack Knight, and I’m not entirely sure I want to.
“Morning, Scarlet.”
“Morning.”
Barren sidles over to me and peers down. I glance up and freeze. There’s a smokey confidence in his eyes that wasn’t there yesterday but somehow looks right on him.
“I brought coffee.”
“Ah, good. Shall we?”
He shakes his head and makes a small noise. I instantly look up at him, searching his face for what’s caused this distress.
“I’m sore from yesterday. Do you mind if we walk?”
I frown but fall into step with his slower pace. The words sound…practiced. Jet falls behind us, and I glance back at him. I feel like I’m missing something here.
