AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jet clears his throat and hands me a mug. Unlike Gold, Jet is wearing a pair of shorts and nothing else. The sheer expanse of golden flesh is distracting, mesmerising. I want to run my fingers over his skin, explore with my tongue. He’s got freckles, I note as I stare at his shoulders. A second later, I remember where I am and tear my gaze away. I force myself to smile gratefully and take a sip, returning to staring at the windows, it’s safer. Jet smirks and hip bumps me.
I glance at him, and his smile pulls out one of my own.
“Nice, huh?”
I laugh. The audacity of this man. “Very nice.”
“Anytime you need to look at something pretty to cheer you up, let me know.”
I roll my eyes and sip my coffee, the weight of my conversation with Gold slides away in Jet’s indomitable aura. I feel centered again. He should bottle that and sell it.
“What are you thinking?”
“I just laid new wood on the porch. How ruined will it be? Does the roof leak? Have I lost my worldly belongings?” Distract, distract, distract.
I almost bite my tongue when I realise what I’ve just said. His eyes say he caught my slip. I wait for him to call me on it.
“We can help you replace them.” Jet shrugs and moves close. “What matters is that you're safe.”
“How did Gran survive up here?” I change the subject to safer topics.
“She stayed in town.”
“Oh. I didn’t know that.” Well, now I just feel dumb. Of course, she did.
Jet shrugs. “I like to know the history of places, and people find it easy to talk to me. I know your gran was one of the smartest women around. Strongest, too. She’s missed by many people.”
I close my eyes. “I should have come home sooner.”
“Why didn’t you?”
I shrug one shoulder carelessly. “I felt responsible for bringing in money and taking care of the pack. It would just be one more job, one more, one more. Until years had passed.”
“What’s it going to be like when you go back?”
I turn the cup in my hands and take another sip. “I’m not going back.” Damn it! What is it about Jet that makes me forget the things I need to keep secret?
Jet frowns. I can see all the questions, but I smile at him and step back.
“This is my home. This is where I belong. This town, this forest. I’m not going back. Let’s just leave it at that for now.”
He opens his mouth to argue and then shakes his head and smiles easily. “You’re a woman of mystery. I respect that.”
I chuckle. “Not mystery. Just like my privacy.”
“Do you?” He asks seriously, tilting his head to the side. “I can’t see it.”
“See what?”
“You enjoying being alone? After all, you haven’t met your people yet, have you?” He clucks his tongue. “Anyway, that’s not why I’m here.”
“Oh, it’s not?” I feel apprehension tighten my shoulders.
“No. What are you doing today?”
“Working.” I answer promptly and evasively.
“Wrong answer, gorgeous girl.”
