Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
When Mal opened the front door of his house, he seemed so fucking relieved to see me that it was almost comical.
“You’re early,” he said, not sounding upset about it as he stepped back to let me enter.
“Please tell me you aren’t the one cooking,” I said, walking past him and into the foyer.
“No, I just hired a new cook,” he replied, then glanced nervously in the direction of where the great room was located. “Gwen just brought out appetizers though.”
“Gwen?”
“The cook,” he explained. “Gathe and Locke have both eaten some, but she’s not even glanced at it, other than to say, ‘No thank you,’ when Locke offered her some.”
I’d seen Gathe’s truck outside. Locke must have ridden with him. Seemed the whole fucking family was here.
I walked toward the great room, wishing like hell I could do this alone. See her for the first time since she’d left. Ask her why. Not have an audience. But that wasn’t happening, and she needed to eat. She needed me. She shouldn’t have left me.
My strides lengthened the closer I got with the promise of soaking her in. Seeing that she was okay. Just being near her. I ignored the others in the room as I entered, my gaze locking in on her immediately. She was at the opposite end of the sofa, sitting straight, her hands in her lap, looking so goddamn beautiful that it wasn’t fair.
Her head turned, and her eyes went wide when they met mine. So, Mal hadn’t told her I was coming. I smiled at her and watched as the sadness in those ocean eyes faded and brightened with…happiness. Fucking hell. That wasn’t helping. How was I supposed to leave this house and not take her with me like a damn caveman?
“Thought I’d stop by and see how the newest member of the Bowen family is settling in,” I said with a smile. “And eat their food.”
“I invited Luther to dinner,” Mal informed the room.
Why he hadn’t told them before I got here I didn’t know, but whatever. I was here. With her.
Not bothering to even pretend like I was here for any other reason but to see Lace, I went over and sat down beside her, then turned my head to look at her.
“How’s life, Ocean Eyes?” I asked, lowering my voice because I wished like fuck we were alone.
She blinked and swallowed, then licked her lips. The cut now completely gone and no sign of her injury. “It’s okay,” she whispered.
I gave her a mock frown. “Just okay? Is Mal not making it magical here?”
A small laugh escaped her, and the way it made her eyes twinkle had my hands itching to grab her and toss her over my shoulder and leave. Damn this woman for making me a psycho.
“It’s nice,” she corrected herself. “He’s been great.”
I was sure he’d busted his ass to make her love it here. The fact that she didn’t made my inner beast pound his chest. I wasn’t here. She needed me.
Knowing we were being watched by all three of the Bowen men, I leaned back and sighed dramatically. “I get it. You can’t say it, but not everyone can be as magical as I am. It’s fine. The truth hurts, but Mal is a big boy. He can take it.”
Looking over at the large round coffee table, I surveyed the array of appetizers. First issue was, that was a male-oriented menu. Too much fried shit and cheese. Mal couldn’t expect her to dive in and start eating like that. I’d deal with him later.
“Help yourself,” Gathe said. “Dad got a new cook. So far, she’s made some delicious shit.”
I stood up and got a plate, then took a loaded potato skin, two hot wings, and some Tex-Mex-looking dip with chips before going back to my spot beside Lace. Her eyes were watching me warily, as if she knew I was going to ask her to eat something. I winked at her as I sat down, and her expression softened.
Leaning closer to her, I held the plate in front of me. “You’re gonna eat something for me, sugar. I miss watching you chew.”
I picked up the potato skin and turned to look at her, holding it. “I’ll give it a taste test first. Gathe will eat anything. His opinion can’t be trusted.”
Her lips quirked as she watched me take a bite. It was good. I nodded my head.
“Yeah, you’ll like this. Give it a try,” I told her as I held it to her lips.
She kept her eyes on me as she opened her mouth. I didn’t force her to take a big bite but a sufficient one. When she was chewing, she kept watching me.
“That’s good, sugar. You did real good. Now, take another one for me. Please,” I said, knowing she liked the praise.