Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
None of this made sense. “I’d be happy to talk to the king and Vero.” She could study the market and create a good presentation. Maybe they could open an Etsy store. Or one of their own using one of the many online shopping portals. Her gaze caught on Maeve, who looked lovely in a green gown with her hair piled on her head in an intricate braid. “I’m sure your mate has protected you, but I don’t know that’s the case for everyone. Excuse me.” She moved through the crowd to reach the couple. “Good evening.”
“Evening,” Ralstad said for them both.
Then Vero stood next to her, grasping her arm. A warmth started in her chest and flowed through her entire body. She had to keep her heart out of this. “Oh, hi. Vero, you’ve met Ralstad and Maeve, have you not?”
“I have,” Vero said, nodding at Ralstad before half bowing to Maeve. “Thank you for joining us here at the main headquarters.”
“It seemed like the safest thing to do,” Ralstad said.
Lyrica forced a smile. “I wanted to speak with Maeve about having a girls’ weekend, maybe somewhere in Seattle where we could all go shopping.”
“No,” Ralstad said.
Maeve placed her hand gently on her mate’s sleeve.
“I didn’t ask you,” Lyrica said. “I asked Maeve.”
Maeve’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “Ah, well, I’m grateful for the kind offer, but I’ll have to pass.”
“Excuse us.” Vero guided her toward the dance floor.
Tingles exploded up her arm, and her abdomen performed a slow roll that heated and flashed warmth through her body. Just from the strength in his hand around hers. Even so, she’d been in the middle of a discussion, and she didn’t appreciate the high-handedness. “What in the world do you think you’re doing?”
“We’re going to dance. Kurjans love dancing, which is a closely guarded secret.” He signaled the male managing the music and instantly a slow song came across the many speakers. His arm banded around her waist and he tugged her close, his hand still around hers.
She temporarily lost her voice when pulled against his heated, rock-hard body. Think. She had to concentrate. “You see what’s going on there?”
“I saw you interfering.”
Irritation heated her to her ears. “That’s what I’m talking about. Maeve has every right to do what she wants. She doesn’t have to ask her mate’s permission.”
“Perhaps they have a contract that says otherwise,” Vero said, his tone reasonable.
Lyrica tried to remain stiff against his overwhelming heat, but her body fought her. He towered over her, forcing her to tilt her head to meet his gaze. She’d never been small and had always been a curvy girl, but he made her feel petite and oddly safe.
Amusement danced in his blue eyes, but still, no smile.
She gathered her thoughts. “If they did enter into a contract, it was in the eighteen hundreds when women didn’t have rights. I think there’s something wrong with their relationship.”
“Define what you mean by using the word ‘wrong.’” Vero swayed her easily to the music.
She hadn’t figured he’d be so graceful on the dance floor. In fact, all the Kurjans had surprised her. They were shockingly good at many different styles. Lyrica looked over to see Genevieve and Lukas kissing next to them.
Vero caught her gaze, reached out, and smacked Lukas on top of the head.
“Hey,” the kid protested, stepping back.
“Knock it off,” Vero muttered.
Flushing, Lukas turned back to hold Genevieve not quite so close.
Lyrica bit back a smile. Now, that was funny. “This seems like a good party,” she murmured. “I would like to speak with Maeve alone again. Could you arrange that for me?”
“You’ve already spoken to her twice, counting tonight.”
“I know, but I read feelings of nervousness from her.” Lyrica tried to gauge the crowd one person at a time, opening herself up. Several rushes of emotion hit her instantly, and she gasped.
“Stop it,” Vero said, looking down at her.
She blinked. His eyes were so blue. “Stop what?”
“You know what you’re doing. Knock it off. There are too many people here for you to try to read.”
She blinked several times. “How did you know?”
“I can feel it,” he said, lifting one shoulder. “You send out an energy signal. And if I could feel it, I assume other people can too.”
Yet another facet to her gift she hadn’t realized. Why hadn’t she trusted her own instincts that she had abilities and learned to develop them long before now? “How do I stop transmitting?”
“You just need to work on it. You’re fairly new to using this power, right?”
“Yes,” she said. Her skin felt sensitized and her breasts felt heavy. Needy. Even her nipples sharpened against her plain white bra. To ignore her aching body, she focused her empathic attention directly on Maeve. Could she read the woman’s emotions from across the entire room?