Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Someone clears their throat. I look up to find Tiernan grinning, Diego blank-faced, and Barrow scratching his head.
I pull away from Clover, though it’s no easy task, especially when I see the dazed look in her eyes, her lips already swollen from the intensity of my kiss.
“Is it just me, or does this mountain man keep pawing at Clover?” Bells puts a palm to the bump on her forehead. “Or maybe I’m hallucinating.”
“It’s real.” Aurora claps. “And I’m here for it!”
Clover blushes and sits back down. As much as I want to pull her into my arms again, that bump on her friend’s head isn’t getting any better.
“Ladies, welcome to the lodge.” I open my door and jump down, then walk around and open Clover’s door.
She puts her hand in mine, trust written all over her, and I help her to the garage floor. Then I open the back doors and assist Aurora and then Bells. The latter is unsteady on her feet.
“Barrow,” I bark.
He hurries over, takes one look at Bells, then whistles. “That’s some knock you got up there.”
I make quick introductions as my men approach. “These ladies wrecked out on the highway, thanks to Leonard. I found them right before the storm hit. This is Aurora.” I point to the pixie-like one. “And this is Bells.” I should introduce Clover, but I find myself pulling her behind me. Because maybe they don’t need to look at her, or know her, or say anything to her.
“And you are?” Tiernan quirks a grin at Clover despite my efforts.
“Clover,” she says warmly.
Too warmly. If she’s warm, I want it to be for me, not the assholes I’ve taken in over the past couple of years.
“I’m going to need a better look at that.” Barrow steps forward, and Bells gives him a long, skeptical look.
“Barrow’s got medic training. You’ll be in good hands,” I assure her.
“I’ll go with you,” Clover and Aurora both pipe up at once.
Barrow reaches up and brushes Bells’ dark, curly hair from her forehead. “Yeah, if you don’t have a concussion I’ll be shocked. Come on. I have some remedies for the pain.” When his fingers stray into her hair, tangling in the curls, he swallows hard. “You need a quiet, dark place.” He casts a glance at her friends. “I need to observe her without interruption.”
I can’t believe what I’m seeing. He strokes her hair again, pretending to push it away from the lump, but I know Barrow too well. He’s enjoying the feel of her. Bells’ eyes get a little heavy-lidded—and I don’t think it’s from the knock in the head.
“Go ahead and take her up to your room, but let us know if you need anything.”
“Come on.” Barrow steps to her and wraps his arm around her waist.
Bells starts to protest, but then sags against him, finally giving in to the pain.
“If you hurt her, I will end you.” Clover’s voice is strong with her pronouncement. Damn, she’s got heart, and I stare at her again like she’s the missing piece of my life-long puzzle.
“Me too,” Aurora adds.
“I can hold my own,” Bells says as Barrow sweeps her past us, his focus entirely on the woman at his side.
Aurora snickers softly. “Did you see the way she was looking at him? I think she’s more than happy to hold her own with that guy. Alone, if you know what I mean.”
Clover laughs, then turns back to me. “You promise he’s going to treat her right? And fix her up?”
“She’s in good hands.” I reach out and cup her warm cheek, my hands unable to maintain any sort of boundaries. “I promise.”
She leans into my touch. “All right. That’s all I needed.”
I want to take her to my part of the lodge, to give her everything she needs, but I’ve also promised to look out for Aurora.
She goes around to the back of the truck and starts pulling on one of the bags. “I can get the stuff,” she chirps.
“I’ll help.” Clover starts heading toward her when Diego comes around the side of the truck.
He doesn’t touch her, but she takes the hint and backs away. With a few easy moves, he’s unloaded what little of their gear we were able to lug to my truck.
“Thanks.” She smiles at him.
Diego just nods. She steps closer. “I’m Aurora.”
He doesn’t look her in the eye. Diego doesn’t talk much, and he bears the scars of a life of violence. We all do. Each one of us is a retired assassin or merc, except for Tiernan, who had his hands in all sorts of mafia dealings before faking his own death. We’re tainted goods. It’d be wise of me to keep that in mind, but the more I look at the pretty-eyed angel next to me, the more I want to dirty her up.