Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
I furrow my brow. “It’ll help you, but what about me?”
When I walk back into the kitchen, Birdie on my heels, Mara is using a corkscrew to open the wine. I scoff.
“Thought you didn’t know where it was.”
“Foolish mortal. I always know. And I have an emergency corkscrew in the island just in case Suki moves this one on me.”
“Bullshit.”
Arching a brow, she sets it down, opens one of the drawers in the island, and pulls out another corkscrew.
I nod, impressed. “Your commitment to intoxication is impressive.”
“God, you’re annoying.” She glares at me. “I’m not the lush you make me out to be.”
“Sometimes you are. But I’m not judging. I’ve made an asshole out of myself while drunk before, too. Like one time I walked into a bathroom while a pretty woman was showering and now she hates me.”
A smile dances on her lips as she says, “Get over here and make it look like you like me.”
She holds up her phone, opening the camera and angling it for a selfie.
“We should kiss,” I say. “That would convince them.”
She clears her throat. “Just put your arm around me. I’ll lean in.”
I’m a lot bigger than her, so when she leans in toward my chest, my arm wraps all the way around to her stomach. I hold her close, not missing her intake of breath.
She’s soft and warm, and I think she hates me less than she did yesterday. Her closeness makes me aware of my pounding heart. I’ve always found her very attractive, but I really do find her sharpness to be a turnoff.
Tell that to my dick, though. It goes from stiff to fully hard as she moves her long, dark hair in front of one of her shoulders, exposing her neck to me.
Her scent is light and citrusy, and I can’t help drawing her in a little closer so I can smell it better.
“Ready?” There’s a smile in her voice.
I smile and she leans her face against mine, her hair soft against my jawline. I have to remind myself that it’s Mara, the queen of mean.
“Got it.”
She steps away from me, turning her phone screen to show me the photo.
“Damn.” I arch my brows. “That’s convincing.”
She pours herself a glass of wine and grabs a taco, taking both with her when she takes Darling and the dogs out to the backyard.
I stand at the island and eat several tacos, spending the entire time thinking about how addicted I could get to a softer version of Mara. When her claws are retracted, she’s breathtaking.
But most of the time, she’s prickly and downright hostile to me. This has to be a fluke I caused with the steak tacos, wine, and brownies.
Tomorrow she’ll be back to hating me.
Chapter Six
Mara
* * *
“Did you guys hook up?” Suki’s expression is half-shocked, half-thrilled.
“God, no. I told you it was a prank.”
She practically flew into the house after Carter pulled their giant SUV into the garage. The two of us are alone in a main-floor half bathroom, her carry-on bag still clutched in one hand.
“I don’t understand. Why were you even here?”
“Well, it’s kind of a long story, but you asked me to check on your plants.”
She nods. “Yeah, but that probably took like five minutes.”
“My Darling!” Young Hallie’s exuberant greeting for her pet makes me smile.
“Come here, Noods. Aw, you’re a good boy.” That’s Charlotte, the middle girl.
“The trip was good?” I ask Suki.
She lowers her brow in a look of confusion. “It was great, but I want to know how you ended up cozied up to Leo and not only were neither of you bleeding from a knife wound, you were both smiling.”
That interaction a couple nights ago was pretty much the end of the camaraderie between me and Leo. I was so exhausted after dinner that I crashed in the guest room until I had to get up for work the next morning.
Leo slept in the living room with the animals, and I wasn’t much help that night. Darling wasn’t sick anymore, though, so it was easier than the night before.
I didn’t need to come back over once things were smoother, but Leo texted me earlier today and asked if I could take over for him for the final two hours before Carter and Suki got back. That’s why I’m here now.
“Darling is fine.” Once she finds out their pet pig was sick, Suki’s going to freak out, so I open with the good news. “But he did eat part of your aloe plant and it made him sick.”
“What?” Her brow crinkles with worry.
“He’s fine. Leo asked the team doctor to come look at him. But there was one long night of diarrhea and vomiting, plus a puppy and a new dog to take care of, so I stayed to help.”
She balks at that. “You stayed here? All night? With Leo?”