Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Her lashes fluttered slowly, confusion clouding her stormy-blue orbs for half a second before awareness snapped into place.
She jerked upright with a sharp inhale, her slim limbs tangling in the blanket as she scrambled back against the door. Her gaze darted wildly, taking in the fogged windows, the gray morning light, and me.
I took another step back and pitched my voice just loud enough for her to hear me through the window. “It’s okay. I’m not here to hurt you.”
Her chest rose and fell too fast as she dragged a hand through her hair. Color crept into her cheeks as she stared at me.
She was clearly wary, but she didn’t scream. Instead, she slowly opened the car door, remaining inside as she blurted, “Sorry, I didn’t realize anyone would be around. This was just for the night. I’ll leave now.”
Without the foggy windows between us, she looked younger than I’d expected. Too sweet to be sleeping in her car on the edge of a construction site after a storm.
Dark circles smudged the pale skin beneath her eyes, exhaustion etched into every line of her posture, but there was steel there too. A kind of quiet determination that impressed me.
My cougar surged at the sight of her like this, every instinct screaming to pull her against me, to wrap her up in my warmth and keep her there. Where she belonged.
“I’m Garner.” I kept my distance, my hands loose at my sides.
Her grip tightened on the blanket as she studied me. “I’m Elodie.”
“This is my construction site, so I can promise you that you’re not in trouble. You didn’t do anything wrong.” I kept my tone steady and my distance intact. “But this isn’t a safe place to stay.”
Her shoulders eased a fraction, though she stayed where she was, half sheltered by the open car door.
All I wanted was to prove she could trust me. “After last night’s storm, there’s damage I haven’t finished assessing yet. Fallen trees and unstable ground.”
Her fingers curled around the edge of the blanket. “I was going to leave as soon as it got light.”
“I believe you.” I took a breath, choosing my next words carefully. “But another storm is moving in this morning. Heavier than the last one. You’re welcome to come back to my cabin until the rain passes. It’s about a half-hour drive from here.”
Her eyes widened slightly. Still wary but not closed off.
“I have an extra room,” I added quickly. “And my neighbors’ women can vouch for me.”
Her brow furrowed. “Women?”
I couldn’t call them what they truly were—mates. She’d find out soon enough, but now wasn’t the time.
“Wives,” I corrected smoothly. “Their cabins are close enough that they could easily pop over to introduce themselves.”
She studied my face, searching for any sign of deceit. I gave her none.
“If you’d rather move on, I can point you toward safer places to park.”
It killed me to make the offer, but I’d continue to watch over her no matter where she went.
Elodie was mine.
She just didn’t know it yet.
And I’d follow her anywhere to make sure she was protected.
3
ELODIE
Istood there with my blanket clutched tightly around me, trying not to stare at Garner and failing miserably.
Not that any woman would blame me. He was tall and broad-shouldered, built in a way that suggested real strength instead of gym hours. His jacket hung open over a fitted shirt, and his arms were thick with muscle, the kind earned through manual labor. His pale-blond hair looked even lighter against his tanned skin.
But his eyes captured me the most. They were a deep amber-gold, and when they met mine, something in my chest tightened in a way I didn’t understand. It felt like recognition, except that made no sense since I’d never seen him before in my life.
I forced myself to focus instead of focusing on the fact that I was feeling desire for the first time. “Your cabin is about thirty minutes away?”
He nodded. “Roughly.”
I hesitated, swallowing the lump in my throat before I admitted, “I don’t think I can make it that far.”
His brow furrowed with concern. “Why?”
“My gas light’s been on since I left town.” I winced. “I was planning to stop first thing this morning.”
Garner didn’t get judgmental at all. He just replied, “That’s easy enough to fix.”
I blinked. “It is?”
“I have a gas can in my truck. When you work in such a remote area, it’s better to be prepared,” he explained. “Enough to get you there safely.”
Relief hit me so hard that my knees went weak. “Thanks. I don’t want to leave my car here.”
“I’ll grab the gas can from my truck,” he offered. “It’ll only take ten minutes to jog over to where I parked.”
I studied him for another moment, weighing the instinct to trust him against common sense. I wasn’t sure why but walking away felt wrong. “I can drive you to it instead.”