S. Yule - Lycan Contempt

Oh. Was that al? A psychic vision? Good Lord.

He must think she was a freak show or something for that statement.

“What makes you say that?”

He said it in a way that made her feel as if he knew exactly what made her say that, which added more strangeness to the situation.

“I think I dreamed of you last night.”

“I think I’m flattered.”

“You are?” she said.

She couldn’t imagine a man such as he would be flattered that she’d dreamed about him. After al, her little sneak peek of him with her fingers told her that he was one hel of a yummy man, and she, after al, was nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, she probably was a bit too curvy for a man like him. If the rest of his body matched his chest and shoulders—and she’d bet it did—she doubted he had trouble getting whatever woman he wanted. That included the tal, thin, model types who ate a grape for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

She was not that type of girl. She liked her sweets and a juicy steak now and then. She didn’t go crazy with food, but she didn’t deprive herself. When she was depressed or sad—which wasn’t often—she wasn’t opposed to putting a candy bar or two down to soothe her nerves. She had nothing against tal, thin women. She simply would never be one.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be flattered by a beautiful woman dreaming of me?”

Heat rushed to her cheeks. She was blushing like a schoolgirl talking to her crush. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d blushed, and he made her do so with ease. She had to fight back a nervous giggle. Jeez. Cool the hormones already.

“Thank you. You aren’t bad yourself.”

He snorted.

“What?”

“I don’t think you can make that type of judgment with the information you have.”

“I have enough.” She grinned at his playful banter.

Yet her stomach knotted and a whip of flame shot low and settled in her bely. Something in his voice drew her to him, something she couldn’t quite place.

“How is it that your boyfriends left you stranded up here al alone?”

His finger slid under her chin and tilted it up as if she could look into his face. This was one of those instances when she yearned for her vision.

“They aren’t my boyfriends. They are my best friends. In fact, they are boyfriends.”

This was the second time he’d referred to Henry and Joey as her boyfriends. If she was naive, she’d swear he sounded jealous. But why would he be? He had only just met her. He wouldn’t care if she had a boyfriend or not.

“Then there won’t be a problem if I do this.”

Or would he?

He cupped her neck and started puling her slowly to him. He was going to kiss her. She was going to let him. Hel, she wanted him to, but before his lips could touch hers, a loud crash ripped a screech from her throat.

“What was that?” she asked.

“Not sure. I’l go check.”

She paced until he returned a few moments later.

“Wel?”

“A tree fel from the weight of the snow, which by itself wouldn’t be such a bad thing.”

“But?”

“It fel on your generator. It’s toast. Worse. Part of it fel on your roof and ripped a hole in it.”

She’d been so frightened by the commotion, she hadn’t noticed the fridge had gone silent again.

Seemed a lot of things were going unnoticed by her since she’d met Kish.

“Oh no. What am I going to do now?”

“The only thing you can do. Get your things together and I’l take you to my place.”

“I can’t. If Henry and Joey show up and I’m not here, they’l be sick with worry.”

“They aren’t showing up anytime soon. If this snow doesn’t let up, I’d be wiling to bet it wil be at least three days before you see your friends again.”

“They must be going nuts. I haven’t been able to get a signal on my cel to cal them.”

“Look, you can leave them a note. I have a landline at my house. Unless the phone lines are down, you can cal them from there. If they don’t answer, we can try the grocery store where I saw them.”

The thought of making sure Henry and Joey were okay was appealing. Being in a warm, dry house with someone who was wiling to help her instead of being alone was also appealing.

“Do you have food?”

He chuckled. “Lots of it.”

“How can I turn an offer like that down?”

“You can’t. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Um. No.” She shook her head. “I can get my things packed, but would you mind carrying them out for me?”

“Not at al.”

She bent and patted Lucy, who was trembling. She had been shaken up from the faling tree as wel. “I’m sorry, Lucy. You’re going to have to get your foot wet again.”

“No, she won’t. I’l carry her to Baby.”

“Baby?”

“My truck.”

“Oh. I see,” she said, tamping down the sudden urge to giggle.

“Don’t judge a man by his fondness for his truck.

She’s special.”

“I’d never do such a thing.” She fought the smile back that tugged at the corner of her lips. “I’l be back in a couple minutes.”

“Take your time.”

Lucy folowed her to her room and waited while she packed. She barely got into the living room when Kish took her bag from her. She jumped, startled by his closeness. “How do you keep sneaking up on me like that? No one has ever been able to do that.”

“I’m talented that way,” he said.

“Mm hm.” She suspected he was talented in other ways too.

For crying out loud. She was lusting after him again. What was wrong with her? What’s wrong with me? How about I haven’t been with a man for ages, and suddenly, I’m stuck in the woods, alone with a freaking GQ model. Can you say horny? Yep. That was playing it smart. Getting hot under the colar for a strange man in the middle of nowhere instead of being on guard like most normal women would be under the same circumstances.

Other than the first initial reservations she’d had about trusting him when he’d first shown up—of which reservations had quickly melted away—she found that she was comfortable with Kish. It felt as if she’d known him for years. But again, maybe her attraction to him was causing her to turn a blind eye to the situation. Heh. Blind eye. Nice one, Georgia.

“Wait here while I take your bag out.”

“Lucy’s bag of food is by the door too.”

“Got it.”

She found a piece of paper and pencil in the coffee table drawer and scribbled a note to Henry and Joey.

Just as she placed the note on the kitchen counter, an engine roared to life. Must be Kish firing up Baby.

She smiled again. Baby. Men and their vehicles.

Within moments, Kish was back.

“Wil Lucy be okay with me carrying her to the truck?” Kish asked.

“Yes.”

Georgia bent down to pat Lucy. “Lucy, let Kish help you out to the truck. I’l be right behind you.”

“I’ve got you, girl.”

Georgia got on her coat and zipped it up then fished a glove from each pocket and put them on.

She folowed Kish outside and puled the door shut behind her.

“Wait on the porch.”

“But—”

“I’l take Lucy to the truck and I’l be back to help you. The snow is over three feet deep. It wil be hard for someone of your size to maneuver around in it.”

“Someone of my size?”

“Yes. Petite.”

Petite? She’d never had a man cal her that before.

Actualy, if she thought about it, not many men had paid her compliments at al because most men avoided dating a blind girl like the plague. And petite was a compliment to her. She liked it, and she liked the way Kish made her feel. Good grief, Georgia.

He’s only being nice. It isn’t as if he’s trying to hop into the sack with you.