Chapter 3
GOLDIE
The incredibly handsome man’s growl reminds me of my empty stomach.
“I don’t want to be a pain,” I say, my cheeks warming from my embarrassment, “but do you have anything to eat? I was just about to do my best Bear Grylls impersonation and eat sticks when I saw your cabin.”
Kieran’s mood shifts from anger over my situation to amused affection. His crooked grin is downright dangerous to my mental well-being.
“Of course, sweetness,” he purrs. “Is there anything you don’t eat?”
I can’t help but grin back. “Bugs and sticks, thanks to you.”
His chuckle wraps around my ovaries and tugs insistently. I’m in so much trouble. Surreptitiously, I check for a ring on his finger.
Phew. Nothing. No gold band or tan line. And he did only mention brothers.
Wait, there are more of him? Hubba hubba.
I shake my head like I can dispel the lecherous thoughts and follow him to the kitchen. When I notice his backside is as gorgeous as the front, I give up the ghost. I’m just going to have to keep a straight face while I perv over him.
Kieran looks a bit older than me, but not by too much.
Maybe early thirties. His hair is brown with hints of red and sandy blond, and his eyes are a gorgeous deep honey color.
He’s a lot taller than I am, though that’s not hard to achieve since I’m a pocket princess.
He’s also fit and muscular without being bulky or overtrained.
Both the jeans hugging his firm ass and I agree he’s just perfect.
“Does porridge work then?” he asks, pulling me out of my reverie. He must have caught me ogling him, because his pleasant grin turns a little bit wicked.
“Porridge sounds amazing, thank you,” I say breathily, like some sixties movie starlet. “Oh!” I exclaim, remembering I didn’t come here alone. “Bonnie’s outside, and she must be hungry as well. You wouldn’t happen to have some oats for her too, would you?”
Kieran frowns and looks at the window. “Bonnie is… your daughter?” he asks, scratching his head just under his floppy manbun.
I giggle at the presumption and my poor communication skills. “Almost! She’s my beloved horse.”
“I see.” He makes an exaggerated whew gesture. “I was worried for a second you left a toddler outside. Wolves know better than to go near our cabin, but you never know.”
My eyes bug out. “There are wolves in this forest?”
“Oh yeah.” He grins, showing his even, white teeth. “And bears.”
I shudder, wrapping his blanket around me tighter. “I’m glad I didn’t run into any.”
“Sure,” Kieran drawls. “Adrian and Marcus should be back soon, and we’ll take care of both of you girls.”
Am I blushing? Why am I blushing?
“Are those your brothers?” I ask as I watch him slowly stir oats into the pot on the stove.
“Near enough to be,” he answers casually. “Adrian’s parents adopted me when I lost mine, and they were always tight with Marcus’ family, so we all grew up as siblings even though we’re not related by blood.”
“I’m sorry about your parents,” I murmur, looking at the floor. My parents are cold and calculating, but they had their moments. Maybe now that Father saw Thomas aim a gun at Bonnie and me, he won’t insist I marry him anymore.
“Thanks, sweetness. It was a long time ago,” Kieran replies with a sad smile. “Anyway, Adrian and Marcus’s jobs take them out into the woods daily. I’m more of an indoorsie guy. Except when it comes to my garden, that is.”
“What is it that you guys do?” I ask curiously, sliding into one of the barstools lining the kitchen island.
“I’m the resident nerd,” he says with a self-deprecating smile. “I work with computers. Adrian’s a logger, and Marcus is in charge of the rangers for the national park.”
“That’s so cool,” I breathe, watching him ladle porridge into a bowl for me. “Is that why you all live out here? So they can be close to their jobs?”
“Ah,” Kieran says quietly. “That’s a story for another day. Why don’t you see if I managed to make this right first, then we’ll take Bonnie to the stables and take care of her if my brothers aren’t back yet to help.”
“You have a stable?” I blurt out as he sets the steaming bowl and a spoon in front of me. I didn’t see any. But then again, I didn’t see a garden either, and Kieran mentioned working in one.
“Yeah, it’s out back. You must’ve approached from the front, then?”
I nod, blowing on a spoonful, eager to eat, but unwilling to burn the roof of my mouth. That blows. Pun intended.
When I take the first bite, cinnamon and honey explode over my taste buds, making me groan in pleasure.
“So good,” I practically moan, quickly scooping up more and blowing on it.
When Kieran doesn’t reply, I look up to see him staring at me with single-minded focus. His pupils are blown wide, making his friendly eyes look darker, more… animal.
“You like it, baby?” he asks in a whisper, leaning over the marble countertop, narrowing the space between us on the kitchen island until he’s close enough for me to count his freckles.
“I…”
I’m interrupted by a deep, bellowing voice, sounding so suddenly that I hop up in my seat and drop the spoonful of porridge back into the bowl with a wet plop.
“Kieran?” the voice booms from the direction of the front door. “Whose horse is that outside? Who’s here?”
Oh no. That doesn’t sound welcoming at all.