Chapter 10 #2
I picked up the glass of water in front of me and took a sip. When I didn’t answer right away, he pinned me with his full stare. I continued to play with my fork and contemplate my empty plate.
“Rebecca.” It came out more as a growl. And somehow, that made the sound of my name on his lips even more problematic. Because I felt the reverberation of it deep inside my chest before it made its way down to my core, tightening every muscle in my body.
“Are you purposefully not answering me?”
“You live alone because you don’t want people talking to you, so…”
“Fucking hell,” he muttered. “It was not my intention to offend you.”
“Well, it kinda stung.”
He rotated to fully face me. When I didn’t look at him, his hand shot out, grabbed the base of my barstool, and rotated it ninety degrees until I had no choice but to stare straight at him. Into his beautiful, scarred face.
“My people skills are…”
“A little rusty?”
“Something tells me I’ll get plenty of practice while you’re here.”
I wanted to make a crude joke. That there were other things we could practice, too. Instead, I pressed my lips together.
He must have read my thoughts anyway because I noticed the way his eyes—well, the one that wasn’t damaged—dilated. He cleared his throat. “Not that kind of practice.”
“I can’t possibly know what you mean.” I smiled sweetly.
“What time?”
“I need to be on campus by eight. The bunnies take about an hour of my time in the morning. Normally, I’m able to slip home a few times throughout the day to care for them. But…”
“They need that much work?”
I scoffed. “Depends on who you ask.”
“Got it.” He stood, grabbed my plate and his, then stopped at the sink to wash them.
I followed him over. He tried to shoo me off but I stood there, insistent, until he sighed. Without saying a word, he motioned to the stack of dishtowels. Then he set about washing the remaining dishes while I dried. It took some navigating to figure out where everything went.
I kind of liked that he didn’t micromanage my efforts. Didn’t tell me where the plates belonged. Or where the utensils were stored. It allowed me to be a little nosey, opening and closing cabinets and drawers.
When we were done, he said, “Follow me.”
“Okay…?”
We went down the hallway with his bedroom. There was a small mudroom off to the left I hadn’t noticed before. He glanced at me, frowned, then pulled a closet door open revealing a collection of winter coats. He grabbed one and held it open for me.
My lips parted and I just stood there, staring.
He gave the coat a little shake. “It’s forty degrees outside.”
My little sweater was perfect for the warm late September afternoons but…
“Fine.” I stepped forward and let him put it on me. It smelled like him and I had to consciously not lift the collar to sniff it. He then grabbed a large torch flashlight and handed it over to me, then led us outside. “Keep the light on the ground,” he advised. “Follow me.”
“Is this the part where you lead me into the forest and kill me?”
He let out a gruff sound. “Wouldn’t have given you my jacket, lass.” His accent came out a little stronger.
I pulled the collar more tightly around me. “Can’t wolves, like, see in the dark?”
“We can. The flashlight is for your benefit.”
I hummed, following behind him, careful to keep the pool of light close to my feet. We were on a path. When he stopped, I crashed into his back. “Oof. Sorry.”
“Here.” He stepped up to a door I hadn’t noticed thanks to his giant form blocking everything out.
I looked up and my jaw dropped. “Oh my freaking—”
He stepped inside and flicked a switch, illuminating a series of lights stranded along the top of the most spectacular glass greenhouse I’d ever seen. I stood in the doorway, gaping.
The smell of damp soil and humidity surrounded us. The windows were coated in moisture.
I caught Axel studying my face. His own was shockingly open, and there was pleasure there. Was he proud of this space? Pleased by my reaction? Perhaps both?
“This is… Axel. Wow.” I stepped inside, quickly closing the door to keep in the heat. “The vegetables we had for dinner—?”
“Grew them myself.” His voice sounded gruffer, his accent more dominant.
“You are just full of surprises,” I admitted. How many layers did this wolf have?
“Set the flashlight there,” he ordered, motioning to a shelf beside the door. “Come. I’ll show you.”
Then, before I could protest, he grabbed my hand and led me down row after row of planters.
I tried to ignore the feel of his firm skin against mine.
The warmth—because he was significantly warmer.
I realized he was speaking and pulled my focus away from how his skin felt against mine, how it sent butterflies beating against the walls of my stomach.
His voice was animated as he pointed out herbs and vegetables.
Fruits. Unique flowers. There were even a few small trees. It was incredible.
“This is a Meyer Lemon dwarf. Good for the mountain climate even though it’s in the greenhouse. Took six years to get it this size.”
I stared at the tree, no taller than he was. At the way it had been perfectly manicured. At the abundance of lemons growing on its branches. “The lemon sauce.”
“From this tree.”
“Wow that… You’re a bit of a botanist aren’t you?” It was evident in the way he had so perfectly cultivated everything.
A slight flush brightened his cheeks and I could only stare. Because… That was a first. It faded quickly but my satisfaction didn’t. I’d made this gruff wolf blush.
Suddenly, I was thinking of ways I might do it again.
“Anyway, I brought you here because you mentioned the little snacks, that they needed greens. Of which I have plenty.”
And there went my fucking heart.