Roused (Moon Claimed) by Lilou Roux Page A

suspected was a nice, firm ass hidden under faded denim. A small cut below the knee added a hint of youthful ruggedness, so did the bare feet. Erin nearly groaned. She loved men in bare feet, and was glad that most of them didn’t realize the effect it could have on a woman. But his most stunning feature was his face, especially his eyes. Strong, square jaw, dusted with stubble, and a mouth that some women would kill for to kiss. Framed by dark waves that were a little too long and made her traitor hands itch to get her fingers into it, his granite gray eyes stared straight at her, leaving her feeling naked and vulnerable.
    When she realized she was gawking, she struggled for her voice. “Are you Nathan Hawkins?” She was glad her always-hoarse voice sounded bad-ass and calm when she felt anything but.
    He leaned against the slightly opened door, one arm above his head. A casual but damn sensual pose of masculine grumpiness. She had probably woken him up. “No, I’m his brother.” Relief flooded her when she learned that the guy wasn’t her sister’s soon-to-be husband. “I’m Seth,” he added.
    Erin suppressed the pleasant shiver that his deep voice gruff with sleep incited. And that unwanted sensation recalled her spine to life. What the hell was wrong with her? She was here for her sister – nothing else! – and she made it known.
    “I’d like to see my sister.”
     

TWO
    The guy didn’t move, didn’t blink, just kept staring at her, an annoyed hardness slowly melting into the granite as he slipped out of sleep’s hold. “Your sister?”
    She wouldn’t squirm. “Yes, I believe I said as much.” Erin pushed past him, through the door, and called out, “Tess? Tess?”
    “Hey, hey. Calm down!” He grabbed her around the wrist to make her face him. “She isn’t around. No need to wake the dead, or our guests.”
    She felt like a child, chided and put into place. The worst thing was that he was right. As long as she didn’t know for sure what was going on with Tess she couldn’t start going around and ruining their business here.
    Never letting go of her wrist, he pulled her down the hallway, taking a few turns until they walked into the kitchen. Early morning light, a lovely rose gold, flooded through the windows. Erin just stared at the room while Seth moved towards the coffee maker. Big working island with a rack above it that had all sorts of copper pans and pots dangling from it. Pots with blooming flowers and herbs covered the sills and a part of the long counter top. They explained the delicious scent. Homey, yes that’s what it was.
    She mentally slapped herself. He still hadn’t told her about Tess. “If she’s not here, then where is she?”
    Seth ignored her, standing with his back to her while he busied himself preparing coffee. She cursed herself for noticing that she’d been right about his ass. Oh, and those muscles in his back, a rippling symphony as he moved about the kitchen.
    “Hey, I’m talking to you.”
    “No, you’re not. It sounds an awful lot like bitching and demanding to me, definitely not talking.”
    For a moment she was speechless. Men didn’t talk to her like that. She never let them. She was used to getting what she wanted, to being the dominant one. His way of making her feel like a petulant child really started to piss her off. Not to mention her body’s instant attraction to his.
    “Okay, Mr. Hawkins. How about you tell me where I can find Tess and I’ll leave you to whatever it is you do. Deal?”
    “No.”
    “Pardon?”
    “Sugar or cream?” When she didn’t answer as she was busy grinding her teeth to vent her frustration somehow, he turned around slightly, holding up a cup. “Sugar or cream?”
    “Black.”
    His back once more to her, he grunted, “Figured.”
    “Why won’t you tell me where my sister is?”
    “Oh, I will. But in my own time.” He moved to face her, handing her her cup of coffee, and then leaned against the counter.