“Heard of that? That people have their own will and mind, and might not jump at your every command.”
“You’re the most arrogant ass I’ve ever come across.”
“Pot, take it from your dear friend kettle, you are black.” Seth laughed softly as he blew over his coffee, a wicked sparkle in his eyes that tugged at her more than she liked. “Anyway, I guess you just didn’t meet the right men seeing how bossy you are. I’m honored to remedy that.”
Once again Erin was speechless. It was a record for her. As a writer words came easily to her and were certainly never something she had to struggle for. Apparently that was before she met Seth Hawkins.
He continued, always watching her in a way that made her feel he saw too much. “I take it you’re Erin Wright. Tess’ sister who obviously skipped the lesson on basic manners. Nice to meet you by the way.”
Dammit! Erin had to struggle to keep herself in control. That man was infuriating and that he was right didn’t help matters at all. Fighting for her cool calm she stepped forward, holding out her hand. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m Erin Wright and I’m worried about my sister.”
He took her hand in his. Strong fingers closing around her s, making her treacherous body shiver. “Sounds like the opening line for a self-help group session. But hey, they say admission is the first step towards recovery.”
Calm breaths. Slow, nice and easy. Calm breaths.
Oh, f uck calm.
“Where the hell is my sister?” Before he could start on another play on her words she demanded, “If she’s not here, where can I find her?”
The twinkle in his eyes told her he found this and her utterly amusing. “In the forest.”
“ What? Why?”
“Probably to do what they really like to do.” Erin shot him a warning glance. She wouldn’t ask again. “Fucking each other’s brains out.” His silver eyes heated and his voice dropped dangerously low. “Under the open sky.”
His tone, those words, was all it took for her to ima gine herself with him under the sky. Naked, under the moon. It was so clear and vivid in her mind she had to swallow and wet her suddenly dry lips. With all her might she grasped the last bit of calm and cool she could find within her and shrugged as if unmoved although she was anything but that, “Fascinating, really, but if you’ll excuse me I don’t have time for this. I really need to see my sister.”
Turning on her heels Erin was about to walk out of the kitchen when a woman came rushing in, bumping into her.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” they both exclaimed in unison as they grabbed each other’s elbows to steady themselves.
The older woman started to laugh, loud and clear like the rich promise of spring, and rubbed Erin’s arm. “Don’t worry, honey. I’m made of sterner stuff. A fresh breeze like you is always welcome but won’t knock me down yet. I’m Joanne Hawkins by the way.”
THREE
So this was Joanne, Erin thought.
The woman in front of her was quite curvy, in a very sexy and yet also comfy way, and looked to be in her late forties, though she was probably older than that - it was in her eyes but not in the lines surrounding them. Short brown hair framed a face glowing with friendliness and highlighted by clear green eyes sparkling with love of life. Tess had described her as a bullet of positive energy and Erin could only agree. The woman radiated it with every smile and twinkle in her eyes. Erin immediately wanted to like her but knew she had to keep a cool head until she had talked to Tess. Tess was her priority and until she wasn’t sure her sister was alright, she would be on her guard.
She offered her hand. “Erin Wright. Nice to meet you.”
From behind her Seth’s deep voice rumbled mockingly, “Oh, so suddenly you got your manners back?”
“Tess’s Erin?”
Erin smiled at that. “The one.”
She wouldn’t have thought it possible but Joanne gaze warmed even more and her smile spread to
“You’re the most arrogant ass I’ve ever come across.”
“Pot, take it from your dear friend kettle, you are black.” Seth laughed softly as he blew over his coffee, a wicked sparkle in his eyes that tugged at her more than she liked. “Anyway, I guess you just didn’t meet the right men seeing how bossy you are. I’m honored to remedy that.”
Once again Erin was speechless. It was a record for her. As a writer words came easily to her and were certainly never something she had to struggle for. Apparently that was before she met Seth Hawkins.
He continued, always watching her in a way that made her feel he saw too much. “I take it you’re Erin Wright. Tess’ sister who obviously skipped the lesson on basic manners. Nice to meet you by the way.”
Dammit! Erin had to struggle to keep herself in control. That man was infuriating and that he was right didn’t help matters at all. Fighting for her cool calm she stepped forward, holding out her hand. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m Erin Wright and I’m worried about my sister.”
He took her hand in his. Strong fingers closing around her s, making her treacherous body shiver. “Sounds like the opening line for a self-help group session. But hey, they say admission is the first step towards recovery.”
Calm breaths. Slow, nice and easy. Calm breaths.
Oh, f uck calm.
“Where the hell is my sister?” Before he could start on another play on her words she demanded, “If she’s not here, where can I find her?”
The twinkle in his eyes told her he found this and her utterly amusing. “In the forest.”
“ What? Why?”
“Probably to do what they really like to do.” Erin shot him a warning glance. She wouldn’t ask again. “Fucking each other’s brains out.” His silver eyes heated and his voice dropped dangerously low. “Under the open sky.”
His tone, those words, was all it took for her to ima gine herself with him under the sky. Naked, under the moon. It was so clear and vivid in her mind she had to swallow and wet her suddenly dry lips. With all her might she grasped the last bit of calm and cool she could find within her and shrugged as if unmoved although she was anything but that, “Fascinating, really, but if you’ll excuse me I don’t have time for this. I really need to see my sister.”
Turning on her heels Erin was about to walk out of the kitchen when a woman came rushing in, bumping into her.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” they both exclaimed in unison as they grabbed each other’s elbows to steady themselves.
The older woman started to laugh, loud and clear like the rich promise of spring, and rubbed Erin’s arm. “Don’t worry, honey. I’m made of sterner stuff. A fresh breeze like you is always welcome but won’t knock me down yet. I’m Joanne Hawkins by the way.”
THREE
So this was Joanne, Erin thought.
The woman in front of her was quite curvy, in a very sexy and yet also comfy way, and looked to be in her late forties, though she was probably older than that - it was in her eyes but not in the lines surrounding them. Short brown hair framed a face glowing with friendliness and highlighted by clear green eyes sparkling with love of life. Tess had described her as a bullet of positive energy and Erin could only agree. The woman radiated it with every smile and twinkle in her eyes. Erin immediately wanted to like her but knew she had to keep a cool head until she had talked to Tess. Tess was her priority and until she wasn’t sure her sister was alright, she would be on her guard.
She offered her hand. “Erin Wright. Nice to meet you.”
From behind her Seth’s deep voice rumbled mockingly, “Oh, so suddenly you got your manners back?”
“Tess’s Erin?”
Erin smiled at that. “The one.”
She wouldn’t have thought it possible but Joanne gaze warmed even more and her smile spread to
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