Beast Untamed: Beasts of Bodmin Moor, Book 3 by Faye Avalon Read Free Book Online

you to know I can do the neighborly thing now and again.”
    The glint in his eyes alerted her to the fact she was being teased, so she did what was expected and huffed. “You’re right. It does surprise me.”
    “I don’t spend all my time screwing women and then unceremoniously dumping them. Well, at least the second part of that’s true.”
    “It’s not your fault you like women. Some men are made that way. I get that. My only issue with you last night was because you used me in your unceremonious dumping of Caroline. Like I told you, I consider her a friend, or at least an acquaintance. You’ve probably driven a wedge between us.”
    “I get that. The whole sisterhood thing. And maybe I was out of line.”
    “Maybe?”
    “That’s as close to an apology as you’ll get.”
    “Then I’d better quit while I’m ahead and accept it.” About to turn away, Erin caught the flicker across his mouth. “Something funny?”
    “Just that you manage to make an apology acceptance sound both appeasing and condescending at the same time. It’s a skill.”
    She hadn’t meant it to sound that way, but she wasn’t going to apologize either. She was never again going to apologize to a man for being who she was. “Well, it wasn’t exactly an apology, so you didn’t exactly get an acceptance.”
    Now he laughed. Full out and hearty. Hell. He even managed to make a laugh sound masculine and appealing and bloody sexy.
    Serious again, he waited at the light, his fingers tapping on the wheel. “So, you’ve been in Bodmin for a couple of months. What brought you here?”
    It was a simple enough question, one she’d been asked several times since she’d arrived. She had a simple answer. “Research. I’m interested in rare plants.”
    He didn’t need to know that she intended to sign up for a degree course when she finally got settled somewhere. The less information she gave away, the safer she would be.
    He looked down at the bunch of daffodils poking out of her grocery bag. “For what? The look of them? Medicinal purposes?”
    “All of the above. But mostly their transmigratory patterns.”
    He glanced at her, raised his eyebrows. “If you say so.”
    “Where they originated from,” she explained. “Where they manage to end up. That sort of thing.”
    “Got it.”
    “You can turn right here just past the lamppost. I’m the fifth cottage along, by the privet hedge.”
    He pulled up outside, and Erin popped her seat belt. She had a moment of panic when he did the same. He reached back for her shopping bags. “There’s no need. They’re not heavy or anything.”
    “I’m doing that neighborly thing, remember?”
    Since he was already stepping out of the vehicle with her bags in his hands, she had no option but to lead him up to the front door. “Thanks, I’ve got them now.”
    He didn’t release them but nodded toward the lock indicating she should use the key she currently gripped in her hand. Turning the key, she heard Willa’s excited yip from behind the door.
    Remembering how Willa had reacted last night to Caleb, she thought it best to warn Nathan. Not for his sake, but for Willa’s. She didn’t want her worried or upset again. “My dog can be a bit nervous of strangers.”
    “Always best to size people up.”
    “No, I mean…” Her gaze fell to the shirt beneath the leather jacket he wore. “You’ve still got dust on your shirt. Some of it has transferred to your jacket.”
    He looked down, saw the dust, and met her gaze again. “What are you? OCD, or something?”
    “Maybe. I’m the type who itches to pick a stray hair off someone’s coat, or straighten their lapels and collars.”
    He eyed her for long moments, then raised his eyebrows. “Knock yourself out.”
    Was he kidding? No way was she about to go anywhere near him. It had been bad enough sitting close to him while he drove her home. His presence had almost overpowered her, and there had been times she’d found it hard to catch