Loving an Ugly Beast by Danielle Monsch Read Free Book Online Page B

the words out there because they’re true and I think you should hear them.”
    “And they would be?”
    Marie stood up, stretching her arms above her head and then lowering them to cradle her enormous stomach. “Benton is not going to be happy to meet you, and an unhappy Benton can be a little scary sometimes. Be careful when he returns.”
    “From what I’ve heard, no one expects Benton to return.”
    “Oh, he’ll be back.”
    “How can you be so sure?”
    She looked him in the eyes and threw down the proverbial gauntlet. “Because he would never willingly leave her. Wherever Nissa is, that’s where Benton will be.”
    “Are you going to push Nissa away from me so she’ll still be available for Benton?” That was a possibility he hadn’t foreseen, and with the way his luck had been lately, it seemed more than possible.
    But she surprised him by shaking her head. “Benton had his chance and didn’t take it. If you have the balls to go after what you want, well, it will be a nice change.”
    Ouch .
    Marie nodded to his drink. “On the house today. Good luck.”

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    As empty as the tavern was, it would have been very easy for the group of women to sit anywhere except where they eventually settled, which was the table right next to his.
    He had never seen so much hair flipping in his life as Benton, but this was an everyday occurrence for Byron.
    Nissa was supposed to return today, and only the thought of seeing her after missing her yesterday kept him seated around the squealing females.
    The door opened, but hope was dashed as Councilor Hale walked in. Hale walked over to the giggling group of ladies, saying, “Ladies, a pleasure to see you out today. How are you enjoying yourselves?”
    Tara smiled up at the man. “It has been an excellent day. Byron has been entertaining us and keeping us out of trouble.”
    Hale looked over at Byron, and then turned back to the women. From this angle, the sardonic twist of Hale’s lips was evident to Byron. “Well, when a man has no real obligations, he must learn some skill to pass the time.”
    The women twittered. Byron’s hand tightened around his glass, but his smile and tone were easy when he answered Hale. “Nonsense. Spending time with such lovely ladies is nothing as low as passing the time. I would call it more a true calling.”
    The laughter from the women this time was lower, more seductive, and Tara gave him a flirtatious look beneath her eyelashes. With a nod to the women and a last glance at Hale, Benton went to the bar.
    “He’s being an ignorant ass.”
    Nissa’s voice sounded behind him. He was almost getting used to being constantly surprised, but she was a very welcome one. He turned to face her. She was a little paler than usual, but no other visible sign of the upset of two days ago marked her. Her attitude was back to the easy friendliness that marked the first days of his arrival, but minus the undercurrent of nerves that he only now – when she wasn’t displaying them – realized existed. He leaned back and let his elbows rest against the bar, projecting nonchalance to put her at ease. “Who?”
    “Hale.” Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, which emphasized her sharp, pointed features. “As sad as it sounds, he was once considered the best catch of the village. Now that you’re here, his star has plummeted. He’s not happy about that.”
    “Was he courting any of the women in particular?” Not that he cared about the answer. His only desire was to keep Nissa talking.
    “He wasn’t interested in courting as much as testing out the merchandise. He is very much enjoying his widower-hood.” She leaned closer to him and said in a confidential tone, “In my opinion, he should be a little more concerned about fatherhood. His son is growing a little wild. He needs a mother.”
    Nathaniel, the same boy who frightened Nissa on the path. “Are you having a hard time teaching the boy?”
    She sighed and