White Raven by J.L. Weil Read Free Book Online

lightly bumped her shoulder against mine. “Let me give you a word of advice. That one leaves scars. Stare too long at that one and you’ll get burned.”
    If I was being honest, a chance to see him was the entire reason I’d come. And wowzer. He was mind-bendingly gorgeous. “Do you speak from personal experience?” My head felt like it was floating in the clouds.
    Zoe giggled. “Zane? Not exactly.”
    “Does he have a girlfriend?” I wanted to hit my head on the wall as soon as those words left my mouth. God, I was acting a little too desperate. What was wrong with me? It was like I’d never seen a guy before. What a way to make a first impression, Pipe.
    If Zoe thought I was odd, she didn’t show it. “Not that I know of. But he doesn’t always tell me. Brothers tend to suck that way.”
    Didn’t I know it?
    Wait. What?
    I choked.
    My face flamed ten different shades of red. Her brother? Oh God. I had more or less admitted I had the hots for her brother. “I’m so embarrassed.”
    She laughed lightly. “You shouldn’t be. I’m used to it. He has that effect on the female population, but then he opens his mouth and poof, the drool-factor is shattered. I’m warning you, Zane is a prickly bastard.”
    I didn’t know if I should thank her or hide my head in the nearest sand hole. “Duly noted.” It wasn’t like I had come here looking for a spring fling, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t have a little fun. Warnings kind of rolled off me like water off a duck’s back.
    Zoe waved at a girl with perfect auburn ringlets. “Come on. Let me introduce you to everyone.”
    Why not? I mean, how much more could I humiliate myself in one day?

 
    Chapter 5
     
    Moving closer to the roaring fire, I was hyper aware of Zane. I could feel his eyes on me, but I kept mine averted, knowing I would probably stumble and face-plant in the sand. Lord knows what he already thought of me. It was my mission to erase any preconceived notions that might be swirling in that head of his, because there seemed to be a lot of assumptions about Rose’s granddaughter.
    No doubt, they had me all wrong.
    Zoe rattled off names while we weaved in and out, but it was the small group around Zane that I would remember, and not because they were all incredibly good-looking, which they were, but because they were all family.
    “Did you bring in another stray, Zoe?” The light-hearted timber belonged to a dark-haired cutie. He was as breathtaking as Zane, but there was a playfulness in his aqua eyes that Zane lacked.
    “This bonehead is Zach. My twin,” Zoe informed me.
    “Twin?” I looked between the two of them measuring their features. It was obvious by their coloring they were related. Same midnight hair and aquamarine eyes, a stunning contrast.
    “Trust me. It’s not as cool as it sounds,” Zach said teasingly. “Just wait. Zoe drives everyone around her crazy.”
    She pinched Zach, rolling her eyes. “Don’t listen to him.” A mischievous glint lit her eyes.
    I froze.
    Her smile brightened. “This brooding eye-candy is Zane, my slightly older brother.”
    I coughed, trying not to let my cheeks turn a cherry red. I was going to kill her later, if I didn’t die from mortification by the end of the night.
    Our eyes engaged. Before this moment, I wondered if seeing him would bring forth those tingles of interest and lust. It was strange. I’d never had such a sharp reaction to anyone. My heart caught in my throat, a mess of emotions slamming into me, turning like the tides.
    Well, I guess that answered my question. Hell yes, seeing him brought a mess of emotions, and I thought for sure my knees were going to buckle.
    The color of his eyes was mesmerizing, reminding me of a frozen cavern. Hues of crystal blue refracted from the firelight. I wouldn’t have been surprised if there was drool dripping from the side of my mouth. He looked edible, even in just jeans and a T-shirt.
    “We sort of met.” He was frowning, but the