Page 21 of Beauty and the Beastmaster

It would be too simple, to get involved with her and then end the relationship in an ugly way. Would skittish Gabi load up her car and run? There were no guarantees, but it was likely. The plan was almost too simple, and so many things could go wrong.

What did he have to lose? With a mere fifteen days until the equinox the breakup would have to be fast, ugly, and preferably public. That might be enough to make her run.

It wasn’t a terrible plan, but he couldn’t make himself do it. Getting her out of town before the spell was cast was one thing, but purposely hurting a perfectly nice woman hoping she’d flee was downright mean.

Amnesia punch. A “free vacation” offer. What the hell was he supposed to do?

As he pulled up next to Clint’s truck, Marnie turned to him. “I do have a question, and I’m not sure how to ask it.”

“Whatever it is, fire away.”

Marnie hesitated, then blurted, “Clint warned me that being pregnant with, you know, there would be odd side-effects. I’ve handled them all ok until now, but this latest one…” She shook her head. “Normally I’d ask my hairdresser, but since Gabi is a Non-Springer, I can’t.”

“Spit it out.”

She did. “I have hair growing on my back,” she said quickly. “Clint says it won’t last, that it’ll fall out on its own in a couple of months, but… ewww. No woman wants a hairy back!”

It would not be smart to laugh. “You can shave it, but the hair will just grow back thicker. Leave it alone. This particular symptom will resolve itself eventually.”

Marnie wasn’t pleased with his answer. “I guess this is the price I pay for falling in love with a Bigfoot shifter.”

“I guess it is.”

She left his truck with a distracted wave. Clint had come to the front door and was waiting for her. She ran to him, a big smile on her face.

He should’ve told Marnie to have Clint call him when he finished the book. Almost there, she said. Maybe tonight. Clint needed to know what was going on. Silas needed someone to talk this out with. Someone besides Jenna or a Milhouse.

He tried not to be jealous as he drove away. Not that Marnie was his type. She most definitely was not. But what she and Clint had found was special. He didn’t expect anyone would ever love him that much, or that he could love that much in return. It cost too much, to love that way.

When he reached the end of the dirt road, he had a choice to make. It didn’t take him long to make it. Within a couple of minutes he was pulling into Gabi’s driveway again. The living room lights were still on, and so was the porch light. The house looked welcoming enough, but would it be?

Would he give into temptation if he didn’t already want Gabi so much it was painful?

He left his truck, walked to her front door, and knocked. Gabi looked through the peephole in her door before opening it. “Is everything okay?”

No more playing games. “We’re not done.”

Chapter 7

Gabi’s mouth went dry. Silas Hollister, standing in her doorway, that sexy look in his eyes and a simple, “We’re not done” on his lips, could turn any woman inside out and upside down.

He wasn’t the kind of man who’d push. If she said, “Yes we are,” he’d go away.

She didn’t want him to go away.

Blake had robbed her of so much. Her ability to trust. Her home. A new career and a few good friends. He’d taken them all away. Could she allow him to take everything? Pleasure? Fun? Maybe even love, one day? In order for her to know if that was even possible, she had to take a chance. She had to take that first, difficult step. Difficult or impossible? There was only one way to find out.

She took that step, moving back and away from the door so Silas could come into her house.

Her heart beat too hard. Her stomach clenched. Between her legs it was as if she already felt him touching her. She tried to dismiss her response as being caused by simple biology, the fact that it had been such a long time. But she didn’t have this reaction to other men, just him.

Silas closed the door behind him. When he didn’t immediately lock that door, Gabi reached around him and turned the lock herself. She didn’t rest well behind an unlocked door, not anymore.

“Expecting someone to stop by and walk in on us?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

“No, I just…” She didn’t want to explain, so she went up on her toes and kissed him. They didn’t need to talk. That wasn’t why he was here.

Mia and Judge were sleeping. Marnie was long gone. No one was going to interrupt them. Just as well. Any interruption would give her too much time to think. She’d become an expert at overthinking. What-ifs, maybes, one days… those thoughts were crippling her.