Romance Rules for Werewolves (Charming Cove, #3)(46)

To make matters more difficult, she was standing so close that I could see the silver in her eyes, and her scent was a drug. I inhaled, trying for subtlety. In the ideal world, I’d stop breathing entirely. Since that wasn’t an option, I should at least try to look unfazed.

Her palm was warm against my chest, electric. Heat roared through me, and I trained my gaze at a spot on the wall over her head. When her magic flowed through me, I had to bite back a moan.

This was not part of the deal.

The process seemed to last forever yet end too quickly. But when she drew her hand back, I could finally breathe. I chanced a glance at her face and saw the faintest flush to her cheeks. Her bottom lip was damp where she must have licked it, and it took everything I had not to pull her into my arms and kiss her.

Why the hell was this so difficult?

And how were we going to keep avoiding what was clearly between us?

She cleared her throat. “All right, so I’ve got a bit of an idea of what’s going on. But we’re going to need to go to Avalona Island.”

I frowned, her words temporarily distracting me from the thoughts running through my head. “Where?”

“According to Emma, there’s an island about three miles off the coast of Charming Cove that has a whole lot of magic. It’s a special place to the coven, and it’ll help enhance my power so that I can get a full read on your curse.”

I cleared my throat. “So we’re going to an island to do more magic?”

“Yes. Tomorrow. I just need to find a boat.” She frowned. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I have a boat. But we need to work on your house.”

“Right. I know. But we can just pop over really quick in the morning.”

“House first,” I insisted. “You have a deadline. I’ve been like this for a decade.”

“But you’re miserable.”

“I’m fine.” She gave me a hard look, and I sighed. “I’m used to it, okay? I want to get your house finished.”

“To get me out of here, right?” She arched a brow.

“Exactly. It won’t do me any good to find my pack if you’re still in my house, driving me crazy.” That didn’t make much sense, but she’d just been touching my bare chest. I was far past sense.

“Won’t you go live with them if you find them?”

She had a point. All I’d wanted for the last decade was to find my way back to my family. “I would, actually. But I won’t leave until your house is finished.”

She smiled. “So you really do like me?”

“I tolerate you.”

“Sure, Mister Built-Me-A-Custom-Kitchen.”

“It’s literally the only thing I know how to do.”

“Not the only thing. But you’re darned good at it.”

“Then just let me do it. We’ll focus on your house, then we’ll go to this island and deal with my issues.”

“We’ll do it tomorrow. Because I want to do this,” she insisted. “And I don’t like being told no.”

I groaned. “Fine. But house first.”

“Good. House in the morning, island in the evening. Deal?”

She looked so damned stubborn as she stared at me, jaw set and face determined. “Deal. As long as we make good progress on the house tomorrow.”

She grinned. “I have a plan for that, actually.”

“You do?”

“Oh, I do.” She moved toward the stairs. “And now, I’m off to bed. Your turn to do the dishes.”

I looked back at the paper takeaway containers. “Sure, I can do that.”

“Good. See you in the morning!”





Isobel



Of course, I tossed and turned with dreams of Rafe. The feel of his firm chest beneath my palm was burned into my memory, and I couldn’t shake the sight of his face.

He’d looked tortured.

Like, jaw clenched and eyes burning. For me.

No, that was crazy. He’d probably just been miserable. Neither of us was in a place in our life where a relationship was a good idea. And he was leaving. There was no question that I would break this curse on him—for the first time in my life, I was truly confident of something. And when I did, he would go join his pack. But there was no way in hell I was leaving Charming Cove. It was home. I’d been here almost two weeks, and I knew it like I knew my own face.

When I woke, still hot from dreams of Rafe, I found him in the kitchen, having made the coffee. “Ready for a big day of home reno?” he asked.

“Beyond ready.” How had this become my life? Handsome man handing me coffee while being enthusiastic about building me a custom kitchen?

Frankly, I had no idea. But I was going to lean into it. Hard.

I took the coffee he gave me, then sipped. He looked perfect leaning on the counter, his jeans slung low on his hips and his worn T-shirt hugging his shoulders. He hadn’t yet put on shoes, and even his feet were attractive. That wasn’t fair. Frankly, I was pretty sure it wasn’t even natural.

I spun on my heel and marched toward the door.

“Don’t you want breakfast?” he called after me.

I turned back. “You made breakfast?”

“Well, yes. I’m a werewolf. We eat a lot.”