Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
"If it wasn't for Jack, who knows where I would be now. He's not a bad person." She nods slowly, absorbing this.
To my right, I notice a small cluster of purple wildflowers, and Skye watches me as I go over to where they are, bend down, and gather them into a small bunch.
"Here! For the vase in your room." A smile gathers at the corners of her mouth, and eventually, she relaxes enough to smile.
West and Jack aren't here to tell me I'm wrong for treating her like a woman, not a possession, and even if they were, I wouldn't care.
Seeing Skye smile is like watching the sun appear after an eclipse.
We continue, and in the distance, the cabin comes into view. As I watch Skye return to my home, I hope I've done enough to put her at ease about her time with us.
Before Jack and West have a chance to unsettle her all over again.
5
WEST
LAYING DOWN THE LAW
I throw open the door to the lodge, expecting to find Finn and Skye sharing hot chocolate and baking cookies, but instead, I find Jack nursing a cup of coffee with the remnants of his lunch scattered on a plate he has shoved into the middle of the table. He glances up, setting his steely eyes on me, tipping his head once in greeting.
"Where's lover boy?"
Jack shrugs, but the deepening grooves between his brows reveal a mountain's worth of disapproval. "He's not here. No one's here."
I shake my head as I walk to the sink to fix myself a glass of water. This morning was difficult, not only because the physical labor was grueling but because Ethan was playing up. It happens every so often until someone's fist does everyone a favor and knocks him back into place.
Unfortunately, Finn’s punch has the opposite effect.
I open the fridge, find the usual food, then scan the counters. "She didn't make lunch?"
Jack exhales roughly. "First day, and she's already shirking."
"Finn should have brought her back here immediately so she could clean up and prepare a meal."
"He should have, but he didn't."
I pour myself coffee, and even though my belly grumbles, I sit across from Jack.
"This is going to work," I say firmly. "There are bound to be teething problems. It's a new arrangement for all of us."
"There wouldn't be teething problems if people in this house weren't treating her like their new best friend."
"You know Finn. He's got a soft heart."
"Finn needs to rein it in. Otherwise, we're going to come to blows."
I raise my eyebrows sharply as Jack grits his teeth hard enough to make his jaw tick.
"No point in ruining a great relationship over a girl." It's a comment designed to lighten the atmosphere, but it doesn't.
"I said my piece on this already. I'm not going to repeat myself. Either you and Finn keep yourselves in check, or I will have to come down on her so much harder. At least one of us has to keep control."
"Everything's under control, Jack."
He sips his coffee and rests it on the table, slumping back in his chair. Silence stretches between us as I stare at the crumbs on Jack's plate, considering what to have for lunch.
"She did okay last night," he says eventually. "For the first time."
"She did," I agree, surprised at his compliment.
"If she straightens out about the rest, this could work out. But Finn needs to chill the fuck out."
"I'll talk to him."
Jack nods, reaching for his mug and downing the dregs. "But if she misses a meal, or I come home to the house looking shitty, she's going back."
I want to tell him that this house has looked shitty for the last five years, but I don't. No point in enraging the bear. And where would we return her to? If she had a home to go to, she would have come to us with some possessions. Maybe she wouldn’t have needed to auction herself in the first place.
When Jack pushes back in his chair and presses his hands to the table surface, heaving up his bulk, I try to think through what I need to do to make Finn understand that he's putting the whole arrangement at risk and how I can make it clear to Skye what is expected. I rub my hand over my beard as Jack leaves the cabin.
I'm about to fix myself something to eat when there's a bang from somewhere in the cabin. Jumping up, I stride through the den and into the hallway, spotting Skye disappearing into her room. She's been here the whole time, and by the looks of it, she listened in to my conversation with Jack. If she heard anything, it puts us at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to control over this relationship.
Skye’s about to shut the door when I approach and catch her stunned and fearful expression. I put my foot next to the doorframe, blocking her from closing it, but she doesn't even try. I fill the doorway like a huge slab of wood looming over her.