Page 8 of One Golden Ring

She thrusts out her chin. “Absolutely,” she spins around to take another look at the display, “In fact, I think I need more.”

I let out a slow breath, my eyes roaming over her minefield of a body. “You’re doing this on purpose,” I mutter.

She spins back around. “Doing what?”

“Getting under my skin.”

She laughs. “Why would I want to do that?”

I bend down, feeling the heat between us rise. “Because you like to play with me.”

Her eyes blink, and I know I’ve hit the mark. She enjoys pushing my buttons, and the truth is, I like it too. However, I’m done ignoring how she makes me feel, done pretending I’m not interested in her.

I lean in, close enough to feel the warmth radiating off her skin. “Just so you know, Wynter Brody,” I say, my voice a low rumble, “You’re mine.”

She stares up at me, her breaths coming quicker now, her cheeks flushed. I want to kiss her. I want to pull her close and claim that mouth that’s been driving me crazy since the moment she walked into my library.

But I can’t. Not yet.

I have to be sure she wants it, too.

I give her a big, toothy grin, turning to head back to the front desk. “Light the place up to your heart's content, sunshine. We’ll finish this conversation later.”

As I walk away, I can feel her eyes on me, but I don’t look back.

Soon, she’ll know exactly the man I am and exactly who she belongs to.

Chapter Seven

Wynter

I can still feel the burn of Drake’s gaze on my back as I walk out of the library, my pulse pounding like thunder in my ears. What on earth just happened?

You’re mine.

Those two words keep bouncing around in my head, turning my insides to mush. Not to mention how he called me “sunshine.” I should be annoyed by his cocky, possessive attitude, but I’m not. My body is on fire, wanting more. And what’s worse? I think he knows it.

I stomp across the pavement, torn between excitement and confusion. Drake Hudson isn’t a moody librarian; he’s a devil in disguise—a devil with incredibly good looks, brains, and an ego the size of the earth.

I take a deep breath, trying to shake off his effect on me as I head toward my car.Focus, Wynter.I can’t afford to be derailed right now; I have things to do…I need more lights for the displays. The entire town of Pinegrove is waiting to see if I can pull this festival off. I will not be distracted by a tall, alpha librarian with a smile that has the power to melt my clothes off.

As I unlock my car and slide behind the wheel, my heart is still racing. I give myself a second to breathe before turning the key in the ignition.

The engine starts to kick in, then grinds to a halt.

I frown and try again. Now I have nothing.

“Oh, come on,” I mutter, jiggling the key like that’ll magically make the engine roar to life. The dashboard lights flicker weakly before fading out completely. Great. Of course, this would happen now.

I lean back in my seat, groaning in frustration. What else could go wrong today?

I’m counting to ten when there’s a knock on the window. Startled, I look up to see Drake.

I roll down the window, praying my cheeks aren’t a flaming crimson red. “My car won’t start.”

He leans down, his face level with mine. “Need some help, sunshine?”

There it is again—that nickname. I don’t know whether I want to roll my eyes or kiss him for it.

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