Page 16 of Wild Claim

“Feel better?” I said, my voice tight.

Rory ran a hand through his damp hair, the motion causing his towel to shift slightly. “Much. Though a bed would do wonders.”

He leaned against the doorframe, his posture relaxed, but his gaze was on me.

My throat tightened, and my mouth went dry. “I... I can find you some clothes. Maybe something of Todd’s.” The mention of Todd sent a sickening pang through me.

Rory shrugged. “Only if you want me to wear them.”

“Give me a minute. I’ll see what I can find,” I said, spinning away.

A thousand thoughts collided in my head. No, I didn’t want to see Rory in Todd’s clothes. What’s the point of me keeping Todd’s stuff? A tiny part of me kept thinking maybe it was all a nightmare. But it was real, and honestly, I was over him.

We were done, and he had no claim to my life anymore. Especially when Rory made me feel so much more alive than that asshole ever did.

In the bedroom, I rummaged through the closet and found the bag filled with some of Todd’s clothes. Slim jeans, polo shirts, blazers. Now that I think about it, Todd’s clothing wouldn’t fit Rory’s muscular frame. I hurriedly stuffed the clothes back into the bag, then dragged it over to the bedroom window. Moments later, I tossed it outside.

After holding Todd’s things in my hands, I realized I felt nothing. No nostalgia, no sadness. Just a strange, empty clarity.

Turning back to the hallway, I walked to the hall closet. After a few minutes of searching inside, I found a few flannel shirts, worn jeans, a couple of t-shirts. Grandma had collected them from the neighbors for a charity yard sale before she passed away. I closed my eyes and exhaled. She never had time to sell them.

I selected a set that looked large enough and walked back to the kitchen, where Rory still stood. He looked like a statue come to life, every angle and plane of his body sculpted with rugged precision.

“Here, you go,” I said, handing him the clothes. Our fingers brushed, and a spark shot through me, electric and undeniable. “Hopefully, these will fit. Grandmother got them from—”

“Thanks,” he said, not letting me finish. “I appreciate it.”

“You can sleep on the couch. It converts into a bed so it’s comfortable enough.”

Rory chuckled. “Compared to sitting in a tree all night? It’ll be heaven.”

I nodded, biting my lip. There was so much more I wanted to say, to ask, but the weight of the day had left me drained. “Then I’ll leave you to your privacy.”

“Mina.”

I turned back to face him, taking in the full measure of the man who claimed to be both Rory and Thomas. The grizzled giant who, against all odds, made my insides flip-flop.

He arched an eyebrow. “If I hear bear-like growls coming from your room tonight, I’m assuming you’re snoring again, not a bear who wandered in.”

My jaw dropped to the floor. “I donotsnore.”

Rory’s grin widened. “Sure, and I wasn’t a turkey this morning. Sleep tight.”

That cheeky... arrogant...Ugh!He made me want to throw a sandal at him. But I’m glad he could crack a joke after everything. I shook my head with a smile. “Good night.”

Leaving him, I headed back to my room. Once inside, I closed the door gently and leaned my back against it. There was something forming between us. A kind of connection I never felt with Todd. And despite everything, I wanted to boost that spark, to see where it might lead.

Chapter Eight

RORY

The floorboards groaned undermy boots as I stepped into the kitchen. Sunlight spilled through the kitchen window, making the kitchen seem too damned cheerful. I leaned against the doorframe, watching Mina hum softly as she cracked eggs into a skillet. The clatter of dishes and the sizzling of bacon on the stove mingled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Mina looked up, her bright smile catching me off guard. “Morning,” she sang, as if we’d shared a hundred mornings before. The ease in her voice made something twist in my chest.

“Morning.” I strode towards the counter.

“Here,” Mina said, sliding a plate across the wood. The bacon sizzled, still hot from the pan. “You’ll need the energy if you’re going to teach me how to fix this place up.”

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