Page 15 of The Darkest Knight

“Have a seat.” He used his bottle to point at the glass table and chairs. He joined her once he had the temperature on the grill exactly where it should be. He eased his body into one of the chairs, stretched his legs, staring out in the distance to the edge of the woods to keep from watching her, something he was getting a little used to. He felt her gaze on his profile and he had no choice but to look at her. The sun’s rays turned her eyes into blue gems. “What?”

“This is a great place, but don’t you get a bit lonely out here all by yourself? Or is there a girlfriend that keeps you company?”

He wondered if she was asking for personal reasons. “No. I don’t have a girlfriend or even a bed buddy.”

Her tongue came out to roll across her bottom lip. “That’s good. I’d hate to cause any problems by staying here alone with you. I bet this place was once a hot spot for lovers, honeymooners, and the like. The view alone is magnetic.”

Seth held back a smile. He loved how her neck turned splotchy when she was nervous. “You think I can’t handle myself around a pretty woman?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” Her cheeks flushed. It made her eyes even more dazzling.

“Oh, so you’re saying you can’t control yourself then?”

“No,” she blurted. “I mean yes, I can control myself, but thankfully, that’s not an issue. I’m just grateful I don’t have to worry that I’ll make things complicated for you.” The natural color of her cheeks was slowly coming back.

He could no longer hold his laughter. “Complicate things for me how?”

“Once you join me on this project, we’ll be working closely together. A lover, or significant partner, might want to be involved too.”

“That’s an interesting way to put it.”

“I think you should concentrate on grilling the steaks and not me.” She sighed.

“I think you’re awfully confident. You seem to know my answer before I do.” He lifted his bottle and downed the rest.

She leaned back into the chair, nailing him with a pensive gaze. “You know as well as I do you can’t turn this opportunity down in helping veterans.”

He shrugged. “I’m not saying it’s not a great idea, but I’m not sure I’m your guy.”

“With all due respect, you are my guy.” Realizing what she’d said, she cleared her throat and looked away. “You have the money. The land. The knowledge.”

He wouldn’t dare tell her that he already had his brothers’ promises to invest in the project. “It’s not just about the money, and I think you know that much. It’s about the dedication. I might seem like I do nothing but sit around and twiddle my thumbs, but I assure you, I’m a busy man.” That was a bit of a white lie, but he did have private matters that he didn’t want her privy to. So far, nothing seemed off boundaries with her and he wasn’t sure if he should be intrigued or guarded…maybe both.

“If you didn’t think you were going to say yes, you would have sent me away by now. Admit it.”

“Really? Are you sure? Maybe I like your company. Or maybe it’s Abby.”

She leaned forward. “Come on, Seth. Let’s not tease each other. We both know everything you do has purpose. So why are you stalling and not just giving the go ahead?”

*****

Reese watched his face closely, but he showed no signs of allowing his cool expression to falter. She’d guess that a man like Seth was hard to crack. Truth was, she could pretend that she was cool and level headed, but inside she was nothing but mush. Although quiet and thoughtful, he exuded a mountain of confidence. He could intimidate the bravest, strongest man, and yet she didn’t feel intimidated, not like earlier, but unsettled in all her soft places that should be shut down for business. The last thing she needed was the complication of admiration and attraction for a man who obviously didn’t care what anyone thought about him. She guessed the fact that he wore a scraggly beard and longish hair was a statement, but it didn’t detour from his good looks. And the longer she looked, the better they got. The black T-shirt he wore stretched across his broad shoulders and wide chest, the cotton announcing that he was in great shape. The worn jeans were loose, but they didn’t hide his thick thighs and long legs. She glanced at his bare feet and swallowed. She’d never noticed a man’s feet before, but he had nice, manicured toes. She wondered what woman volunteered to do that for him. Biting back a giggle, she realized he was staring at her.

He cleared his throat. “This is a huge investment, and I give you credit for the research you’ve put into this, but you don’t know the first thing about business and the details of running one. I still have a lot of questions.”

Opening her mouth to defend herself, she couldn’t. He was right. “Okay then. Let me answer your every question, dot all your i’s and cross your every t.”

“In good time. For now, tell me a little more about yourself.”

She dropped back against the back of the chair. “There isn’t much to tell, I’m afraid”

“You did say every question.”

Stirring under his warm gaze, she sighed. “What would you like to know?” She never liked talking about herself, especially to someone who already evoked interesting sensations in her body.

“Where did you grow up?”

“I lived in Chicago, until I enlisted.”

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