Page 33 of Under an Endless Moon

“I don’t want to put you out.”

“Not a big thing, Raven.”

“Are you sure you aren’t the one who’s obsessed with me?” Her perfectly shaped eyebrow arched with the ribbing, though there was something in it that had me straightening and moving her direction.

This girl a lure. No way to resist.

I was nothin’ but a fool who reached out to take her by the chin. Those mesmerizing eyes grew so wide I was sure I could topple right into their depths. I leaned down as I murmured what I was pretty sure amounted to a threat. “You wouldn’t want to see me obsessed, Raven.”

Wouldn’t want to see me letting go. Giving into the insanity she conjured inside me.

Before I let myself delve any farther into the treachery, I released her and stepped back. “Now let’s get this place locked up and get you home.”

She seemed to be stuck in that spot for a moment, dazed, before she jumped into action. She went around the counter and tidied upa couple things before she headed into the back and returned with a small purse that she secured across her body. “Ready.”

I followed her out, and I grabbed the little sign, folded it, and set it inside before she locked the door behind us.

On instinct, my hand moved to the small of her back, not quite touching, though I still felt like I was being scorched as I guided her to the passenger door of my truck. I opened it and she climbed in, and I was quick to round to the driver’s side.

I took to the streets of Moonlit Ridge, making the few turns that would lead us in the direction of her house. The radio played some old country rock that I preferred, and the sun was just beginning to set, the sky a toil of blazing pinks and blues that whispered over Culberry Street.

Raven chatted about her day as we traveled, telling me about the different people who’d come into her shop, so casual and right where she sat in the passenger seat. The mood between us was easy the way it usually was, though there was always an undercurrent that was impossible to miss.

Five minutes later, I pulled into the drive and stopped at the front walkway.

We both hopped out and started for the house. Raven was pulling her keys out of her purse as she asked, “Do you want to stay for dinner? I was thinking I’d make a quick spaghetti. That and open a bottle of wine. My feet are killing me, and this girl is ready to relax.”

I chuckled as I ambled up the three steps onto the wraparound porch behind her. “Of course, your feet are hurting…wearing those heels around like they’re made for hiking.”

“Beauty hurts, Otto,” she tossed out with a grin as she slipped her key into the lock. That stunning face flitting toward me for a beat. Vision of it squeezed my chest in a fist.

Yeah, it sure fuckin’ did.

She tossed the door open and stepped inside without care.

Then she screamed.

Screamed this blood-curdling scream.

Protectiveness ripped through me with the force of a hurricane.

In a flash, I was in front of her, pushing her back toward the door, ready to tackle any danger waiting inside. Terror ricocheted through me like fiery bullets. I wouldn’t make it if something had happened to River and his family. It wasn’t like we hadn’t made a slew of enemies, and with the lives we led, it would forever be a risk. The threat always lingering at the back of my mind.

Only I came to a grinding halt when I found the reason for Raven’s screaming.

Ah, shit.

It was a whole ton less dangerous than I’d thought but apparently just as traumatic for her.

Because River had Charleigh bent over the side of the couch, both of them in varying states of undress, though they’d frozen, their eyes fucking wide as saucers, shocked at being caught with their pants down.

I whipped back around, rising high to make sure I was completely shielding Raven from the sight. Not that she could see a whole lot of anything, considering she had both hands pressed so tight over her face I figured there was a chance she was suffocating.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” she mumbled against her palms, and I grabbed her by the outside of the arms and guided her back out the door. I slammed it shut behind us to give River and Charleigh the chance to right themselves.

The second the wood rattled, Raven spun away and went storming back toward my truck.

“Where are you going?” I shouted at her.

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