Page 29 of Savage Cravings

I didn’t dare ask.

I took a step back. “Sorry. I’m working. But I can give you more time to look at the menu, if you need.”

I was about to turn and walk away when a large hand wrapped around my forearm.

A silly thing, really, to see the size of this hand wrapped around my arm as if it was a stick a child would play with on the playground.

It was the first man who had grabbed me. The one who exuded power with his mere presence, the one who looked like he was in charge of the other two verypowerfulmen.

“Let go of me,” I said quietly.

I didn’t move. I didn’t dare to move.

My heart pounded erratically in my chest from fear. I was afraid one small movement from me would prompt him to snap my arm in half.

Surely, it wouldn’t take much effort on his part.

His eyes twinkled in amusement, then after one long second, he finally let go.

I took a step back.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you, little monster.”

I wrinkled my nose at the stupid nickname.

How clever.

Because I was wearing a monster shirt, he thought it would be funny to call me that.

I wasn’t the one who looked like a mythical villain come to life from a child’s fantasy book.

A twinkle entered his eyes, and I had the distinct feeling he was laughing at me. Not so emotionless.

I might like his indifference more than this new side, because even when he was trying to play “nice,” there was something ironic about it. As if he knew something I didn’t, and something told me I didn’t want to know what that was.

I didn’t say anything.

I didn’t know what to say, not when I could feel the heavy stares from three sets of eyes on me, marking me in some way.

“Why don’t we start with three glasses of water?” the man said.

I nodded and quickly backed away.

Just before I could get out of earshot, I heard one of them say to the other, “Timid little thing, isn’t she?”

I didn’t turn around to check who said it. I had a feeling it was the grumpy one of the trio. While the other two were intimidating and scary in their own right, there was just something downright spine-chilling about that man.

I quickly filled three glasses with water and put them on a tray. My hands shook as I attempted to pick it up, and I felt a small tinge of annoyance working its way through my body.

They shouldn’t be able to affect me like this, but they did. As much as I hated it, I couldn’t help it.

Worse, I didn’t know if the effect they had on me was fear or?—

Lust.

There was something seriously wrong with me. And I hated this.

My gaze moved to the back door, just off to the side of where the two-way kitchen door was.

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