Page 39 of Hunted Hearts
The box sat squarely on the top step of the porch, innocuous and neatly taped, a printed shipping label stuck on top.
Innocuous didn’t mean harmless.
The porch boards behind him creaked, and he knew Willow was standing there.
One of his sisters-in-law appeared in Theo’s peripheral vision.
His pulse spiked. “Everyone stay back!” His voice cut through the morning air, and the few ranch hands approaching the porch instantly backed away.
Willow took a step toward him. “It’s probably nothing—”
“Back,” he barked, leveling her with a look that brooked no argument. “We don’t know what this is.”
His hand went to the knife at his hip as he crouched by the package. He tilted it gently, checking the weight, the balance, the faintest shift of whatever was inside. No ticking, no obvious tampering, but his instincts screamed for caution. He slit the tape with a clean stroke, easing the top open and pulling back the flaps—
Inside lay a set of high-end earbuds, matte black and sleek. At least that was what the box said. But considering that somebody sent Juliette a bouquet with a scorpion,anythingcould be inside.
He tore into the packaging and pulled out the small black item. Etched in a line along the bottom of the case was a name.
Hisname. Not Juliette’s.
His jaw tightened.
“Uh…” Juliette’s voice drifted from the porch steps. He turned quickly, his gaze finding her where she stood barefoot in the doorway, her robe loosely belted over a long T-shirt.
He mounted the steps to reach her.
Her hands lifted in a small, placating gesture. “Those are from me. I didn’t think they’d show up so quickly. I only ordered them this morning, but it did say there’s a store not very far away and the order would be filled fast.”
She was rambling, and the urge to kiss her again and make her go quiet…make hermoan…was a shooting star across his libido.
“You got me earbuds in a case engraved with my name?”
Behind her, Willow snorted. “‘Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.’”
Of course his brat of a little sister popped outthatquote fromRomeo and Juliet,where Romeo was awestruck by Juliet.
Letting out a grumble, he aimed a glare at her that sent her and Aspen scurrying for the house.
Only when the door shut firmly behind them did he drift closer to his ward.
Juliette slashed a flustered hand through her hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would cause you to worry. I didn’t think it would cause…this.” Pink streaks spread up her throat, crested over her delicate jaw and settled in her cheeks.
Theo closed his eyes briefly, exhaling hard through his nose. If he didn’t get a handle on himself in the next two seconds, hewouldgrab her. And he didn’t trust that Willow wasn’t peeking out the window at them right now.
He opened his eyes and his gaze tracked over Juliette’s beautiful face. It was cold out here, too cold for her to be in her robe. But damn if he wanted to usher her back inside after she just gave him a gift.
“Why earbuds?” His tone was gritty.
Her lips quirked. “For when you jump rope. You…kind of woke me up again this morning with your music.”
He chuckled, low. “Sorry about that. You didn’t need to buy me these”—he opened his palm to reveal the small gift—“but I will definitely use them.”
The wind ruffled her hair, snagging on the scent of her and carrying it straight to him. His head flooded with the essence ofher, and he couldn’t stop his feet from moving closer.
She tipped her head back to meet his gaze, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. “That’s the second time one of your family members mentionedRomeo and Juliet.”
