Page 43 of Bargain with the Bachelor
As Kristal gazed out at the water and talked about her love of Eastport Bay winters and their indescribable beauty, I’d moved closer to her, drawn in by hers.
Shewas magic, and I was a helpless mortal, captured in her spell, apparently for life.
It didn’t matter that she saw me as only a friend. It didn’t matter how hard I tried to avoid her, tried to pretend indifference. I was absolutely mesmerized by this woman, and there seemed to be nothing I could do about it.
Pathetic.
No doubt I should have been taking advantage of all the women throwing themselves at me. I should probably have accepted one of the numerous offers of no-strings-attached sex and slept with someone—anyone—to help me get past my obsession with Kristal.
But I hadn’t. Not once since she’d moved in. Other women bored me. I just couldn’t get interested in anyone who didn’t look like her, sound like her, laugh like her, move like her.
“What do you mean?” she asked softly.
Looking down at her upturned, expectant face, which was exquisitely lit by the sunset, I was vaguely aware I was probably supposed to respond.
But the only words I could come up with wereYou’re beautiful, and the sole thought in my mind was how much I wanted to kiss her.
What would she do if I tried? Push me away? Slap me?
Or worse… laugh it off?
Would she tell me it was a mistake, as she’d labeled our first kiss at the charity ball?
Even with all those fears ricocheting through my brain, my head bent, bringing our faces into closer alignment.
I couldn’t stop myself—I was going to do it again.
Please don’t let me screw this up...
Loud hissing accompanied by a strangled sort of honking noise startled us apart. From the corner of my eye, I detected something big and white approaching at an alarming rate of speed.
“Watch out!” Throwing an arm around Kristal, I pulled her behind me and spun to face our attacker. Whoever he was, he’d have to kill me to get to her.
Oh.It was just—
“It’s Romeo,” Kristal shouted. “Run!”
Grabbing the back of my shirt, she started pulling me toward the nearby cliff wall. “Hurry, Hunter. He’s vicious.”
I laughed out loud as my feet stumbled backward thanks to her persistent tugging and the shifting pebbles underfoot. “He’s a swan, not a Rottweiler.”
The “harmless” swan let out an explosive snort and lifted his wings, spreading them to their full span as he charged us.
“Oh shit!” I took Kristal’s advice and ran, turning to scramble behind her up the cliff while Romeo extended his neck and nipped at my heels.
At the top we both turned to look down, breathing hard.
There below, floating just off the beach, was the reason for the bizarre attack. Romeo’s mate, Juliet.
Eastport Bay’s resident lovebirds were frequently seen around town, swimming in the harbor that bordered Main Street or in the town park’s pond. I’d even spotted them in the bay from my bedroom window once or twice.
This was the first time I’d shared a close encounter with the swan couple, though. If I had my way, it would be my last.
“Wow. He isseriousabout protecting his woman,” I said.
Kristal grinned. “A very heroic quality. Mute Swans can be quite aggressive when it comes to defending their mates and their territory. I guess your private beach is actuallytheirprivate beach. Are you okay? Did he nip you?”
Craning my neck to see the backs of my legs, I said, “I don’t think so. The skin doesn’t seem to be broken. Thanks for the warning, by the way. I’m not sure if I could have taken him man-to-man.”
