Page 27 of Never Been Gargoyled
“He thinks I should sell the estate.”
The temperature in the room dropped at least ten degrees. Feydin's wings flared out before returning to his spine. “He what?”
“It's okay. He's worried about me managing such a big place on my own.”
“You're not on your own,” Feydin said softly. “I’m here with you. But even if I wasn’t, you're perfectly capable of managing anything.”
The fierce protectiveness in his tone made my heart skip.
“Thank you,” I said. “That's sweet of you to say.”
“It's true.” He crossed to where I stood, stopping close enough that I had to tilt my head back to look at him. “You've been here one day and already made this place feel alive again.”
My throat went tight. “What if he's right, though, and I’ve taken on more than I should?”
“Then you'll figure it out. That's what strong people do.”
He thought I was strong. I needed to remind myself that I thought I was strong too. The dismay in my chest loosened.
The way he was looking at me made my pulse race. Like I was something precious he wanted to protect. As if I wasn't some random woman who'dinherited a house, but a person who mattered to him.
Which was a wild idea. We'd just met. People didn't form attachments that quickly. Did they?
My phone buzzed again on the counter, and I picked it up, frowning at the notification of a text from a number I didn't recognize. Bracing myself, I swiped into it.
This is Rebecca Hartwell. I believe we need to talk about my mother's estate. When would be convenient?
The air rushed out of my lungs.
“What’s wrong?” When I tilted my phone in his direction, Feydin read over my shoulder.
Warmth radiated from his body, and he smelled like whatever soap he'd used. Under other circumstances, having him this close would have been distracting in the best possible way.
Right now, all I could think about was the text.
“What if Helgawasher mother?” I whispered.
Feydin stilled. “Don't respond yet.” He slipped into lawyer mode, his voice crisp and professional. He held my hand, tilting the phone to reread the message. “We need to think about this carefully.”
“We?”
“I’m representing you, aren’t I?”
“I’m grateful you are. I don't know anything about legal stuff.”
He nodded once. “We’ll research Rebecca Hartwell. Find out everything we can about her. Then we decide how to respond.”
“And if she’s Helga's daughter?”
“Then we'll deal with that when we know for sure, Until then, we don't assume anything.”
The brief contact with his hand sent sparks up my arm. Feydin's hands were warm and rough and much larger than mine. I wondered what it would feel like to have them cup my face, thread through my hair…
Focus, Dazy. Legal crisis first, gargoyle fantasies later.
“Okay,” I said. “Research. I can do that.”
“Good.”
