Page 48 of Cinder
His lips widen into a whiskey grin.
Then he passes out.
CHAPTER 22
Lars
The kitchen empties,but I stick around because I want to make sure Ella is okay.
She was cool and calm as the situation with Stone unfolded, but it could have been adrenaline that kept her unaffected, and as that adrenaline wears off, I want to be around to calm any fallout.
“So what happened?” she asks, removing the latex gloves and disposing of them in the trash. “How did Stone get shot?
“We were ambushed.”
She washes her hands in the sink. “Does that happen a lot?”
“We’re tracking some uninvited traffic through town. Thepeople responsible don’t like that we interrupted some of their deliveries.”
She nods. “I see.”
Which surprises me.
I expected more questions.
But it’s almost as if she already understands that I can’t say anything more.
Which makes me think she’s not as new to this side of the tracks as I thought.
Which makes me even more curious about who she is.
Instinct stirs in my gut.
But I can’t put a finger on it.
I walk around the counter so I’m standing in front of her, and when she looks up at me, I have an urge to put my arms around her. To protect her. Which makes no sense. I don’t know this woman.
But I do know she wasn’t rattled by what happened, and I want to know why. “It didn’t scare you?”
“It was a surprise. But I wasn’t scared.”
Okay, interesting.
“Most people would be a little rattled,” I say, meeting her gaze.
“I guess I’m not like most people.”
I search her eyes. Her face.
Who are you?
“No, I can see that,” I say.
Her eyes drop to my lips.
And there’s that urge again. The one I have whenever I’m with her.
To take her in my arms and devour her lips until we’re both breathless.
