Page 25 of Spooked
"I need to finish my magazine piece," she continues. "But I'm not leaving Deepwood Mountain. Not until we figure out what this is between us."
Hope, fragile and dangerous, unfurls in my chest.
Suddenly, Howie bounds up the stairs, oblivious to the situation. "Bridge is clear! And the power's back on throughout the manor! Oh, and Lee says lunch is ready whenever you two lovebirds are hungry."
He disappears as quickly as he appeared, leaving us staring at each other.
"Lovebirds?" I raise an eyebrow.
A smile tugs at Ash's lips. "Apparently we're not as subtle as we thought."
"I've never been accused of subtlety," I admit.
She laughs, the sound warming me from within. "Me neither."
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss it. "Visit with Willa and her family. Finish your piece. Then come back to me."
"Is that a request or a command, Beast?" she teases, her eyes sparkling.
"Both," I growl, pulling her closer. "Definitely both."
CHAPTER 7
ASH
Leaving Marsden Manor is much harder than I expect.
I stand beside my car as Wolfe leans against the driver's side door. He’s unmasked, and in the afternoon sun his scarred face is achingly beautiful as he studies me with those intense green eyes.
"It's only a few days," I remind him, though the words are more for my benefit.
"I know." His thumb traces my lower lip, sending that familiar heat spiraling through me. "Doesn't make it easier."
"You’ll text me?" I say, rising on my toes to kiss him. "Send me pictures of what you're working on? Tell me about your day?"
"I'm not much of a texter," he warns, but his mouth quirks upward.
"Then learn, Beast. For me."
He captures my lips in a kiss that I feel all the way down to my toes. When we break apart, I'm breathless and ready to crawl back into his bed.
"Go," he murmurs against my forehead. "Before I change my mind about letting you leave."
The drive to Willa and Dash's place takes thirty minutes through winding mountain roads, and I spend every one of them thinking about Wolfe. My phone buzzes with a text just as I pull into their driveway.
Already miss you. House feels empty.
I grin like an idiot, quickly typing back.
Miss you too. I just arrived.
Looking up, the front door of the McCafferty mansion bursts open and Willa comes running out, her honey blonde hair flying behind her.
"Ash!" She practically tackles me with a hug the moment I step out of the car. "I've missed you so much! How was the assignment? Did you get good shots? Was the Beast of Marsden Manor a beast in every way?"
I laugh, returning her enthusiastic embrace. “One question at a time, Bestie. And keep it G-rated. For now.”
“Who even are you?” she says laughing. “Fine, but later you will spill it all.” She grabs my bag from the backseat. “Dash is making us chicken pot pies, and Brynn has been asking about Auntie Ash non-stop.”
