Page 28 of Beautiful Beast

Might as well go for broke, so I let my mouth do what it wants to do – smile – which isn’t as charming of a sight as it used to be.

I take her tiny hand in mine and don’t miss the shiver she gets from the contact. I feel it, too, like a punch straight to the gut.

She’s everything I didn’t expect and is quite literally rocking the ground beneath my feet.

“I’m Adam,” I manage, though my voice is a lot more gravelly than usual.

Her eyes brighten, and she gives me a big grin. “That’s better. You do have some manners after all.”

I laugh, and some of the weight I’ve been carrying lifts from my shoulders, letting me stand a bit straighter.

I’ve never been shy about my naked body because I’ve been physically fit for as long as I can remember. Knowing women like what they see makes it easy to strip in the right circumstances without hesitation.

But this is by far the most naked I’ve ever been, and I’m standing fully clothed in my foyer with a relative stranger.

She shrugs her small shoulders. “I’m super curious how you got that scar, but I’m curious about everything. It’s one of the reasons that I love books so much. I can find out whatever I want whenever I want. Your scar doesn’t change anything for me, by the way. You’re still hot AF.”

“You’re nuts.”

“Nope. You’re actually a bit hotter now if you ask me. It’s kind of rugged and shit, you know? Scars are really manly. And you’ve got tattoos everywhere, too. You’re like the girl equivalent of a wet dream.”

I haven’t laughed this much in well – ever. I get the sense she’s stepping out of her comfort zone to be funny and put me at ease.

It’s working, and I’m grateful.

“So, have I earned the casserole yet?” I ask.

“Not quite. The deal was that Buster and I get to come inside with you.”

“I just showed you my face. Isn’t that enough?”

“No.”

“Hard bargain.”

“Take it or leave it. I have no problem with eating my weight in cheese and carbs.”

“Fine, you can come inside.”

“Try not to sound too excited.”

She goes to retrieve the casserole and calls for Buster while I open the front door. Both of them trot into my place before me like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

I’ve never met anyone quite like Belle.

She’s shy, but she’s also spunky.

The kind of woman who would keep me on my toes.

“Holy shit,” she squeaks.

She’s standing in the center of the main room and spinning in circles fast enough to make me dizzy on her behalf. I’m not sure how she’s taking anything in. But when she stops moving, there’s an awed expression on her face.

“You’re like… richrich. I mean, my grandmother had money, but this is… holy shit.”

It’s not money I made, so I don’t take any credit for it. Though, now that I’m going to be taking the reins of the family business, I’ll finally start earning my keep.

“It’s family money,” I return.

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