Page 35 of Never Quiet

There were a few small groupings, mostly their inner circle, remaining as Harper did his best to make Amanda blush.

Davis stayed by her side and without a doubt, he was seriously attractive. She did his hair but he was naturally gorgeous. She could tell Elijah and Hayden were evaluating him.

Harper murmured, “Every time I see you, you’re somehow more beautiful, Amanda. I think you cannot possibly get lovelier and yet, you prove me wrong.”

“Hmm. Are you using me to warm up your silver tongue for the hunt? You are hell on a lady’s composure, Mr. Delkin.”

“Mr. Delkin. Dear God, I feel old.”

Chuckling, she whispered, “Even if I were older, you and I wouldn’t suit.”

With genuine curiosity, he asked, “Why do you think so?”

She leaned casually against Hayden’s side and reached out to smooth a stray hair at Davis’s temple. “I’m a butterfly and I imagine you gobble up butterflies like a red-tailed hawk.”

Hand on his hip, Harper looked shocked. “Has Noel been talking?”

She smiled slowly. “No. Should I ask her to?”

“Please don’t. She’s brutal,” he replied with a sad expression.

“Based on the women you track around the room the times I’ve met you, it seems tall, slender, silly women appeal because they require zero effort.” She inclined her head just past Harper’s shoulder. “For instance, that’s the mayor’s oldest daughter. She just screams sorority girl not wearing panties.”

Davis choked back a laugh and muttered. “Amanda, lord.”

“Your gaze has landed on her four times as she circles ever closer.” Leaning toward the eldest Delkin, Amanda added softly, “She never stays this late but smells money. You sense easy. Am I close?”

“Amanda, you are far more observant than even I realized,” Hayden murmured. “Outstanding.”

Meeting his eyes, she said sincerely, “Thank you.” Looking at Harper, she suggested, “Instead of transparent women like her who consider you a lottery ticket, you should find someone sweet and gentle to counter your faux rough exterior.”

Harper frowned. “You are sweet and gentle.”

“Do you think so?” She held his gaze and he nodded. “I’m more like Noel than I used to be. That you can’t tell means my disguise is working.”

“Hmm. With your intelligence, that could truly be deadly. Would you consider becoming a young trophy wife in the future?” Harper asked with a serious expression. “Lots of perks.”

“Absolutely not. I’m far too brilliant for such a thing.” Hayden snorted and she winked at him. Gesturing down her figure, she said, “This body carries around a massive brain, sir.”

“Far more desirable,” Hayden quipped.

“Amanda, you’re gently telling me I couldn’t keep up with your intellectual interests and might possibly bore you.”

“I’d never say such a thing, Harper. You’re brilliant in your own right.” She winked. “I don’t think you expect the women you, uh, date to have any brain cells willing to hold hands. That’s why we’d never suit.”

“Fuck. You are Noel’s clone.” He sighed heavily and she grinned. “Show me this massive brain of which you speak.”

“I evaluated the soil samples your estate manager sent me. Did you get my recommendations?” He nodded. “I know one-quarter of your main estate is designated for crops. Putting those few daily operations in place will protect your yield and soil far into the future.” Considering, she added, “As for the external lands you own, there are several issues I foresee…”

Amanda fell into easy conversation as Davis maintained a position beside her.

She glanced around to make sure no one in her family was nearby. Then she told the Delkins and Elijah quietly, “I examined a burn on Noel’s calf. She explained there was a chemical element to a recent mission.” Clearing her throat, she added, “It was a nasty homemade concoction.”

Hayden stared into her eyes. “You broke it down?” Amanda nodded. “Tell me.”

“The way it works in the human body is bio-accumulative. Noel had a trace amount in her burn but I wondered if you could have someone send me samples of the soil and water so I can run some tests.”

Hayden nodded. “I’ll contact one of the people on the ground and get them to you in a couple of days.”

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