Page 5 of Mail Order Bride for the Scrooge

Storm looks at her like she hung the moon and I have a feeling he’s not far off.

Her shoulders sag and she seems to curl in on herself. “You really don’t have any clue about the ad,” her small voice, a little broken and defeated, doesn’t pose it as a question.

“I really don’t, Lake.” I take a step forward and almost reach for her but stop myself at the last second.

I want to comfort her, but I also don’t want to cross some line. She was lured here under false pretenses by someone. I don’t get to take liberties just because she came looking for me.

I don’t think I do anyway.

She nods sadly and heads over to the couch, plopping her big bag down next to her. I’m only mildly surprised when she pulls a laptop out of the monstrosity. Who knows what she could hide in that thing and never find.

“Of course, he doesn’t know about the ad. Why would he when this is the first time you’ve done anything impulsive or for yourself? Of course, it would turn out to be a big waste of time and totally embarrass you in the process,” she mutters to herself while booting up her laptop and clicking a few buttons.

I wipe a hand over my mouth to stop myself from chuckling at how adorable she is when infuriated and frustrated.

I want to take those feelings away and give her everything she wants and needs.

Woah.

Where the hell did that come from?

She’s not a puppy. I can’t just keep her. Right?

No. I can’t just keep her.

“I can’t believe I quit my job, packed up all my shit, and then drove all this way for this to happen,” she is still muttering, and I find myself stepping closer to her as her voice drops in volume. “Should have known it wouldn’t be so easy to strike out and do something forme. Nico is going to have a fucking field day when he finds out about this.”

I growl possessively, “Who is Nico?”

Lake’s eyes snap up to meet mine and widen in surprise at finding me looming over her. I wait for the look on her face to turn fearful, but it doesn’t. No, it turns needy and wanting.

I cross my arms across my chest and ask again, “Who is Nico?” Something else she was saying under her breath registers, and I add on, “And how far did you come all by yourself?”

Lake juts up her chin, defiance written across her features in a way I’m surprised to find sexy as hell. “I’m from Seattle and Nico is my brother.” I blow out a harsh breath of relief as her eyes travel down the length of my body, snagging on the obvious bulge in my pants—on the way down and back up—before she meets my eyes again. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Nico is a member of the Devil’s Saints MC and made sure I learned how to protect myself in various ways.”

“Various ways,” I echo and try to tell myself not to bury my dick inside of her sweet pussy right fucking now. I shake my head and grunt, “You know how to fire a gun?”

The smile she sends me is sweet with a side of sin. “I’m a damn good shot. Nico took me to the range all the time after I turned 18 and our parents took off.” My heart aches because I know that kind of pain. Before I can say anything, she shrugs one shoulder like her sob story is no big deal. “Nico stepped up and tried to give me a home, but he’s also incredibly overprotective.”

“Is that why you answered the ad?” Fucking hell, when was the last time I asked this many questions of another person?

She nods slowly and sighs. “I wanted something just for me.” She eyes me and turns the computer in my direction. “I said all of this in my email, but it’s clear to me that you never got it. Here,” she shoves the laptop toward me, “I saved a screen shot of everything just in case there wasn’t a connection to the internet here.”

As I sit down on the couch next to her, our thighs touch. The heat of her sears through my jeans and does nothing to stop how fucking hard I am for this woman. I’m not sure what the hell is going on still. How has she gotten under my skin so quickly?

I start with a copy of the ad, then her email, and the response. When I’m done, I lean back on the couch and blow out a breath, my head tipping back as she gently takes her laptop from me. I feel her move and when I turn my head toward her, she’s pulled her shoes off and has tucked one leg under the other, her brown eyes studying me in a way which makes me want to ask her to stay.

But I shouldn’t. Right?

“I didn’t put the ad up, but it’s clear they were talking about me. I’m not sure what to do here,” my voice is gruff. I hate being unsure; it’s a weakness I can’t afford.

“I came here to marry you, Gannon.” She giggles and rubs her face with her hands and when she looks back at me, I can see how tired she is. “I’m not sure what to do here either.”

“Then lets just see what happens?” Her eyes widen and I’m quick to add on, “I just mean, I have plenty of room. You can stay here, and we can figure it out.”

My eyes are drawn to the way she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. I want to bite her lip. Desperately.

“Okay,” she whispers before looking around and scrunching up her face. She tilts her head to the side as she looks back at me. “Why don’t you have any decorations up?”

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