Page 39 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

“I walked up and down and finally decided to be methodical. My plan is to visit every level, in order, one a day.”

Serene looked sincerely impressed. “A very sound and well-conceived approach. I’m so pleased that you’re looking into my offer.”

Carnal took a drink without taking his eyes away from Rosie. He said nothing. He simply stared with a mix of amusement and something hard to pinpoint, intrigue maybe.

When nothing more was said on the matter, Free turned to Charming. “Any more issues with cramping?”

Charming looked embarrassed. “No. It was a fluke.”

“That’s good.”

“That is good.” Carnal turned to Charming chuckling. “I wouldn’t want it to get around that my little brother has problems withcramps.”

“Grow up,” Charming said to Carnal, just before he lunged at his brother, taking the two of them to the floor wrestling in spite of being tangled up in Carnal’s chair.

Serene looked at Free with pleading in her eyes. With a sigh, he rose, stepped over to the scene that had Rosie looking on open-mouthed and separated his sons in a maneuver that was obviously practiced until tried and true.

He spoke with his authoritarian voice and, for the first time, Rosie could see how and why Free was leader of the Exiled.

“Sit down and behave or eat outside on the dirt with the dogs and chickens.”

Charming glanced at Rosie red-faced. Carnal looked at Rosie and smiled without the tiniest hint of remorse or embarrassment. She suspected it would take a lot to embarrass someone with Carnal’s exaggerated self-esteem.

Rosie left for work the next morning with her shawl pulled around her, but when she stepped outside, she was pleasantly surprised to find the weather had turned mild. She could see from the short distance that lumber and supplies were stacked outside the front of the Commons. Men were already working on erecting a buffer room.

“Who’s the architect?” she asked.

“You mean the planner?” She turned, hearing Carnal’s familiar, teasing voice.

“Yes. The planner then.”

“This is Rail.” Carnal pointed to one of the men. He had the more unusual jet black hair like Free and piercing yellow-green eyes. Rail nodded in greeting.

“Rail. How do you do? I was wondering if you’d be open to an improvement on my original suggestion.”

“Ah.” He looked at Carnal. “Yeah. I guess.”

“Well,” Rosie went on. “If you make a long rectangular porch, and put a door at either end, instead of one door in front of the interior door? I think it would hold the warmth better.”

Rail looked toward the building. “We could do that. We’d need to build another door since we’re talking about two instead of one, but that’s not a big problem.”

Rosie gave Rail a bewitching smile, which Carnal didn’t care for, before heading into the Commons.

Dandy had left the door open since it was such a beautiful day.

“Hey,” Rosie said.

“Good morning.” Dandy looked up. “No need to start the fire. It’s nice today. If it gets cooler, Scar can do it himself.”

“Works for me.”

Before Rosie went about her usual chores, she asked, “Is Carnal part of the carpentry crew? I thought he was a fighter.”

“Don’t be dense.”

“What does that mean?”

“Isn’t it obvious? He’s helping with the build out so he’ll be visible toyou.”