Page 132 of Scent to the Feral Cowboys

Yet…

"Fine," I said, pushing away from the counter where I’d still been leaning. "But only because I need some air." There was no venom in my voice.

Cooper stifled a laugh. I frowned at him. “What?”

“I’m just glad you ate something, Nell. You know, only because you needed your strength.”

My mouth dropped open in surprise, but then I clamped my lips back together in annoyance.

"Has anyone ever kicked your ass?" I angrily shot the question at Cooper.

Boone chuckled, deep and warm, the sound vibrating through the kitchen. "I'd pay to see that."

"Me too," Levi added with a crooked, wonderful smile.

Cooper raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning. "Just making an observation."

“Your observations often deserve a good ass kicking,” Wyatt smirked at his pack mate.

“Without me, your lives would be boring as hell.” Cooper shrugged, walking over to the sink and flipping on the faucet to tackle dishes.

“You do keep us from being bored,” Wyatt admitted.

Wade moved toward me, pitching his voice conspiratorially. "We should get going before Cooper digs himself a deeper hole. If they start fighting, we’ll never get outside."

He began moving out of the kitchen, and I followed, tilting my chin up defiantly when my left foot suddenly stung.

The other Alphas were volleying jabs back and forth, bantering good-naturedly. When they suddenly stopped as I passed beneath the archway to leave, I turned around to see why they’d quieted. They all watched me with expressions flitting between jealousy—as if they wanted to be the ones going out with me—and hope—that my willingness to go with Wade somehow signaled that I might decide to stay, no matter what Eros emailed back.

I’d like to say that the walk wasn’t a sign I was thawing towards the Alphas, but my grandparents didn’t raise a liar.

30

NELLY

When I entered the living room, Wade was shoving into his boots. He’d already added a hat to his white tee, time-worn jeans combo. Nervously, I brushed my hands against my the puffy, too-large swim trunks, once again aware that I looked ridiculous. I wasn’t even wearing shoes, just the bandages.

“Ready,” Wade asked, oblivious to my outfit.

I looked down at myself.

Then back at him in a very ‘Cinderella wondering how the fairy godmother could expect her to go to a royal ball dressed in rags’ way.

"Um,” I hesitated, wondering if I’d seem stuck-up or demanding. “Do you have any different clothes I can wear? Preferably ones that fit better."

"Oh.” He looked me over, realization washing over his face. “Right… guess going outside in that get up probably isn’t ideal. I can find you something,” Wade offered, already heading out of the living room before his words were finished.

I trailed after him, keeping my distance. Little ringlets had formed at the end of his mullet. Impulsively, I wanted to twirl one around my finger, my right hand even twitched as it swished gently against the lobster print shorts while I walked.Thankfully, I had enough willpower to stop myself from actually doing it.

Wade stopped in the middle of the bedroom hallway, then reached upward, pulling on a string. Attic stairs dropped, guided to the ground by his continuous tug. Once they were down, he pushed firmly on the double hinges, straightening the folding steps.

"Wait here," he said, before climbing up into the attic space. He didn’t have to say it; I had zero desire to climb up in a creepy attic with him.

I heard grunting, shuffling, and a curse word.

About ten minutes later, he climbed back down holding a box marked ‘fifth grade’ along with a pair of brown boots. Sweat glazed his brow, and a smudge of dirt marred his cheek.

Without thinking, I reached up and traced my thumb over the dirty spot, swiping most of it away. I froze, hand still hovering near his face. Wade was already a statue, unable to move, not even blinking. His eyes locked with mine, green and wide, obviously startled by the contact. My hand still hovered near his face, caught in the moment between us.