Page 10 of Time to Stirrup Love
“Your sister, huh?” she queried, trying to engage him in any form of communication to get her mind off the fact she was standing in his houseboat and wearing his clothes, because if she dwelled on those thoughts, her mind instantly began to wander to other things.
Naughty things.
“Yes.” That’s all he said, and she was realizing that Finn definitely was not a conversationalist.
“She doesn’t…look like you.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “She takes after my mother, who is human. Female glashtyns keep their human form and there aren’t many of them.”
“Can she shift?”
“You’re very curious.”
“I suppose I am. I’ve never lived in such an openly monster town before. Everything before the Great Revelation was just myth.”
Finn sighed, then relaxed. “Would you like a coffee?”
“Sure.”
“I figured you need something to warm you up and then I can answer your questions. I appreciate your curiosity. Humans aren’t always that kind.”
“Well, I am.”
Then Finn smiled at her, just slightly, and turned on the coffee maker. Margaid walked over to his couch and curled up, holding the trousers. It only took a few minutes and Finn had poured two hot cups of coffee.
“I only have sugar. Kind of out of milk,” he said.
“Sugar is fine. I’m also okay with just black too.”
Finn didn’t respond, but mixed in some sugar and then brought her a mug. As she reached out to take it, their fingers brushed and shiver of anticipation ran down her spine at just the simple touch.
He retracted his hand as if he’d been stung.
Clearly, this was a one-sided thing, this attraction.
“Thanks,” she responded quickly.
He shrugged. “Sure.”
“Can I ask a question?”
“Okay.”
Although, given his expression, she didn’t think that it was okay, but she didn’t care. She didn’t want to sit here in awkward silence while her clothes dried.
“You’re not really…chatty.”
He sat down in a chair and set his coffee on a table. “Is that a requirement?”
“Well, I mean I’m interested in you and the town. You seem loathe to answer questions.”
“Hmm. Not sure how I feel about that.”
“Why?”
“Well, you could potentially shut down my business.”
Warmth flooded her cheeks. It was true. If the species was struggling, or the lake was ailing, then she would have to make a recommendation to shut down sportfishing on the lake until the population was healthier. There was no point in denying it.
