Page 85 of Mine Forever
All eyes turn to me.
Shit, I did say that out loud.
“No.” Chase’s tone brooks no argument.
I narrow my eyes at him. “What do you mean, no? Last I checked you weren’t my keeper.”
Chase crosses his arms over his chest, and we have a stare down.
“Um, we’re going to get going,” Charley says, pushing Nate and Lucas out of the room.
But she’s petite and the two men built like brick houses barely budge.
“But Firefly, there’s going to be fireworks here,” Nate says.
Charley sighs. “We’re going to have more than fireworks if you don’t get your ass in gear. Come on.”
The two men grumble but walk out as she waves. “We’ll just let ourselves out.”
Neither of us say a word, the front door closing the only sound in the house.
Chase breaks the silence first. “I’m not letting you go out in this. It’s still dangerous.”
I mimic his stance, crossing my arms over my chest.
“I’m not some simpering little woman, Chase. Haven’t I proven that enough by now? And are you saying you’re the only one that should go out in the dangerous weather? It’s not safe for me, but magically safe for you?”
His jaw bunches, and a tic in his cheek tells me he’s reining in his temper as best he can.
Join the club, buddy.
“No,” he says, deceptive calm in his voice. “But I’ve been through a couple of these since I’ve been on the island. I think we’ve already established that you underestimate the weather.”
My hands curl into fists, and I blow out a breath. “Yes, but I’ll be with you. Just tell me where you need my help.”
When he doesn’t budge, I put a hand on my hip. “Fine, I’ll just go sit in the truck and wait for you. Short of manhandling me, you can’t make me get out.”
I start toward the front door, when he catches my wrist and brings me up against his chest.
In his green eyes, it isn’t so much anger I see as it is frustration and a healthy dose of fear.
“You drive me crazy, you know that?”
I give him a feline smile. “Same goes, Hanover.”
He glances at my lips before meeting my eyes again. “Fine. But you have to do as I say, okay? It’s easy to miscalculate the flooding here.” He pauses. “Do you promise you’ll listen?”
I hold up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
Before I can take my next breath, he has my face in his hands and kisses the hell out of me.
I slump against him, gathering a fistful of fabric with my hands.
Just when I think I’ll pass out from lack of oxygen, he releases me.
“Let’s go help this idiot and get back. We’ve got a few more rooms in this house to christen before the night’s over.”
NINETEEN
