Page 83 of Seduced By the Mermen
“I’m having a good time. That doesn’t mean I need to commit to anyone.” I give Marlee a hug.
“Really? That’s fascinating.” It could be. It could really be fascinating, but I have no idea what Kade just said. My heart is too busy bouncing around inside my rib cage every time––
“Do you mind backing up, Mason? No one is going to attack Blair in a furniture store.” Kade Driftwood goes toe to toe with Sterling, and I can’t help wondering if Kade has a secret death wish. This is the third time he’s challenged Sterling, and each time Sterling’s expression turns more and more... well, grim. Yes, I know this is supposed to be me getting to know the guys in the Driftwood pod. But I’m finding myself glancing at the tall brooding Mason male more than focusing on anything Kade, Hale, Torin, or Severn Driftwood are saying.
“Yes,” Sterling says.
Kade blinks. “Yes, you mind backing up, or yes, you think someone will attack Blair in the furniture store?”
Sterling takes a sideways step, and Kade grunts.
“Like I was saying, Blair, this is one of the best furniture stores in all the Veiled City. This is a lovely sofa, don’t you think?” He runs his hand down the back of a black and coral sofa. There are little bumps in the leather.
“What type of leather is that?” I lean over the sofa, touching the back pillow.
Sterling laughs.
“What?” Kade snaps around. “Bodyguards aren’t supposed to talk.”
“I’m an agent of the king, and it’s rotten shrimp shells, Little One.”
Kade runs his hand through his hair. There’s a blush to his handsome jaw that wasn’t there earlier. “This is one of the most exclusive stores in the entire city. I had to pay to get this shopping spot.”
Sterling bows his head to me and whispers, “It’s crushed crustacean shells composited back together. Rotten shrimp shells, a waste product.” He wanders away from the three Driftwood males that are here with me.
“I suppose it is a bit weird,” Severn says, dropping onto the sofa. He’s a few years older than me. I think. It’s hard to tell. They’re all buff and fit, with only a smattering of wrinkles on their rugged faces. Severn’s hair is curly and the same shade as my golden doodle I used to have. He runs his hand down the fabric. “Yeah, this is a no from me.”
I laugh, and from across the room I more feel Sterling growl than hear him.
“Why do you wear those?” Severn points to my glasses.
“I’m nearsighted.” I push my glasses up my nose.
Severn nods. But I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know what nearsighted means. “Can I try them on?”
“Uh, sure.” I’m about to sit next to Severn on the sofa, but the salesclerk scowls.
At first, he was thrilled to have us in his shop. But he has long since picked up on the I’m-not-with-them-and-we’re-not-furnishing-a-new-house vibe.
There’s a growl from the other side of the room. I snap my head toward it and find Sterling also scowling at me. It catches me off-guard; my brain is telling me to sit, but my knees don’t listen. I do an awkward almost-squat, then swoop backup to standing. I’m trying to hand my glasses to the quizzical Severn, but I end up stumbling in front of the sofa and landing on my butt. My glasses sail across the room, skittering across something hard and then landing far out of my grasp with a clatter and a ting.
“Oh no.” I want to stand up more than anything, but that’s difficult to do when there’s a wall of muscle around you. Severn’s to the side, still on the sofa. Kade’s behind me, and in front of me is Sterling. How he got across the store so quickly, I haven’t a clue.
“Are you okay, Blair?” Kade asks from behind me.
I should answer, but I’m too busy looking at Sterling’s blurry face. I don’t have to see him clearly to know what he’s thinking—clumsy human. “I’m okay. Just lost my balance.”
Severn stands and reaches for my hand. It’s crowded with the front of this massive bumpy sofa facing the back of another humungous sofa. Sterling steps back while Severn helps me up. He pulls me up, and I end up standing between his legs. I’m waiting for my lusty heart to take off. But it doesn’t.
There’s nothing wrong with Severn Driftwood. He’s handsome, but handsome in an aren’t-you-a-good-boy way. I want to run my hands through his hair to see if it feels like my old dog’s. I could definitely see myself being his friend. And most certainly see fixing him up with one of my friends. Now I’ve got a list of single women from my travels around the country running through my head. Cindy from Brattleboro, Vermont? No. Ashley from Kennebunk, Maine? Yes. But that just might be because she’s got three labradors.
I suppose it doesn’t matter. If they don’t have the same gene as Marlee, Annabelle, and me, neither of them would be wanted. “Thanks,” I say.
“Here,” Sterling growls at me. “Be more careful.” He takes my hands in his, pushing my glasses into my palm. I might needto find a therapist, because his growling at me like an asshole has goosebumps racing up my arms. I fumble with my glasses, which are mercifully not broken, and put them on my face.
“Thank you.”
He hmphs. “It’s time to go.”
