Unravel Me. Lynn Montagano

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СКАЧАТЬ I put it in neutral, popped the brake and cut the engine.

      “How d—”

      I was silenced by a kiss.

      “Impressive, Meyers.”

      He looked a little peaked but otherwise seemed fine. A twinge of guilt shot through me. Maybe my driving so fast had reminded him of the accident that killed his family. My stomach sank. Not what I was going for.

      “Come with me.”

      Those words always sent a charge through me. Grinning, he got out of the car. I waited while he grabbed a blanket from the trunk and followed him to a large elm tree. After he spread the blanket he motioned for me to sit. Once I was settled he laid down, resting his head in my lap. I played with his hair, enjoying the quiet. Only the occasional chirping bird interrupted the relative peace of our little roadside pit stop.

      “Everything okay at work?” I asked. There was a long pause before he answered.

      “I suppose.”

      Here we go. The parade of vagueness begins.

      “How’s your grandfather been feeling?”

      “Fine.”

      “And your aunt and uncle? How are they?”

      “Same as always. Katherine keeps asking when I’m bringing you by the house again.”

      The house. I had to stifle a laugh. My whole apartment building could fit neatly inside the Holden Estate with room to spare.

      “We should go back there and visit. I’m sure they’d love to see you outside of official family gatherings.”

      Alastair folded his arms across his chest and stared up at the sky. I could tell he hated the idea. He’d mentioned he avoided going to the estate unless it was necessary. His aunt was a sweet woman, though. I couldn’t imagine why he wouldn’t want to spend time with her. The uncle was another story. I’d noticed Alastair’s relationship with him seemed strained.

      “You look lovely today.”

      I came screeching back to the present and glanced down at him as he fingered the hem on the green chevron striped tank top I’d picked from the closet. I’d paired it with denim shorts.

      “Thank you.”

      “Everything fits alright?”

      “Um, yeah.”

      “But…?” He raised an eyebrow.

      “Well, the bra is a little snug. But I think that has more to do with, you know, hormones and stuff.”

      “Snug?” He reached up, skimming his fingers over the swell of my breasts and cupped one of them. “Feels good to me.”

      “Smart ass.”

      “What? I think you look smashing. Sexy as always.”

      “Whatever.”

      A slight frown marred his otherwise serene expression. Anxiety rushed through my body. The late afternoon sunlight shone off his eyes as he looked up at me, turning them an even more vibrant green.

      “What’s on your mind?”

      “Nothing.”

      He smiled bitterly. “Is this what I do to you? Give annoying one word answers when there is clearly something going on?”

      “Sometimes.”

      He was quiet for a few seconds. “Okay then. This morning, when you asked about Paxton running errands for me? The reason I got upset is because when I was younger my uncle always drilled into my head that nothing should ever be handed to me. I should work hard for every advantage, just as he and my father did. It didn’t matter that we were wealthy. The minute we let someone else do the most simple task for us, we lost our sense of independence.”

      The transformation in his manner of speaking was jarring. He sounded monotone, almost as though he were reciting an unpleasant oath. Regardless of my suspicions about his uncle, this seemed to be a decent piece of advice. But what did I know?

      Some of the tension melted from his face. “Sorry I was so abrupt with you. It’s a bit of a sore spot with me.”

      “You have a lot of sore spots.” I poked him in the stomach. “I’m going to need a roadmap pretty soon to navigate through them.”

      “No you won’t,” he said softly, staring up at me with reverence. “You’re gorgeous in this light.”

      Sitting up slowly, he twisted a piece of my hair around his finger. Sunlight reflected off the chestnut strands in shades of copper and auburn. More stunning for me was the way it set his hair ablaze with color.

      “So are you.”

      He scrunched his nose. “If you say so. Come. I want to take you somewhere.”

      For the first time ever I didn’t ask where we were going. I simply followed him back to the car and remained silent. I liked how this weekend was progressing. We felt more comfortable around one another, physically and emotionally. At least I did. I could tell he did to a certain extent. There were still an abundance of layers to peel away before I’d be secure enough knowing he fully trusted me with his emotions. Patience was the key. The last thing I wanted to do was rush him. Or complicate matters with accusations of stalking.

      I winced, pushing the thought out of my mind.

      “We’ve arrived.”

      I glanced out the window and saw a familiar looking thatched cottage.

      “I remember this place,” I grinned, following him to the front door. The same ‘at home’ feeling washed over me when I entered the cozy living room. Everything about this cottage was the exact opposite of his house. It was modest and lived in. The hard wood floors were a warm honey color partly covered by a soft cream throw rug. Small lamps and sconces cast a pleasant glow throughout. Even the low ceilings had charm with their exposed beams.

      “What do you remember about it?”

      Leaning against the crimson couch, I smiled. “I remember you being a gentleman after my unattractive display from too many martinis.”

      “Is that all?”

      The longing in his eyes radiated through the room. In a heartbeat, he stood in front of me. A flurry of nerves rushed through my stomach. He brushed his cheek against mine, the stubble lightly tickling me. I lost myself in his delicious scent. The mix of shampoo, body wash and him was so enticing.

      “This is where I first kissed you,” he whispered, brushing his thumb over my lips. “This is where you made me feel for the first time in years.”

      Something about the cottage had a calming effect on him. He stood before me, devoid of any protective shield or mask. Seeing him so open melted my heart. He moved closer, gently running his knuckles down my cheek.

      “Please СКАЧАТЬ