I may have only seen him with his clothes on but I shamelessly pictured him naked. A girl could have her fantasies. It wasn’t like any of them would ever come close to coming true. They couldn’t and I was done believing in happily-ever-after.
At least for myself.
“You just went through so many emotions in a span of a minute. What are you thinking about?” Paxton asked.
Earlier outside I’d thought he could see into my soul and I was sure if I stood there looking at him long enough he would for sure. I needed to get a move on and out of the house as planned.
Before I could move, he cupped my face one more time and I leaned into his touch, soaking in the comfort it brought to my battered heart.
“At least tell me why I saw tears in your eyes earlier? It almost broke my damn heart to see that. I just want to help, Capri.”
The tenderness as he spoke and his words sent a tremble through my body. Tears once again flooded my eyes but I fought to hold them back.
And then I broke his hold and I ran.
I heard him calling out to me as I reached the front door but I didn’t dare turn back.
If I did I might spill my story and lay it all at his feet, then beg him to make the sorrow and fear go away.
ChapterTwo
PAXTON
It tooka lot of constraint not to go after her.
There was something about Capri that called to me from the moment I laid eyes on her. It wasn’t just her beauty, but I wouldn’t deny the woman was gorgeous.
With her soft, smooth, olive-toned skin—the feel of it was something I could finally confirm after touching her for the first time—down to her silky caramel-colored hair that showcased natural mahogany and honey toned highlights. And don’t forget those expressive mossy green eyes that sparkled with flecks of gold when she was happy and darkened to a deep shade of forest green when she was upset. A very sexy body, curves in all the right places. And that radiant smile that lit up the room when someone managed to coax one out of her was a killer.
While all that could draw any man in, there was more to Capri. What I’d seen probably only touched the surface of what an amazing woman she was. She was sweet, caring, adorable with the kids, and she was there for her friends whenever they needed her, without asking for anything in return.
I did believe she just wanted to help and be a good friend, but I also felt she held herself back because of something that none of us knew. Confiding in us would bring more personal inquiries than she was willing to divulge.
The woman was a bit mysterious but there was one thing she didn’t hide from the world or her friends—her baking ability.
Her desserts were to die for.
I wandered out of the house and into the backyard where everyone was still gathered celebrating. The guys were eyeing me as I walked back into their circle and their conversation stopped.
“You know the ladies have their eye on you and a certain brunette. They’re scheming and matchmaking,” Kace said, letting out a snicker. “I’m sure they all watched you run after Capri too. I’m sure they are going to amp up their game real soon.”
“Capri isn’t a game,” I bit out a little too harshly.
Kace threw his hands up in a surrender motion. I knew he was one to joke but I was worried about the woman and I overreacted.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to take your head off.” I rolled my neck, trying to get rid of the tension I felt. “It’s just that I think something is going on with her. I realize I don’t know her as well as you guys do but the woman is hiding something and scared.”
“We know,” Rowan said. “When Brinley was looking into the space for her bookstore next to Capri’s bakery, I was a bit obsessed with making sure that not only Capri, but everyone else around there, were good people.” He sighed. “While everyone checked out, nothing really came up on Capri.”
I cocked my head in curiosity and Rowan looked at Gyth, drawing my gaze to the big guy. The man was a badass beast, but he was also damn good when it came to computers and getting intel.
“Capri looked okay, but her information was vague. In other words, to most she looked fine, but for someone like me she came up like a partial ghost,” Gyth told me. “In the end I’d like to think we all can read people pretty well and we all agreed that the young woman wasn’t a threat.”
Rowan jumped back in and I turned back to him. “The women love her, she is sweet, and she didn’t hesitate to put her life on the line when I got hurt. Capri has proved she’s an amazing human being. But we’re all on the same page as you and think it’s only a matter of time before her secrets see the light of day. She'll need us all then and we’ll be there.”
“Damn right we will,” I said.
Rowan thumped my back. “Welcome to the club, man.”
