“I don’t live here.”
“Still,” I shrug. “You whittle wood?”
“My skills with a knife go beyond chopping meat.”
“And you’re adopted?”
“May as well be,” He says gruffly, “The Avery’s have been the only thing I’ve known. I’m an Avery and will always be an Avery.”
“Okay,” I blow out a breath, “My turn.”
The laughter comes so easily for the rest of the night that time becomes a blur. We play until the sky begins to lighten and the rising sun brings dawn.
“Well Kolten Avery,” I stand, stretching out my legs, “Now you’re no longer a stranger. Perhaps I’ll see you tonight.”
The golden light of the early morning sun kisses his face, all the hard lines and edges, “Perhaps you will, trouble.”
“You don’t know how much trouble I could be,” I tease.
“Oh, I know,” He stands with me, “I’m looking forward to finding out.”
Chapter Two
Ihaven’t slept. Not since leaving Vanessa at the docks at the first light of dawn, the golden sun kissing the warm tones of her hair and setting her eyes ablaze.
Fuck she’s so pretty. A little sleepy, lids hooded, her clothes crumpled, and hair mused from the sea breeze. She smiled at me, like the little troublemaker she could be, and I’d just about dropped to my knees for her.
Women. I’ve been around them a lot, parties, galas, events. My clients have daughters and pretty wives, I’ve run in circles where women are offered on platters and in circles where they rule, and never once have they tempted me the way she does.
And this is a woman I’ve known barely twenty-four hours.
I couldn’t help going to the docks when I spotted her sitting alone out there. I don’t even know why I went, just that she was there, and I needed to be too.
I never expected to be there all night, I never expected to be sitting beneath the dark sky, the stars and the sea our only company. This sleepy town wasn’t the place for me. I was born in a big city, born into a family that forgot about me, and raised in a place I was never seen, but here, you can’t walk down the street without someone seeing you, even if they don’t know you, and talking to you. It’s like they are invested in you, despite barely knowing you.
I was so used to being unseen. I like my bubble, with Torin and Everett, my brothers, and the father that had picked me, but everyone else…
I don’t like people. Most of the time.
But I like Vanessa.
“And where the fuck did you go?” Everett, my youngest brother, stumbles into the kitchen as I’m nursing a coffee and watching the water from the window.
“Out.” I grunt my response.
“All night?” He scoffs. “Which unlucky girl did you convince to take you home? There’s only so many in this town young enough.”
Everett talks shit. All the time. He likes to wind people up; he gets under their skin and gets a kick from their reaction. He’s been this way since we were kids, and I was brought into their family. It’s harmless, most of the time.
I don’t deign him with a response, that’s where he gets the thrill and he knows I won’t bite, even if he tries. With a grumble, he makes himself a coffee and drops onto the couch, sinking into the cushions.
“Torin?” I ask, referring to our middle brother. He’d just lost his wife and son and out of the three of us, Torin feels the most.
“Sleeping,” Everett sighs, “I don’t get it.”
“Get what?” I ask.
“Why he’s so sad.”
