anything in his life, his words calmed her. Reinforced her decision to run. He was right.
She wasn't stupid.
Stupid was staying in an impossible situation without finding a way out, without fighting for what you believed in. She'd made her decision. She'd stick with it and keep running. Life on the run, living on junk food was better than being mated to a slimeball like Carl. Or, with a family that thought of her as a freak.
Or, a father that would use her as collateral in a poker game.
But she was so tired of running. So tired... Kendall's eyelids drooped. It would be so easy to just settle back onto the pillows and drift off to sleep.
Burke managed to ignore the sleeping beauty in his bed for most of the afternoon. He’d finished not one, but two, books on his list. Speed-reading had its advantages.
At lunchtime he’d poked his head into the bedroom and found her clutching his pillow for dear life. The visual had taken its toll on his state of mind since then. Mostly because there was a beautiful, half naked woman in his bed who needed comforting. But also because he knew he’d never be able to get her scent out of his bed linens.
The Fates certainly had a warped sense of humor, sending a beautiful human into his life. He dragged his hand down his face and reread the last paragraph. The problem, of course, with speed-reading was you had to pay closer attention or soon you were five pages along and had no clue what was going on.
A minute later Burke closed his third book of the day and glanced out the window at the mountain range beyond. A cloud hung in the sky over Mt. Washington. He was counting the minutes until he could hit the slopes, feel the wind rushing by him as the conquered the mountain beneath him.
Years ago there’d been talk about him going pro. He was just too good to be a recreational skier the sponsors had said. But Burke didn’t want that level of scrutiny. He’d never gotten off on seeing his picture on the cover of magazines. And Deveraux shipping had paid better.
Not that the money was important. Not in the scheme of things. He’d have gladly given up his fortune for a chance at a happy, whole life. A life with a mate. Kids.
Settling back onto the sofa, he closed his eyes and let himself daydream. It was there that he saw her. A vexing blue-eyed blonde holding a darling little aqua eyed girl. And next to them was a boy, almost hip-high with Burke’s dark hair and those same startling blue eyes.
The three of them were giggling. Then they smiled…at him.
What were the chances…
Burke recoiled from the horror on Annabelle's beautiful face. Her eyes were wide with terror, her mouth hung open in disbelief, and then her nose...her cute button nose crinkled in disgust. He didn't even bother to shift back to his human self.
What was there left to say?
She'd seen what he was. He'd showed his true self to her. With his heart breaking, he pivoted on his haunches and galloped into the forest.
The damp earth squished between his toes, the scent of spring ripe around him. But it might as well have been a bitter cold winter’s day, snowing heavily. Gray and desolate.
He never should have shown himself to her. His brother would call him a fool, and Burke wouldn't be able to deny it. Slowing, he glanced at the place he'd called home all his life. Laurent sat atop the stone wall that circled the stately manor house, a book in his lap.
Their gazes met and locked. Without words, Laurent knew. Burke could see it in his eyes.
You showed her, didn't you, you crazy fool?
Burke laid at his brother's feet, huffing out an agonized breath. Damn, it hurt to inhale. Was it possible for a heart to physically crack?
There was nothing to be said. No hope left for him. He'd thought Annabelle had been the one for him. His woman. She'd looked at him with stars in her eyes.
She was gone. Darkness closed in around him.
Her screams echoed in his ears. They sounded so close, and yet, muffled.
Burke came
She wasn't stupid.
Stupid was staying in an impossible situation without finding a way out, without fighting for what you believed in. She'd made her decision. She'd stick with it and keep running. Life on the run, living on junk food was better than being mated to a slimeball like Carl. Or, with a family that thought of her as a freak.
Or, a father that would use her as collateral in a poker game.
But she was so tired of running. So tired... Kendall's eyelids drooped. It would be so easy to just settle back onto the pillows and drift off to sleep.
Burke managed to ignore the sleeping beauty in his bed for most of the afternoon. He’d finished not one, but two, books on his list. Speed-reading had its advantages.
At lunchtime he’d poked his head into the bedroom and found her clutching his pillow for dear life. The visual had taken its toll on his state of mind since then. Mostly because there was a beautiful, half naked woman in his bed who needed comforting. But also because he knew he’d never be able to get her scent out of his bed linens.
The Fates certainly had a warped sense of humor, sending a beautiful human into his life. He dragged his hand down his face and reread the last paragraph. The problem, of course, with speed-reading was you had to pay closer attention or soon you were five pages along and had no clue what was going on.
A minute later Burke closed his third book of the day and glanced out the window at the mountain range beyond. A cloud hung in the sky over Mt. Washington. He was counting the minutes until he could hit the slopes, feel the wind rushing by him as the conquered the mountain beneath him.
Years ago there’d been talk about him going pro. He was just too good to be a recreational skier the sponsors had said. But Burke didn’t want that level of scrutiny. He’d never gotten off on seeing his picture on the cover of magazines. And Deveraux shipping had paid better.
Not that the money was important. Not in the scheme of things. He’d have gladly given up his fortune for a chance at a happy, whole life. A life with a mate. Kids.
Settling back onto the sofa, he closed his eyes and let himself daydream. It was there that he saw her. A vexing blue-eyed blonde holding a darling little aqua eyed girl. And next to them was a boy, almost hip-high with Burke’s dark hair and those same startling blue eyes.
The three of them were giggling. Then they smiled…at him.
What were the chances…
Burke recoiled from the horror on Annabelle's beautiful face. Her eyes were wide with terror, her mouth hung open in disbelief, and then her nose...her cute button nose crinkled in disgust. He didn't even bother to shift back to his human self.
What was there left to say?
She'd seen what he was. He'd showed his true self to her. With his heart breaking, he pivoted on his haunches and galloped into the forest.
The damp earth squished between his toes, the scent of spring ripe around him. But it might as well have been a bitter cold winter’s day, snowing heavily. Gray and desolate.
He never should have shown himself to her. His brother would call him a fool, and Burke wouldn't be able to deny it. Slowing, he glanced at the place he'd called home all his life. Laurent sat atop the stone wall that circled the stately manor house, a book in his lap.
Their gazes met and locked. Without words, Laurent knew. Burke could see it in his eyes.
You showed her, didn't you, you crazy fool?
Burke laid at his brother's feet, huffing out an agonized breath. Damn, it hurt to inhale. Was it possible for a heart to physically crack?
There was nothing to be said. No hope left for him. He'd thought Annabelle had been the one for him. His woman. She'd looked at him with stars in her eyes.
She was gone. Darkness closed in around him.
Her screams echoed in his ears. They sounded so close, and yet, muffled.
Burke came
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