Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 67614 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67614 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“You can’t weave this thing there,” Giles says, shaking his head. “It’s too big of a project, Breena, and you have no space.”
“Interesting,” Lorelei adds. “We were just having that conversation this morning.”
I shoot her a look, but Lorelei only smiles at me.
“I can make it work.”
“Might I suggest,” Xander starts, those piercing black eyes on me, “that you take Giles up on his offer and come stay here for the time being while we work through this project, at least?”
“It makes sense,” Lucy adds, her voice soft as she smiles at me. “You have to agree that the space you have now is simply inadequate, Breena.”
I blow out a breath and glance over at Giles, who watches me with those somber eyes. I really don’t want to make anything more uncomfortable than it already is.
I don’t want to be more embarrassed than I already am.
“Maybe I can just move back into my house.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Chapter Two
Giles
Five pairs of eyes whip over to me, but I don’t take my gaze off Breena. Anger moves through my veins, hotter than it has in a long time.
“What?” Breena asks, frowning at me.
“You won’t go live in that house.” I shake my head and cross my arms over my chest, absolutely unwilling to waver on the point. “It terrifies you, Breena. It’s not going to stop just because you have a new project to work on.”
She casts her gaze down, and I feel like an asshole for making her uncomfortable. But damn it, she’s so fucking stubborn, and it drives me out of my mind.
“I think I’m overreacting.” Her voice is smaller now, and Lorelei shoots me a look that would make a weaker man wither and fall through the floor.
“You’re not.” I walk to Breena, take her hand in mine, and link our fingers, immediately feeling her relax. “You’re not overreacting at all. What happened to you—to all of us—in that house was terrifying, and it makes sense that you don’t want to stay there. Breena, I have more room than I know what to do with here. You can spread out, take it over. I won’t mind a bit.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip, and I can’t help but think what a blind idiot I was for not seeing that she had feelings for me for so long. She’s always been my friend, and part of me always wanted more, but she’s younger than me, and I didn’t think I’d ever have a chance in hell.
“I think it’s the right thing to do,” Lucy asserts. When Breena looks over at her, her cousin nods in encouragement. “It’ll feel good to be out of that cramped space, Breena.”
Finally, Breena sighs and looks at me. “You mean it when you say you don’t mind? You’re not just saying it to be kind?”
“I wouldn’t lie about that. If I didn’t want you here, I’d say so.”
She licks her lips and seems to make up her mind because she abruptly stands.
“I guess I’d better start packing, then.”
“We can help,” Xander offers, but Breena shakes her head.
“I appreciate it, and maybe when it’s time to actually move the stuff over, I can use the extra hands, but I’m kind of particular about how I want things packed. I cast little spells and set intentions.”
“I understand,” Xander says. “Thank you for stepping outside your comfort zone to help us, Breena.”
She seems to think something over and then looks around the room, tears filling her eyes.
“Honey, what is it?” Lorelei asks.
“I love you all so much.” Breena swallows hard. “The last thing I want is to be a burden on anyone.”
Unable to stop myself, I loop an arm around her shoulders, and Breena immediately rests her head against me.
“No one in this room is a burden,” I say softly. “At the very core of it all, we’re friends, Breena. Always have been. You’re always welcome in my home, and that will never change.”
She nods and seems to pull herself together, squaring her shoulders. “Okay. Thank you. I have so much to do. I really should be going.”
“I have more research to do now that we know about this spell,” Xander says as he stands. “But I won’t pass up one of Breena’s cinnamon rolls.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Breena laughs. “I forgot all about them.”
“Trust me,” Lucy says, “none of us forgot. They smell amazing.”
“Let’s eat too much sugar and enjoy each other before we get back to the heavy stuff,” Lorelei suggests. “We deserve it.”
It’s been three days since the meeting at my home when I finally talked Breena into coming to stay with me. Once I close the shop for the day, I’ll move her in.
I wish she would’ve come to live in the house when everything started. I want her nearby, where I know she’s safe.
But I also understand her need for privacy and independence.