Hard as Steel (Men of Copper Mountain #2) Read Online Aria Cole

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Insta-Love Tags Authors: Series: Men of Copper Mountain Series by Aria Cole
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Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
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But it’s when his gaze shifts back to me that I feel the heat intensify again. The moment may have been interrupted, but the tension between us is still very much alive, simmering just beneath the surface, waiting for the right spark to ignite it.

As the day draws to a close, the forge grows quieter, and Knox’s brothers take their leave, still chuckling as they head out the door. I gather my things, feeling the weight of the day settling over me.

“See you tomorrow, Knox,” I say, flashing him a smile.

He nods, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary. “Tomorrow.”

As I walk out of the forge, I can’t shake the feeling that something is shifting between us, something I’m not quite ready to name. But whatever it is, I know one thing for sure—this is just the beginning.

Chapter Three

Perry

I stand behind the counter of my new flower shop, staring blankly at the vibrant bouquet in front of me. The peonies and dahlias are beautiful, their bright colors and delicate petals bursting with life, but I can’t seem to focus. My hands move on autopilot, arranging the flowers as if they have a mind of their own, while my mind is somewhere else entirely. Somewhere darker. Somewhere I don’t want to be.

I know he’s in town. I can feel it, like a storm brewing just beyond the horizon, ready to sweep in and tear apart everything I’ve built. He hasn’t shown himself yet, not directly. But the signs are there. The cryptic notes slipped into my mailbox late at night, the strange occurrences at the shop—flowers wilting unexpectedly, deliveries gone missing, equipment breaking down. All of it reeks of him, and every day that passes, the knot in my stomach tightens. I’ve been in Copper Mountain for less than a month and already a dark cloud seems to hang over the life I’ve built here.

But I refuse to let him win. I left that life behind, came to Copper Mountain for a fresh start, for peace. My flower shop, my little haven, was supposed to be that peace. Yet here I am, standing behind the counter with my heart pounding, my hands shaking as I try to keep it together.

I’ve always prided myself on being independent. I don’t need anyone to fight my battles for me. Especially not Knox. The thought of him makes my chest tighten, but in a different way. I don’t want to drag him into this mess. He’s already got his own issues, his own demons to deal with. I’ve seen the shadows in his eyes, the way he keeps people at arm’s length. Bringing him into my problems would just complicate things.

But still, every time I think of him, there’s this pull. Like he’s the only one who could make me feel safe again, even if I won’t admit it out loud.

The bell above the door jingles, pulling me from my thoughts. I look up, expecting a customer, but instead, it’s Knox, all six feet of brooding muscle and dark eyes, standing in the doorway of my shop. His presence fills the room immediately, the scent of metal and earth clinging to him like a second skin. He looks out of place here, surrounded by soft petals and pastel colors, but at the same time, there’s something about him that feels grounding. Solid.

“Hey,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady as I force a smile. “What brings you here?”

He steps inside, his eyes scanning the shop before they land on me. There’s something in his gaze, something heavy, like he can see right through the smile I’m wearing and knows I’m barely holding it together.

“I was in the area,” he says gruffly, as if that explains everything. “Thought I’d stop by.”

I raise an eyebrow, leaning against the counter. “Since when do you stop by flower shops, Knox?”

His lips twitch, the closest thing to a smile I’ve seen from him in days. “Not my usual scene, I’ll admit.”

There’s a beat of silence between us, thick with tension. I busy myself with rearranging the flowers again, needing something to do with my hands, but I can feel his eyes on me, watching me closely. It’s like he’s waiting for me to say something, to admit what’s really going on, but I can’t. Not yet. If I tell him, if I let him in, then everything becomes real. And I’m not ready for that.

“You okay?” His voice is softer now, low and rumbling like distant thunder.

I glance up at him, forcing another smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… busy.”

He steps closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming. “Perry.”

My name on his lips is enough to make my heart stutter, and I curse myself for how easily he gets under my skin. But I keep my walls up, not willing to let him see how close I am to breaking. “Really, it’s fine,” I say quickly, avoiding his gaze. “Just a little overwhelmed with the shop.”


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