Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
I want to claim her, to make her my own.
I want to make her mine for all time, and so no one else will ever touch her.
A kind of jealousy unfurls in my stomach at the mere thought of her being with another man.
She is so perfect in every way, and I haven’t seen a flaw yet.
Even the way she is eating her cake with obvious gusto and delight, rather than pretending she doesn’t want it and picking at small crumbs like some women do.
She’s incredible. And if I let her go back to the hotel now, I will likely never get the chance to see her again.
Why am I so fascinated with her?
It boggles my mind.
“So,” I say, struck by an idea. “You’re really interested in exploring the local area, right?”
“Yes!” Alana says, then flushes. A pretty pink color spreads over her cheekbones. “I mean, now I know, I’ll stay off the estate’s land. It’s just – what, from the ridge of the hills over there across from the hotel?”
I nod.
“Good guess,” I commend her. “But, don’t worry. Actually, since you’re interested in the subject, I was going to offer to be your guide. I know the local area well and can show you around – including the places on the estate that are usually off-limits to tourists.”
I look at her expectantly, waiting to hear her reply.
But to my dismay, she doesn’t say yes immediately. Instead, she looks down into her coffee cup and hesitates, making me think I’ve made a grave misstep.
CHAPTER FIVE
Alana
I hesitate for a moment, looking down to give myself time to think.
The thing is, I’m attracted to Finlay, like, really attracted to him. I’m more attracted to him than I ever had been to any man ever, especially one who is so much older than me. And he is a lot older than me.
The fact that his age doesn’t bother me in the slightest is part of what worries me.
Am I just being an innocent fool, trying to rush into a vacation romance that will ultimately mean nothing?
Of course, there is a really high chance I’m getting way ahead of myself, and Finlay doesn’t think of me that way.
Maybe this is all just a fantasy in my mind.
He’s probably offering because he feels guilty about scaring me and cares about the land. That’s all. He probably shows people around all the time.
In fact, he’s probably going to try to charge me for the service.
“Well,” I say, looking up. “I wouldn’t want to take up too much of your time. I’m sure you have a lot to do around the estate.”
“I mostly monitor the estate for intruders in the afternoons anyway,” he says with a shrug. “I could show you some places now and take you back to your hotel in time for your evening meal.”
I check my watch.
Oh, that’s right – it’s much earlier in the afternoon than I thought it was. I’m still getting used to the new time zone, even if I don’t feel much of the effects of the jet lag right now.
“Um,” I say.
“I shouldn’t have suggested it,” Finlay jumps in, shaking his head. “What was I thinking? You’re a young girl traveling on your own, and suddenly this random stranger offers to show you around. But, of course, you probably have tons of activities booked through your hotel.”
“No!” I practically shout, realizing I hesitated for too long and almost missed my chance. “No, that’s not it at all. I would love it if you showed me around and told me how all of this works. I just hope I’m not getting in the way of your job, you know? Your paid work?”
I hope that a subtle hint of a question will help to prompt him if he’s going to ask me for money. If it doesn’t, I will have to be a bit more upfront – a thought that makes me cringe inside.
“This is part of my job,” he says seriously. “I’m a custodian of the estate, which means I have to care for it. And part of caring for it is helping other people to fall in love with it, too. So if I can show you things that make you think about conservation in a new light, then there’s a little more hope that the planet might survive for future generations.”
I smile lightly.
I don’t miss the way he refers to the future as if it is something distant. Like he is looking at me and thinking the possibility of me having children is a long way off.
I’m not that young.
A lot of people wait to have kids now. But I have a motherly streak in me, and I always dreamed of having a family as early as possible. It’s just one more hint that he thinks of me as a child.