Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“No worries. We don’t have any ghosts, and the werewolves aren’t allowed in the castle.”
Olivia stared at her, not knowing what to say, and Fay started laughing.
“You have a wicked sense of humor,” Olivia said, taking a seat at a table meant for four. “So, does everyone know it’s werewolves that bring me here?”
“Mostly, but they’re a good lot and won’t tease you too much. Now, no rush, enjoy your meal. Hubby and I will be in the kitchen. Just tinkle that little bell by your plate if you need anything and I’ll hear it.”
Olivia sat staring at the delicious-looking crust on the steak pie, her thoughts far from food. She felt her hopes dashed at acquiring a position here since none of the staff would take her seriously knowing her assignment. Did Tiernan feel the same way? He might have mentioned that her resume impressed him but what about this assignment? Did he feel that she was foolish for accepting such a task?
There was nothing she could do about it now. She was here and had to make the most of it and, being she was not one to give up when it came to her career, that was what she intended to do… make the most of it. That was if the snow would let her.
Olivia stood in the bedroom glancing around after Fay left. The room was comfortably heated, the fire in the fireplace contributing to its toasty warmth. Thick gold-framed portraits, she surmised were various MacMadadh ancestors, graced a good portion of the walls, but the piece that caught the eye the most was the corniced and heavily draped full-sized, four-poster bed. It beckoned her, the long day having finally caught up with her. She had planned to continue reading through the three books she still had with her, but she was too tired. She was glad she declined the tea Fay had offered her, having had more than enough to eat and drink at supper.
She hurried to retrieve her flannel pjs from her luggage and her toiletry bag as well and hurried through her nightly routine in the bathroom, then eagerly got into bed. She sighed with pleasure, the mattress a bit soft, just as she liked it, as she settled beneath the warm blankets. And as soon as she closed her eyes sleep took hold.
Olivia didn’t know what woke her, a sound, or a scent, maybe, but when she opened her eyes, she froze. Beside her bed stood the black wolf she had seen out the window… Laird. He stared at her with those bold green eyes, but he showed her no teeth, and she felt he meant no harm. He stepped closer with a soft whine, and she remained frozen, unable to move. He placed his muzzle against her cheek, caressing it softly, then he stepped back and stared at her a moment, then he was gone. She continued to lay there unable to move.
A dream.
It was a dream, and she had to wake up. She closed her eyes and told herself repeatedly to wake up.
She woke with a start to morning light peeking through the heavy drapes. Had it been a dream? Or had she returned to sleep and only now woken up? She wasn’t sure and she did not want to speculate. One thing that puzzled her and gave her pause to think about it was the wolf’s action in the dream. His soft whine and the way he nuzzled her cheek, both were the courting signs of a wolf.
“You are reading too much into this, Olivia,” she admonished herself. It was a dream. Nothing more than a dream.
A sudden gust of wind tapping at the window reminded her of a potential snowstorm and she hurried to the window and threw open the drapes and gasped. It was a blizzard, snow falling so heavily that she could barely see anything.
She rushed through a shower and hurried on warm, black leggings and a red knit top that hugged her slender curves. After brushing her teeth and securing her long hair into a ponytail, she slipped on black socks and flats. She grabbed a black fleece vest from her suitcase and slipped it on before swinging the door open ready to rush out.
She rushed right into Tiernan.
He caught her around the waist as she crashed into him, and she thought for a moment that she hit a tree trunk, his body felt so hard. She hadn’t even budged him, and damn if he didn’t look appealing in jeans and a black knit shirt that highlighted the muscles in his arms and chest. But it was his rugged scent she found most alluring. She almost took a deep drag of it but stopped herself.
“Are you all right?” he asked concerned. “I was just about to knock.”