Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
My dream girl’s face had morphed into shock the moment she saw me, but at my muttered expletive, her beautiful lips curled down into a frown.
Finally, my feet moved, taking me closer to her and stopping when there was only a foot of space between us.
“You’re real,” I effused. “I thought you were a dream. I mean, I hoped you weren’t a dream—but I’d begun to convince myself that the accident had done permanent damage to my brain.”
I couldn’t believe she was there, standing right in front of me. All of that gorgeous hair, those delicious curves, and her beautiful wings. I longed to run my fingers over the feathers because they looked so soft and silky.
Maggie cleared her throat, breaking the intense connection between my dream girl and me, and we both glanced over at our green friend.
“Isla, this is Cooper. Cooper, this is Isla. I think maybe you two have met?” There was amusement in her tone, and while I appreciated this situation might seem humorous to outsiders, I focused on the frightened expression on Isla’s face. Why would she be afraid of me?
Isla glanced behind me, and her body shifted minutely, as if she were preparing to dash away. I tensed in preparation because I wasn’t about to let her disappear again.
“Thank you,” I blurted.
Her eyebrows rose. “For what?”
I took another small step forward and was pleased when she didn’t run or even back up.
“You saved my life. The first time I saw you, I was delirious from hitting my head and the adrenaline from ejecting out of my plane.” I shook my head as I stared at her in awe and smiled. “With your wings and leather clothing, I wondered if you were a Valkyrie, coming to escort me to the underworld.” I expected her to at least crack a smile at my joke, but when she didn’t, I hurried on. “Then I thought perhaps I was the one. The hero in the story that you decided to let live.”
Maggie snorted. “I’d say that’s pretty accurate.”
Isla’s gaze darted toward her friend. “Don’t you have morning sickness or something?” she snapped. “You’re turning a little green.”
Maggie gasped with mock outrage. “Low blow, my friend. Low—”
I glanced over at Maggie just in time to see her mouth pinch as she put her hand over her stomach.
“Damn your power of suggestion, Valkyrie,” she fumed. She shoved a small bag in my direction and wheezed, “You’re welcome,” before dashing through a door to what I assumed was the back of the store.
I couldn’t help chuckling, and when Isla faced me again, I grinned. “Impressive,” I teased as I picked up the little bag and put it in my pocket.
One corner of Isla’s mouth tipped up, but she remained silent.
“I’m glad to find out I didn’t damage my brain in the crash. Although, I’m not sure anyone would believe me if I explained why,” I laughed.
Isla raised an elegant hand and tucked a few strands of long red hair that had escaped her bun behind her ear. “Well, now you’ve seen me and confirmed that monsters are real.” She lifted her chin and tried to brush past me.
She was so swift and graceful, I didn’t register what was happening right away and wasn’t able to throw an arm out to stop her. However, it only took me a second to spin around and stride to the door. I was at least a half foot taller than her, which meant I reached it first and blocked her exit.
“What are you doing?” she snapped, putting her hands on her hips and staring me down with a regal air that might have scared other men, but I instinctively knew was her defense mechanism.
“I’m not going to let you disappear again,” I declared, my chest tightening at the thought of losing her once more.
Isla’s brows snapped down, and she closed the distance between us. Her head fell back so she could look up into my face, but that didn’t make her less intimidating. Or at least she would’ve been to a lot of people. However, I just thought she looked sexy as fuck. I was willing to bet my plane that all that fierceness made her bold and wild in bed.
“I’m not a side show for you to study,” she seethed. Her expression wavered, and her voice trembled. Suddenly, her fear of me made a little more sense. She wasn’t scared of me. She expected me to reject her.
“That’s not what I meant,” I assured her with a soft smile. “I felt a connection with you since the moment I first saw you. There’s something between us, and I’ll be damned if I let you get away before we can explore it.”
I cupped her cheek, and some of the strain in my body eased when she ever so subtly leaned into my touch.