Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
We entered a spacious shop filled with, well, not clothes, as I’d expected. Hmm. A couch, two floral print chairs, a coffee table, and a couple plants. Behind the couch, servers held trays lined with drinks and snacks. Full-length mirrors hung from every wall.
Callen ushered me to the couch and urged me to sit. He unbuttoned his jacket and eased beside me. The moment we were situated, the staff rushed around to offer us champagne, tea, or whiskey and a hundred different varieties of finger sandwiches and cookies. Dazed all over again, I filled a small porcelain plate with treats and selected a glass of lavender tea.
The waiters and waitresses scampered off and newcomers pushed racks of clothing into the area.
“See anything you wish to purchase?” Callen asked, all kinds of satisfaction in his tone.
My jaw dropped. T-shirts, sweaters, yoga pants and sport bras abounded. There was even an array of tennis shoes. Everything I’d searched for and more. “Seriously?”
I set my glass and sandwiches aside, then rose and made my way to the shirts. Did I hear angels singing? I’d entered the mothership of comfort.
Reaching out, I traced my fingertips over a white sweater featuring an adorable black cat. Oh! So soft. Maybe the softest thing I’d ever handled. “Is this cashmere?”
I fished out the tag and gasped. “Are you paying?” I glanced at Callen over my shoulder.
He stretched his arms over the top of the seat and rested an ankle on his knee. His pant legs pulled up, revealing his socks. They were black with a colorful cartoon dog. An unexpected touch of whimsy from a very serious man.
“Buy whatever you wish,” he said. “Just know you’ll be wearing it. In public. If you select even one garment, your closets will be empty by the time we return home.”
“Seriously?” I repeated. I jumped up and clapped, a smile blooming. A new wardrobe and zero punishments. My grin only grew wider as I reclaimed my sandwiches and dug in. “No need to look any further.”
“Because you changed your mind about your latest style preference?” Callen asked, arching a dark brow in challenge. “You intend to buy nothing?”
“Wrong. I intend to buy everything.”
Chapter
Eight
Staying Flexible: The Best Adventures Can Begin With a Plan and End With a Detour
From A Beginner’s Guide to Berserker Bliss
Author Unknown
Ichuckled as I hung the plethora of comfortable T-shirts, sweaters, and cardigans in my empty closet. What an amazing day this had turned out to be, all things considered. Mission progress achieved, new wardrobe acquired, and major punishment avoided.
Callen had expected our expedition to take a different route. Judging by his silence the entire drive home, I’d surprised and irritated him. Obviously, I wasn’t winning him over. But it was clear he would soon tire of my company and seek to get rid of me. Without losing his temper!
Where was he, anyway? He’d dropped me off and drove away.
In the pocket of the world’s most cozy yoga pants, my cell phone buzzed. I withdrew the device and checked the screen, my lips pursing.
Isobel: I need money!!!!! Send me some.
Oh no, she did not. I jabbed my finger into the keyboard, typing, As if! You come back to Scotland and get it yourself. SEND.
Isobel: But you’re so poor.
I could hear the whine in her voice.
You’re the one who stole my life. What’s going on with my family? And don’t you dare block me again. Are you immortal like Callen? Am I? What happened when his brother died and he lost his temper? Did you use Roderick or love him? Why does his severed head resemble a wolf if he’s a berserker?
The phone rang. Isobel! Heart thumping, I hurried to answer. “Tell me!” I demanded instead of offering a greeting.
“Must you be so dramatic?” An airy sigh crackled over the line. “Nothing is going on with your family. They are awful people, and I’m doing everything in my power to avoid them. Happy now?”
I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth. She’d hurt my mother’s feelings, no doubt about it. “No, I’m not happy. I want my life back!”
“Look. After Callen removed Roderick’s heart, he got lost in a ferocious bloodlust. If an entire contingent of soldiers hadn’t restrained him, he probably would have killed me too. And Roderick’s head resembles a wolf because he shifted.”
Hold up. Did I understand her correctly? “Wolf-shifters are also berserkers, yet the two are at war?”
“Good grief. Do you know anything?” she complained. “Shifters are berserkers gone bad. Legend claims they allowed evil into their hearts and when the rage hit, they transformed from man to their inner beast. And you aren’t immortal. Yet. Callen will perform a ceremony, and you’ll become less easy to kill.”
So much to unpack. A supernatural information overload. Can’t process…
“Now then,” she said, sounding both ice cold and as sly as a fox. “I’ll make a deal with you. Convince Callen to send me ten thousand pounds or—”