Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
To some place with more privacy so I could get work done more easily.
If I wasn’t going to be seeing the oddly camouflaged beetles, I needed to get work done and to be able to relax.
“She might’ve gotten the place fumigated.” Fraser chuckled when I frowned. “We do have an actual bug doctor, you know.”
He grinned wider when I huffed. “I will not call a serial killer a doctor.”
No.
Pressing his lips together, Fraser’s eyes sparkled as he nodded. “Got it. I’ll remember that.”
He seemed to think I was entirely too funny.
“Thank you.” I wasn’t sure what else to say, but that just made him want to laugh more. I finally glared at him and waved my hand. “Just do it.”
His laugher boomed out, which had me rolling my eyes as he quickly got it under control. “Oh, you don’t want to know what I really wanted to do.”
Wait.
What?
Oh.
Really?
Whatever he saw on my face made his grin turn wicked again. “You are delightfully innocent.”
“No, I’m not.” I was just a bit slow sometimes. “My brain just does not go the same direction everyone else’s does around here.”
Snickers escaped my naughty guide. “Don’t worry. We can teach you.”
That was not the reaction I’d been expecting and it took me a second to catch up to what he was trying to say…and that stunned silence made him even more delighted. “Yep, you’re just as cute as I thought you’d be.”
I was not going to discuss his propensity for stalking.
“I am not cute.” I was a smart scientist. “I’m an adult.”
For some reason, he thought that was hilarious, and I had a feeling it came back to something associated with that ridiculous stoplight discussion from earlier.
So I ignored it.
Raising one eyebrow, I did my best to channel one of my college professors. They’d been an annoying bunch, so it looked impressive. “Thank you for agreeing to provide dinner for me.”
Fraser pressed his lips together again, but he got ahold of himself fairly quickly. “You’re welcome. I’m looking forward to…getting to know you.”
The pause had been deliberate because his eyes were sparkling with mischief and the light from whatever glare had to be driving him crazy.
“It’s always easier to work with someone when you’re more familiar with them.” I wasn’t going to react and give him something else to laugh about.
“Familiar is very good.” His grin flashed again and then he winked at me.
He winked.
It had to be the water.
They were all insane, and I’d caught it too because he should’ve been annoying, not funny.
“Beetles. We were going to talk about the beetles.” And have dinner, but I wasn’t sure what he’d do if I mentioned that part. “I’m ready to go.”
For some reason that pleased him and not in the giggly way he’d been enjoying himself. “Then let me help you in.”
Hmm.
I’d missed something.
Local subtext?
Could it be related to something he’d been teasing me about?
Not sure where to steer my thoughts, I was too distracted to notice the way he shifted closer and put his hand on my lower back until it was actually there.
And warm.
And firm.
And he was touching me.
“Thank you for letting me help you in.” All it took was a faint brush of his hand to move me forward but that was only because it was the polite thing to do.
Yes.
That was it.
Polite.
The town was weird, so it required a lot of manners.
Fraser made a pleased sound that did stupid things to me, so I did my best to ignore my reaction and his happiness as he reached for the door. “Let’s get you settled.”
That was…
Did dates say that?
Work colleagues didn’t but I hadn’t dated in a while. It was obvious that my skills in that department were rusty, but I wasn’t sure where things crossed from a me problem to a the town is weird issue.
It was entirely possible that we’d already blown past that point because he kept his hand in place as I climbed in and then he buckled my seat belt.
No, this wasn’t a me thing.
I wasn’t even sure it was a town thing.
My brain said it was a weird as fuck thing—and it didn’t usually curse—but lower areas were disagreeing with it and I was back to not knowing what to do. Even realizing how careful he’d been with his hands didn’t help me figure out anything.
“I’m not sure what’s going on.”
Shoot.
I hadn’t intended to say that, but he was so close and my brain was focused on too many other things to keep track of what shouldn’t escape. Apologizing was the first step to fixing the problem, whatever that was, but Fraser smiled.
Sweetly.
Understandingly.
“Did it make you good nervous or bad nervous that I helped you in?” The question wasn’t reasonable at all, but he said it so calmly, I forgot it was ridiculous.
“Um, I don’t think I know the difference, but you didn’t do anything wrong.” Technically. Logically. “It was just…”