Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
The air between them shifted. Jackson’s pulse kicked, the warmth of her presence making it harder to focus on pack politics. He wouldn’t force her to stay—probably. But he’d love to explore this attraction between them.
“They wouldn’t go so far as to sabotage your mines, would they?” Emily asked.
Jackson slowed down now that his belly was warm and content. “I can’t imagine they’d want to hurt anyone in the pack. We need every available body working the mines or on protection detail.” It was as much as he was willing to admit to her.
“How many members are in your pack?” she asked.
“Plenty,” he answered smoothly, taking another drink of coffee. “I appreciate you cooking me breakfast.”
She glanced at her phone. “Anytime. Hey, we’ve got about half an hour before you meet your first possible mate.” She sounded way too delighted about putting him in this position. Brat.
“You know, you could still have the job,” Jackson said, meaning every word. He would love to come home to her every morning. Sure, he didn’t believe in love, but lust? He had that in abundance for her.
“Thanks, but I can’t desert my father. If I leave, Vic will challenge him. With me in place, our pack will continue to support my dad. For as long as they can.”
Perhaps she’d consider a relationship outside of mating. No. He knew, without a doubt, that one taste of her, and he wouldn’t let her go. Then he’d be at war with the Slate Pack. Maybe the other two Stope Packs, as well. “What’s your plan at that point? Actually becoming the Alpha?”
She paled. “Yes.” Was that a lie? It felt like a lie. Interesting. Perhaps Em had no clue what she’d do next.
Their territories were located on opposite sides of the state and couldn’t be combined, so Jackson couldn’t even offer that possibility. “Maybe next lifetime for us, huh?”
“As if we get more than one,” she replied.
“Perhaps.” He swirled the last of his coffee in the mug. “Never really gave it much thought.”
She glanced outside the wide windows to the dark trees. “I visited your study earlier.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Snooping?”
“Oh, most definitely,” she replied, her smile softening something inside him.
Jackson studied her. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why anyone would call her an ice queen. Sure, she was tall with striking, white-blond hair, but there was nothing cold about Emily Nightsom. Heat lived in her gaze, and sharp intelligence behind her teasing smile.
“I saw all the miniature fighter jets and planes you’ve put together,” she added.
His mouth curved slightly. “Did you, now?”
“Mm-hmm. Didn’t take you for the model-building type.”
“Gotta keep my hands busy somehow.”
Her eyes flicked to his hands, where they rested against the coffee mug. Jackson swore the air thickened between them. He cleared his throat and set the mug down with a thunk. Damn woman was going to drive him insane.
He shifted in his chair, not wanting to feel exposed. “Everybody needs a hobby.”
“It’s a good one, Jackson,” Emily said, her voice softening. “Takes precision, and it looks like you had fun.”
He shrugged. “Something to do when I can’t sleep. Started worrying about this pack when I was fifteen and haven’t stopped since.”
She chuckled lightly. “Yeah, that’s the job, isn’t it?”
“And you? Hobbies?” he asked, curious.
“Well, I like to shop,” she admitted, her smile tilting toward playful. “Writing started as a hobby, but once I submitted a couple of books, I started making money from it. I don’t do signings or anything, so I’m a bit of a recluse as an author. It’s kind of fun.”
He leaned back in his chair. “I’m glad one of your dreams came true.”
Her cheeks colored slightly, though her eyes stayed steady. “Thanks. Enough small talk. You need to go change so you can meet your future mate.”
He glanced down at his jeans and T-shirt. “This is what I wear.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You should dress up a little.”
“Absolutely not.” He stood and stretched. “Whoever mates me needs to know exactly what she’s getting.”
Emily’s gaze flicked over him, and the air between them tightened for a moment. He held her eyes for longer than he should have before taking his dishes to the sink. Was she actually going through with introducing him to other Alpha females?
It was going to be a fucking fascinating day.
Chapter 9
Emily settled into one of the guest chairs in Jackson’s office, crossing her legs and smoothing the front of her sweater. He could have at least dressed up a little, but she had to admit he had a point. His usual jeans and dark T-shirt suited him more than any suit ever would.
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” Jackson said from behind his desk, where several ledgers lay open. He had been working for the past hour on mining business while Emily typed out a chapter on her phone. She preferred her laptop, but she could write this way when necessary. The tension between her and Jackson still hummed beneath the surface, a constant thrum she tried to ignore.