Beauty Dates the Beast by Jessica Sims

Author:Jessica Sims [Sims, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2011-10-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

I awoke to the sound of voices in the kitchen. Beau’s smooth tones were interspersed with an impossibly deep voice that had to belong to Ramsey. Still wiped out after last night, I dragged myself to my feet and shoved my hair back, hoping I didn’t look too ragged from lack of sleep.

As I approached the kitchen, I was disappointed to see that Sara wasn’t here. I was even more disappointed when both men stopped talking as soon as I entered. Rather annoying of them. They gave me polite nods. Ramsey was dressed in a flannel shirt and jeans—very lumberjack—and Beau wore his signature dark T-shirt. At least he was fully dressed.

“Sara?” I said by way of greeting. “Is she here?”

“Not here,” Ramsey said in a gruff voice. “Safe.”

Disappointment crashed through me, but I hid it and pulled up a chair at the table. “All right,” I said, feeling rather awkward at the moment. “Savannah?”

“Still missing,” Beau said, his voice short.

Not the most cheerful of mornings, then. I managed a half smile. “Well, it’s nice to see you again, Ramsey, even if it’s under bad circumstances.”

Ramsey just stared at me.

Even Beau looked like something was sticking in his craw. Puzzled, I shoved my hair off my face and tried to finger-comb it a little. It was a puffy snarl around my face, a cloud of blond tangles. “Something wrong?”

Beau’s throat worked as he swallowed. Neither one of them said anything for a long moment, then Beau’s mouth turned tight-lipped. “Nothing. I was just briefing Ramsey on the situation last night.”

“Great,” I said, giving up on the finger-combing as my mind set to work. “Don’t mind me. I’m just going to hunt for some coffee.” It would be the perfect opportunity to listen in on their conversation and find out what they thought about things, all under the guise of being sleepy and careless.

I headed around the small island. There were several large boxes on the counter. I didn’t ask how Ramsey had gotten them here, though the mental image of a bear pushing a shopping cart through the forest was a funny one. I opened the first box, but Ramsey moved past me and pulled the box out of my hands, then shoved a different box in my direction.

“Thanks,” I said, giving him a faint smile, determined not to let him scare me off. “I think.”

Beau stiffened and turned abruptly. “I’ll be outside chopping wood.” He slammed the door behind him as he left.

What the hell? I blinked. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” Ramsey said, his voice curt.

I glanced out the window, then back at Ramsey, waiting for further explanation. None came. Well, all right then. “Are you … just going to stay here?”

He gave me a short nod.

I looked out the window again, back to Beau. “I’m guessing that he doesn’t want you leaving me alone?”

Another short nod, and Ramsey looked more and more uncomfortable, as if he hated having to converse. For some reason, that made me feel like laughing.

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