Page 7 of Sinful Seduction

“Um, thanks for the loan of a shirt.”She pointed to the fireplace where, thank God, a blazing fire had been started, and the cabin felt okay to her at that moment.“Is it okay if I sit in that chair and dry my hair?”She started to worry when they kept staring.“What?Why are you staring?I know I look horrible with the bruises, but I’m sure you’ve seen worse.”

Beau cleared his throat.“How old are you?”

“Why?”

“Just tell me.”

“Twenty-four, I’ll be twenty-five next month.I think.”

The men continued to sit at the small table, their gazes roaming over her.All they could see were her feet and ankles, her neck up, and her hands.

“Why don’t you know when your birthday is?”Beau’s face grew darker.

Jayla bit her lip.“I guess if I really thought about it, but it’s not something I ever celebrated.”

The one man who had only said a few words to her scowled and stood suddenly.

Jayla jerked back a step and then closed her eyes as pain radiated through her.She took a breath when the pain ebbed and opened her eyes.

Diego’s features had softened a bit, and she could tell he was trying to look less threatening.“Where are your socks?”

Jayla bit her bottom lip as all three sets of eyes, including hers, went to her feet.“Um, I don’t have any.At least until I go into town.”

“And you didn’t ask us?”

Jayla shrugged and then regretted it instantly.“I’ve already asked you for enough.If I sit by the fire, I won’t need them.”She held back a cringe when Diego walked by her.Fierce energy slid off of him, making the tension in the room spike.

She swallowed at the concern and compassion on Beau’s face.She didn’t want pity from anyone, so she turned away.

“Here, put these on,” Diego said next to her.

She reached for them and looked up into his eyes.“Thank you.”

Diego’s eyes burned her.“Go sit by the fire.”

Jayla nodded and moved carefully to the chair.She made sure the blanket stayed in place and covered her from the waist down.She glanced at them over her shoulder to find they were still looking at her.She bent carefully and pulled on one sock, then the other.She smiled at the look.The shirt came down to her knees, and the socks went over her knees.She was now covered neck to toe.

The fire was pulsing with heat and driving away any cold she might have had.Little by little, she separated her long, thick waist-length hair, letting the heat dry the mass slowly.

A few times, she looked over at the men to see that they were in a conversation but kept glancing at her.Both wore harsh scowls on their faces.Dammit, she was tired of being looked at by people like she was different or odd.

“Listen, if you don’t like looking at me, then stop.In fact, I’d appreciate it.The cabin is small, but I imagine there are an abundance of interesting things to look at other than me.”She turned back to the fire and continued to dry her hair.

Jayla ignored them when they started talking again in whispers.After a while, her arms were getting too tired to hold up her hair, and she decided it was dry enough.She moved farther back in the chair.It was huge by most people’s standards, so she fit in it very easily.

She must have dozed off because the next thing she saw was Beau crouching in front of the chair with a few strands of hair between his fingers.He was so handsome.Over six feet.His hair was dark and cut very short.The sharp angles of his brow and cheekbones made her think he might be part American-Indian.His eyes were deep, dark brown with shards of lighter browns in the striations.She reached and lifted the hair he held away before tucking it under her head.

“Sorry.Your hair is so long, it’s draped over the floor.Are you hungry?”

Jayla was so tired she didn’t want to move, but knew if she was to get better, she needed to eat.She nodded before turning and sitting up, looking toward the small table.

They had bowls of soup on the table, but only two kitchen chairs.She stood, wrapped her blanket tighter around her, and made her way over.She lifted the warm bowl.“Thank you very much,” she said without looking at them and started back to the chair she’d been sitting on.

An arm came around her and pulled the bowl from her grip.“What...?”

Diego dropped back into his chair with her bowl next to his.Oh, Jesus.She’d assumed that was hers and took Diego’s meal.She felt the red tide climb her face.“I’m sorry.I assumed that was mi—”

“Dammit, Diego, use your words, dude.She thinks you want both bowls.”