Under the Full Moon (Crimson Romance) by Bobbi Romans Page B

beautiful dining hall.
    “Damn, they’re all corn fed, aren’t they?” Beth whispered, obviously in awe of the giants seated around the enormous wooden farm table.
    Grace could only nod at the sight.
    Each more occupied with digging into the numerous platters and bowls than with the newbies standing before them.
    A loud belch to their right reverted attention back toward Coyt, though Branch’s red face made it clear who the offender was.
    “We’ve company among us. Why don’t you take a breath from Hoovering the food and introduce yourselves,” Coyt suggested, shooting death glares at Branch.
    A loud clattering drew the group’s gazes to the left where another lumberjack-size man grabbed plates off a large maple wood credenza and was settling to dive in for the feast.
    “Yo, pretty ladies. Name’s Slick, but for such lovelies you can call me anytime.” A thin man stood and bowed before them. It wasn’t just Damien who bristled at the man’s innuendo. Grace caught Beth trying to settle Moss down from his agitated state. Didn’t stop his menacing glare at the man or the possessive arm he wound around Beth’s waist.
    “Ignore Fido over here, I’m Red and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” A rather pretty redhead said, nodding her head in greeting since they were too far apart to shake hands.
    “I’m Bev,” a quiet woman sitting in the back said. Something about her spoke of sadness to Grace, though she wasn’t sure why. The woman smiled, and for the most part appeared okay. But something in her eyes screamed sorrow.
    When Branch went to stab the last steak on the platter, another of the men, nearly took his hand off for doing so.
    “You freaking heathens. What’s our guests going to think of us? We’re supposed to be proving to them we’re the good guys,” Red chastised.
    Grace surveyed the unruly group before them and couldn’t help but wonder what they’d all gotten themselves into.

Chapter Twelve
    Squire couldn’t pull his gaze away from the monitor. From her. His heart thundered in his chest. His hands shook when he reached to hit zoom on the camera’s monitors. After all these years of wondering. Of deep rooted desire and need to see her up close. Under his roof. Yeah he’d checked up on her. Made sure she’d been as safe as he could keep her, from long distance. Happy. But to view her so close yet so damn far tore his heart in two. Ripped open an old wound that still bore raw edges. He still loved Grace. He always would, he supposed. His first true love. The woman he’d vowed to love, cherish, and protect forever.
    He’d lied.
    “Figured I’d find you up here mooning away.” Squire caught Bev studying him. He understood he must appear haggard and realized of everyone, Bev wouldn’t buy any lie he gave. Bev, the only one who understood the link he shared with Grace. And armed with this secret, he hoped to squelch the spark he knew smoldered between them. Bev deserved more. All of someone’s love. Not the ghost of a man that lingered within a dead soul.
    “Scoping out the newbies.” He tried to feign disinterest anyway. Maybe Bev would cut him some slack. During a few moments of weakness, he’d shared bits of his past with her. It’ was wrong of him to do so knowing her feelings for him. For the life of him, he had no idea why she seemed smitten with someone like him. Bev was gorgeous. She wasn’t a snob about it either. Hell, most of the time she acted like a wallflower, uncomfortable with the beauty that naturally radiated from her.
    “One in particular I bet.” Her voice held quiet accusation and only added to his feelings of guilt.
    “So what did you pick up from them? Anything?” he wondered, trying to get her to change her course of assumptions.
    “They seem okay. Curious of what they’ve been swept up in. I don’t blame them for not trusting us. Of course if we told the whole truth … ”
    “No!” He whirled around in his chair. Eyes blazing no