Page 16 of Loving the Beast (Beauty 5)
That was confirmed when Blake’s mother appeared in the doorway. The Ice Queen. Shit. She wished desperately that she’d agreed to take a nap when Blake had offered. Then she wouldn’t be sitting here like a… like a sitting duck, actually.
Which made Blake’s mother the hunter. “There you are, sweetheart. Where are our men off to?”
“I think they went to Mr. Morris’s study.”
“Oh.” Mrs. Morris moved deeper into the room. “You know you can call him Jeb. And call me Bel.”
Erin knew their names were Jebediah and Belinda. Old names. Beautiful names. The people themselves were both old and beautiful—and intimidating too. She had no desire to be here, alone with Bel, with the Ice Queen, and maybe that was unfair of her.
Maybe the woman was good at heart, with hopes and dreams and fears of her own. Undoubtedly that was true. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had singled out Erin as her enemy. And whether or not Erin agreed with that assessment of their roles, Bel was a dangerous enemy to have.
For all that Blake’s father—Jeb—was a bit pompous, he at least seemed to like her.
“You know, Blake suggested that I go take a nap, and now that I think about it, I am tired. I think I’ll go—”
“Stay.” Bel smiled again, sending a shiver down her spine. “You’re only here for tonight, after all. So little time to get to know you.”
Erin forced herself to remain seated in her chair while Bel sat down on the antique-style sofa nearby. Very nearby. There were only inches between their knees, and it made Erin uncomfortable. Was she overreacting? Probably. But knowing that didn’t shake the tightness in her chest, the dread in her throat.
Maybe she could still fix this. If she used the same tactic Blake had used with his father. “I’d love to hear about your life,” she said, feigning enthusiasm. “I’m sure you have lots of stories as the wife of a senator.”
Bel laughed. “Oh, I do. Stories about Jeb… you wouldn’t believe some of them, I’ll bet.”
That sounded ominous. “You must have gotten to meet some important people.”
“I have, darling. But I’m much more interested in you.”
She swallowed. “Me? I’m afraid I haven’t done much that’s interesting.”
“Haven’t you? You already snagged Blake Morris, after all.”
Erin stared, unsure what to say. What to feel. Technically it was true. She’d snagged Blake, who was a catch. Smart, kind, and hot as hell despite what he thought about his scars. Of course any mother would think that her son was a prize. And yet, she couldn’t help think Bel was talking about Blake’s money more than anything else.
“I’m glad to be with him,” she said carefully. “I love him.”
The smile seemed a little sinister but no less beautiful. “Of course you do. They’re lovable, our Morris men.”
What did that mean? “I think so,” she said, hoping that was the right answer. There were undercurrents here she couldn’t see. She could only feel them.
“Some might say too lovable. I’m sure you know what I mean.”
Erin was sure she didn’t. She would also rather be anywhere but here. The doorway beckoned her, and she wanted to run right through it and hide upstairs—except that would be childish.
It also seemed like a smart option.
“They’ll be out any minute,” she said in a rush, almost a prayer. Because God, she hoped so.
Bel didn’t even acknowledge that. Her eyes narrowed. “The important thing, with men like that, is to know where their loyalty lies.”
Well, this was getting creepier. “Okay,” she said. “That’s good advice. Now I really think I’m going to head upstairs and take that nap.”
“Do you know where Blake’s loyalty lies, Erin?”
She knew she was being baited. And yet she couldn’t help but respond. “Blake wouldn’t cheat on me.”
“Maybe not. You’re young and pretty, and he’s… well, he’s not quite the man he was. Some injuries can never be repaired.”
Excuse her? Shit just got real. She may not have known the man Blake was, but she knew the man he was now. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but Blake is an amazing man. He’s honorable and brilliant and—”
