The Beast Within (The Elite Series) - By Jonathan Yanez Page 0,15
up, and stop looking at me like I’m some kind of freak.”
Connor took the bag and looked inside. It was everything he needed to go on a run; a brand new pair of black and red Nike running shoes, socks, and a black pair of running shorts.
“Well, hurry up and change, mister. Let’s go. We’re burning daylight.”
Connor looked at the items in the bag closer and examined the sizes of the shoes and shorts. “Wait, how did you know what size I am?”
“Call it female intuition. Thank you for providing the insect spray and water, we’ll need those.”
Connor still in disbelief, walked behind the Welcome Station and began undressing, taking off his shoes and pants first and replacing them with the provided shorts and Nikes. The clothes fit perfectly. The shorts were neither too tight nor too loose, and the shoes hugged his feet like they were his own. Laren had guessed his size exactly. As he began to unbutton his shirt, he realized there was no replacement. Laren hadn’t provided any kind of running shirt or tank top.
“I did that on purpose,” her voice rang out behind him.
Connor wheeled around, his newly unbuttoned shirt still hanging open. He saw her standing behind him, watching.
“Come on, don’t be shy. You’re going to get all sweaty and would want to take it off even if you had one on.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s what it is. You’re thinking of me. This has nothing to do with you wanting to see me with my shirt off.”
“Why, Connor Moore, I am a lady from an esteemed family. I would never—” Even as she said it, a sly smile played across her lips.
“All right, you have a deal if you tell me what the pickaxe is for. I get why you needed bug spray and water, but what’s the deal with the pickaxe?”
Laren glanced at it propped up against the side of the building. “It seemed silly to just order bug spray and water. I thought your mom might cancel the order and think it was a joke, so I had to order something else.”
“So, of all the things you could have bought, you chose a pickaxe?”
“Well, I don’t have a lot of experience with gardening equipment and it looked cool. I’ve never bought a pickaxe before.”
“The things I do to satisfy our customers.” Connor shrugged off his shirt. Active in sports his entire life, Connor was a perfect physical specimen of what a man should look like. His chest, abdomen, and arms were perfectly chiseled. He looked like a Greek statue had come to life. His olive skin soaked in the sun and his brown eyes focused on Laren.
Winking, Connor broke the silence. “What did you say to me the first time we met? ‘Stare much?’”
Laren had to tear her eyes away from Connor’s body and force herself to look at his face. “Only when I see something I like.” It was her turn to wink now.
It was about two o’clock and the hottest part of the day as the two joggers made their way through the forest. They chose a slower pace to start, their feet making a light, consistent sound like a metronome.
Rabbits scurried from their path as they approached, birds sang songs only they knew, and Connor was at home. The smell of the forest was intoxicating as a variety of floral scents played with his nostrils. The trees welcomed him, extending their limbs in his direction like open . If he listened hard enough, he could even hear the slight trickle of water, indicating a stream nearby.
“So, what brought this about? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great idea, but why?”
“After our dinner, and especially the way you handled our run in with Randolph, I just wanted to say thank you. Not every guy would have been so understanding.” Laren paused. “No guy has ever been that understanding. There’s so much I want to tell you, Connor, but because of my family’s business, I can’t.”
“None of that matters to me. I just want to get to know you. The real you, not Larentia, but Laren.”
She turned her head and smiled. “Thanks, Connor. It’s been a long time since anyone was interested in getting to know me. Most of the guys my parents approve of are just dating me hoping for an opportunity to get in with my family, or worse, are too intimidated by my father and family to even have anything resembling a decent conversation.”