Dream Weaver

Chapter 2 : Amber Eyes

Carly

Carly was fairly certain he'd just checked out her assets and not the ones in her stall. She didn't know whether to be pleased or offended. The sandy-haired hulk of a man was also staring at her expectantly, as though he'd asked for something. But he hadn't. At least, not that Carly could recall.

He smelled like cedar and cinnamon and was practically molded into his black pants, wearing a loose-fitting black shirt that was open at the collar and high boots. He looked something like the Dread Pirate Roberts from "The Princess Bride." She'd always liked Wesley. The only difference was the eyes.

"So... what kind of yarn were you looking for?" Carly asked. She figured if he could ogle, so could she.

The stranger smiled slowly. "What kind do you make?" he asked in his oh-so-sexy deep voice.

"Um... I use a variety of fibers, actually. Most people are looking for wool or cotton yarn… do you have a preference of color or combination of colors?" Carly asked. He wasn't sweating, and she had no idea how that was possible. Not a drop hindered her view of the delicious deep V in his shirt.

"I like wool," the stranger said. He tipped Carly's chin up so she was looking him in the eye again. "Reminds me of sheep."

"Well, that's where it comes from," Carly said lamely.

Dawn snorted in the background. "She's also got some nice alpaca back here."

The stranger flicked his gaze briefly to the auburn-haired, blue-eyed, curvy Dawn. Carly thought for a moment she was in the clear and could tamp down on the heart-pounding sensation in her chest. But his eyes came back to hers almost immediately. He might as well have put a NOT INTERESTED sign over Dawn's head. This was an incredibly unusual occurrence. Men tended to favor Dawn, as a rule.

"I'm Kiernan," the stranger said, extending his hand.

Carly self-consciously wiped her hand on her skirt and shook Kiernan's hand. The touch was so electric she wondered if there'd been a static shock between them.

"Carly," she said after staring at their hands a moment, belatedly pulling away. "So... wool yarn? Any particular color?"

"What's your favorite?" Kiernan asked.

This was by far the weirdest conversation Carly'd had with a customer. "I... er... scarlet?"

"Nice," Kiernan said. "It would go well with your skin tone."

"Uh... thanks?" Kiernan's slow smile made Carly's mouth go dry. "Do you mean you'd like a commission?"

"What do you make?" Kiernan asked.

To distract herself from the tantalizing V in his shirt, Carly began ticking items off on her fingers. "I make all kinds of things. Sweaters. Dolls. I crochet and knit."

"How about a scarlet sweater," Kiernan said. "My size."

"Oh, right, great," Carly said. "If you could just come back here and I can take your measurements..." She swallowed again, realizing she was going to get to touch him.

Carly felt Kiernan's rumbling laugh all the way down to her core. "I think I'd like that," Kiernan said with a wink.

"So much for getting a cat," Dawn chuckled behind her.

Kiernan

Kiernan knew he was missing some kind of inside joke, but wasn't that bothered by it, especially when the redhead stood up and said she was taking her lunch. He could have hugged the woman for her perfect timing. Now, he'd get to go into the booth with his mate alone. Well, not exactly alone—he doubted the redhaired friend would have allowed that. There were people bustling outside the stall, and the open counter left them in full view of the public.

"No funny business, then," Kiernan lamented aloud, his eyes twinkling at Carly.

"Uh..." Carly said.

"Relax," Kiernan said, holding up his hands. "I'm just kidding." For now.

"Right," Carly said, and she blushed again.

Everything in Kiernan wanted to see her flushed with pleasure while she lay underneath him, screaming his name while he marked her as his. It made his wolf howl inside, and Kiernan had to remind himself Carly wasn't a wolf. She was Normal. There was nothing inside her telling her anything right now except perhaps that he was a stalker. The idea made Kiernan laugh.

"What?" Carly asked, opening the booth's swinging counter door for him.

"Nothing." Kiernan stepped inside. This close, he couldn't help but notice how he dwarfed her small frame.

Apparently, she couldn't either, because Carly's eyes had gone wide as saucers.

Kiernan decided to have mercy on her and took a respectful step back. "I'm not going to eat you," he said.

"Right, no, of course not," Carly said with a nervous laugh. She stepped to the middle of the stall and got out a tape measure. "Um... would you mind removing your shirt?"

"With pleasure," Kiernan said, whipping the black pirate-esque shirt over his head. The way she stared at his body made his wolf give a self-satisfied growl.

"Yeah..." Carly said, shaking her head. "Right, measurements." Then she began pressing the tape measure across his shoulders, waist, and arms.

Kiernan wished she wouldn't be so professional about it. He wouldn't have minded one bit if that flicker of desire in her eyes had caused her to linger over her measurements. But, he also had to respect his mate for her businesslike demeanor. He certainly wasn't holding a whole lot back.

"I'm a woodworker," Kiernan said, breathing in her scent as she worked around him. There was that subtle, strange tang again that worried him, but her overreaching scent of citrus, sage, and something smoky and nice drowned it out. "You should come visit my tent sometime."

"Oh, I love woodwork! I thought you smelled like cedar," Carly said, then clamped a hand over her mouth.

So, his mate had scented him. Kiernan's wolf purred. "I'll bet I do. I work with a lot of cedar."

"That would make sense, yeah," Carly said. She finished notating down his measurements and put the tape measure away, much to Kiernan's disappointment.

"I'm just down the road there," Kiernan said, pointing. "I've got some comfortable chairs. We could sit and chat awhile." He pulled his shirt back on.

"Uh... sure," Carly said, her blush returning.

Kiernan beamed. "It's a date."