Protecting Shaylee (The Fae Guard Book 1) by Elle Christensen Page A

again and places a quick kiss on my lips before standing up and slamming my door shut.
    Once we are all in the car, he starts it and peals out of the parking lot. Wow, this is a nice car. Aden maneuvers it like an expert, and watching the muscles in his forearm ripple as he works the stick shift has me pressing my legs together a little tighter to relieve the sudden ache.
    It takes about ten minutes to get past the fields and into civilization. The landscape reminds me of the more affluent suburbs upstate: nice houses, yards, and cars in the driveways. However, there is something—something that is different about the neighborhood. I watch more intently, looking for that illusive trait that I can’t quite put my finger on. After a few minutes, I notice that the houses are all light colors and built with lots of windows. But, what really grabs my attention are the plants. The trees are a bright shade of green with flowers that resemble magnolias, but there are bright colors bursting from the leafy foliage. Some of the trees are sporting, what appears to be, a round hanging fruit. They are also brightly colored. The grass is a similar shade of green but it—it shimmers. I squeeze my eyes shut and reopen them. Yep, it’s still shimmering. Are you freaking kidding me?
    I gaze out at the expansive lawns and everywhere I look, the vegetation is sun kissed. Wait—everywhere? I can feel my jaw drop when I realize there are no shadows. No shade under the big trees, no darkness cloaking tight corners, not one spot that isn’t lit up by the sun.
    Aden slows down and turns onto a short drive, leading to a large wrought iron gate, set into a stone wall. As we reach the gate, I feel a gust of wind and it slowly swings open, allowing us to pass through it. There doesn’t appear to be a guard shack, cameras, or an intercom.
    “Did you open the gate?” I ask.
    Aden smirks and nods. It’s ridiculous that his cocky little smirk causes fluttering in my stomach. He’s too damn sexy for his own good.
    “Used the force, did ya?” I sass. “What, no one to brainwash into thinking we aren’t the faeries they’re looking for?” Ean snorts with laughter from the backseat, but Aden just shakes his head in exasperation.
    My attention is drawn to the sprawling house at the end of the drive. It looks similar to a log cabin (a freaking huge, log cabin), but the wood appears to be beach wood. Pale blue shutters adorn the windows, complementing the peach hue of the washed out bark. It’s two levels, but the roof peaks in the center with a large, octagonal window, which I assume belongs in the attic. The front of the house has an open, wrap around porch with tan wicker furniture scattered about in little conversation nooks.
    “This place is amazing,” I say with awe. “Where are we?”
    “My parent’s house.” Aden shuts off the car and steps out, unaware that I am, all of the sudden, glued to my seat. He opens my door and reaches down to help me out. When I don’t move, he leans down, brows raised in a silent question.
    “Meet your parents?” I audibly gulp. For crying out loud, like I haven’t had enough sprung on me the last few days? Now, I’ve got to ‘meet the parents’? Seriously? I fight the impulse to take my hair from its ponytail and check my makeup.
    Aden squats down to be level with me. “I told you we were coming for dinner. What’s going on, baby?”
    “Aden, it’s a little overwhelming, you know?” I lose the battle with my hands and start smoothing flyaway hair that has come loose. Aden’s eyes follow my movements, and I snatch them back down when I see him fighting a grin.
    “You’re nervous to meet my family, Shaylee?” His grin spreads and his emerald eyes twinkle. “You’re so fucking cute. They’ll love you, baby.” He grabs my hands, where they were clasped together in my lap, and tugs me from the car. Standing, he smoothly pulls me into his body and squeezes me, “You ready to admit you’re