If downing six beers before passing out on the couch counts as cooking.

She stands and moves across the cabin. I try to keep my eyes off her, but she’s too goddamn beautiful. Those fucking blue eyes are staring at me, so much trust and admiration making them sparkle.

Fuck, if only she knew what was going through my head right now. Would she feel sorry for an old man like me? If she knew what was going through my head, would she be rethinking her choice? Would she still feel safe here?

“If it’s ok, I might just take a shower and try to get some rest. I’ve been driving all day and had a pretty rough night last night.”

I nod wildly. “Yeah, yeah. Of course. Shower is right there.”

I point down the hall and hate that my cock twitches when I watch the sway of her hips. She closes the door and I hear the tap turn on, the creaking of the water pipes echoing inside my dark head. Images of her naked body swarm my brain and I yank the door to the fridge open.

Clutching a beer, I grip it open and swallow it in one giant gulp.

You’re a terrible person. Get a grip.

I toss the empty bottle in the sink, and it clatters with the one I had earlier. I shake my head, wondering if this is the type of man Ryan wanted his little girl to end up with? A drunken shadow of a man, broken and scarred.

“No,” I grunt at myself. “No, I won’t fail. I’ll do this, and I’ll fucking do it for her.”

I go to the fridge and empty every last bottle of beer, watching as the poison swirls down the drain. Emma’s father died for our unit, he died for me. I’m going to care for this wonderful woman - his daughter.

And if I’m going to do that… if I’m any chance of taking care of this princess…

I need to clean up my act and get my head right.

Chapter Three

Emma

I pull the warm blankets up to my chest, twisting in the soft sheets. My eyes crack open and I’m staring straight out an enormous window at a thick forest. Rows and rows of trees are heavy with dew, sunlight only just hitting the tops of their branches.

My legs stretch out and I moan into the soft pillow. A rich scent fills my lungs, a mix of wood smoke and mint.

It’s Jack.

A warm flutter fills my belly, and I can’t stop smiling.

I think about the roughness of Jack’s beard, his whiskers scratching against my cheek when he cuddled me. Those big, thick arms, like the massive branches I’m staring at outside.

He’s perfectly solid, and I adore the way his hair is starting to streak with silver at the edges. He wears a scowl, but I’m pretty sure I can see behind the frown. The way he’s taken me in without a second thought – there’s a man in there who has a big heart.

After refreshing in the shower, I made damn sure the rifle Jack pointed in my face was safely tucked back where it belonged. He told me he was sorry, but I kind of liked that he was prepared to defend his cabin.

Jack set me up in his bedroom, insisting that he would take the sofa. While I was washing, he placed a glass of water on the table, setting it beside the photograph of me and my parents. It was a nice touch, one that made me feel instantly at home.

He left my lamp on all night, and it’s still glowing now.

I felt terrible, kicking a grown man out of his bed, especially when he was looking at me the way he was.

I can’t explain it. But whenever I look at Jack, something ignites inside of me. An urgent heat swells in my heart, then races directly between my legs. My body is screaming out for Jack to meet my needs, but I don’t know if he wants me like that.

Just as the sun starts to glisten across the wet grass outside, I sit up in bed and take a look around Jack’s bedroom. It’s so damn adorable. Rich, dark wood panels the walls, giving the room a warm feeling. There is a plush rug laid out at the edge of the bed, matching the rustic furniture scattered around.

It feels cosy and warm. It feels like home.

I can’t help but smile as I throw the blankets back. It’s a nice feeling waking up and feeling safe. I’m not scared to walk out my door today. I won’t be looking over my shoulder. My skin won’t crawl when I creep up the staircase at my apartment building.

Would I leave the city behind to live in isolation like this?