Page 164 of Mountain Men Heroes

My mind boggled for a second, thinking about life after I finally started college full-time and designed jewelry as my only job. I’d get to have a sex life for the first time in my twenty years. But before that happened, I’d have to deal with one more mountain man trying to get in my pants.

I smiled. My go-to reaction. I had to live here, knowing they thought my mother was dirt and their opinion of me wasn’t much better. I depended on many of them for my living. So no matter what, I kept that smile pinned to my face.

But the smile I offered him was not the same one I’d given him a few minutes ago when he was just my customer. I knew it must look forced and fake. It was the best I could do.

“Thanks for asking me, Asher. But I’m actually planning on moving pretty soon. I’ve been picking up every extra shift I can before I head out.”

His face fell slightly, his smile dimming. But then it brightened again and he opened his mouth.

Damn it.

I braced myself, fully expecting him to try to convince me. The guys who wanted what my mother gave so freely to any man who so much as breathed in her space wouldn’t be deterred by the fact I was leaving town soon. They only needed an hour or so to get what they wanted, right?

“Look, Asher.” I did my best to jump in and head him off before he could ask me again. “Forget it alright. It’s not a good idea.”

Before he could push the topic, a heavy hand clamped down on my wrist. I jolted and dropped my tray with a clatter on the wood flooring, beer going everywhere.

I raised my head and found myself staring into the burning black eyes of the last man I wanted to see.

“You’re right, sweetheart. It’s not a good idea,” Sawyer growled at Ash without ever taking his eyes from me.

I swallowed hard and my mouth went dry.

Sawyer.

Damn it.

I ignored the stuttering of my heart and the butterflies darting around my stomach with overeager flutters.

Looked like I waited too long to make my escape after all.

Three

Sawyer

Ash didn’t have a clue how close he was to meeting his end. I was done waiting to claim my woman. As I watched this asshole try and pick her up, the darkness inside me built up over years of war and missions snarled to life, ready for a bloody fight.

As I stalked across the crowded bar toward Trinity, I realized I knew the guy. Asher Bellingham. He was a friend of sorts. I exchanged friendly words over a beer a time or two. Invited him to get-togethers once in a while when I was actually in town, but given the rare occurrence, we grew apart.

But we weren’t so friendly that he’d get to keep his hand if he so much as thought about touching Trinity.

I stood near enough to hear Trinity letting the man down easy, but even with that, my ire rose. Part of me wanted to tear into Ash, make a show of it so everyone would know to keep their hands off.

But the larger part of me just wanted Trinity. And that part of me wouldn’t be denied for even one more second.

I wrapped my fingers around Trinity’s wrist, her pulse jumping erratically. She gasped in surprise and her face turned up to mine, those pretty peach-colored lips parted. Her jewel-toned eyes widened and she stared up at me with a mixture of green and gold swirling in their depths.

So much emotion behind such pretty eyes.

Despite my temper, something eased inside me the moment my skin made contact with hers. Finally, I had her.

I snarled something at Asher, and I didn’t wait for Trinity to recover from her surprise or for Asher to jump in and offer his assistance. I tangled my hand with hers and, with a sidelong glance at Ash that told him everything he needed to know, I tugged her as gently as I could manage to the back of the bar, ignoring the twisting heads and wagging tongues that followed our progress.

Fuck them and the shitty mountain gossip that would come from the show. Let them take out a front-page news article if it made all the whisperers happy. I didn’t give a fuck. Trinity’s palm pressed against mine and nothing in the world would take my focus off the warmth of her skin soaking into me.

I didn’t stop until we reached a small nook behind a small bar area, the spot lots of couples used as a preliminary to getting a room. I needed to reclaim my office space in the back they were using as extra storage for the moment so this place would just have to do.

I pushed Trinity into the corner and used my body to block out the nosy stares of everyone in the bar.

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