Page 172 of Mountain Men Heroes

Fuck. I rarely thought Mac’s actions off the battlefield were a good idea.

“What did you do this time?”

“I, uh...” He rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. That really sent off alarm bells. Mac looked almost apologetic. He never apologized. “I might have offered Trinity the job as our office manager. With full benefits, a decent salary and college tuition reimbursement if she wants to do a degree online.”

I opened my mouth, ready to yell before his words had even fully registered. But slowly they sunk in and I closed my mouth. Having Trinity working as an integral part of Kratos Securities worked right into my plans.

“One hungry man breakfast and a side of sausage.” Trinity put three plates piled high with eggs, pancakes, hash browns, toast, bacon and sausage down in front of me.

I looked at her, but she kept her gaze firmly trained on her task.

I brushed the pad of a finger over the back of her hand. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

The last plate landed on the counter with a clatter. I couldn’t fight a grin. She wasn’t as immune to me as she’d like me to pretend.

“Have you given any thought to my offer, Trinity?”

I turned my attention fully on Trinity, curious to see her reaction. Her green eyes were wide, her gaze sliding back and forth between us.

“I did think about it, Mac.” She blew out a shaky breath. “In fact, it was about all I could think about last night while I worked on my jewelry designs.”

She held up a shiny pendant dangling from a silver chain—an amethyst wrapped in pretty silver wire that formed an infinity sign around the stone.

“It’s beautiful, baby.”

Her eyes widened even more as she looked at me, and I couldn’t help but think her last statement wasn’t the complete truth. What else had been on her mind last night?

A sneaking suspicion started creeping in as pink tinged her cheeks. I was beginning to think she’d spent a good part of last night thinking about more than a job. In fact, if the red that hit her ears was any indication, Trinity had spent last night thinking about me.

Good.

She licked her lips nervously and again turned her gaze on Mac. “I appreciate the offer, Mac. I really do. But as tempting as it is, I can’t in good conscience say yes. Not when I plan on leaving town as soon as I can. You need to find someone who can help you with your business for the long haul. I’m just not that person for you. For any of you.”

My heart dropped to the floor with the threat of her leaving. I managed not to let the disquiet show on my face, but I’d taken about all I could.

I stood abruptly from my stool and grabbed Trinity’s hand. “Pete, Trinity’s taking a break. Mind if I use your back room for a minute?”

Pete looked up and his grizzly face broke into something that I assumed was his version of a grin. He raised a hand holding a whipped cream bag and waved it toward the swinging doors to the back.

I walked forward, Trinity still on the other side of the counter, but her fragile hand grasped firmly in my own. I pulled her along the length of the counter until we reached the end and then I tugged her next to me and through the doors. I led her to the big pantry at the back of the restaurant that held jars of oversized condiments and packages of paper goods.

Flicking on the light, I pulled her inside and shut the door behind us with a slam. I twisted her so her back was to the door and then leaned my heavy weight into her.

Her scent filled my head and I had to remind myself why I’d brought her here when every part of me wanted to do nothing more than pin her to the door and take her mouth with my own, her body...her everything. Her face only inches from mine, it was pure torture not to give in to the driving urge to finally taste her.

And then I did.

I tilted her chin and claimed her lips with mine. Sliding my hands around her waist I slipped them down the curves of her ass and gripped her. Hauling her up, I growled into her mouth when her legs wound around me.

My cock harder than a steel pipe pressed into her core and through two layers of denim, I could feel her heat.

I broke our kiss, pressing my forehead against hers.

She brought her arms around my shoulders and for once in my life I felt almost whole with her in my arms.

“I shouldn’t have waited so damn long to do that.”

We were both breathing heavily.

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