Page 41 of Mountain Men Heroes

Tempting.

“Ethan Savage, you move another inch and I’ll show you a new use for my scarves.” She fingered the new one, purple this time, which hung low around her neck to mingle with the pink of her tank top. It matched the sky beyond the living room window as the sun started its early ascent.

“Can hardly wait.”

He sounded in pain.

As if sensing her gaze, he pressed up on his elbows. “Stop worrying so much. I’ll be fine by morning.” He moved his leg a little to prove his point. “It’s not hurting as much as before.”

She blinked. “You keep saying that like you’re trying to convince me.” She harrumphed. “And if you haven’t noticed, morning is only a few hours away.” She pointed out the window. “And we still don’t have a plan to get outta here.”

“A little more rest and we can walk to my brother’s cabin. There’s a radio there that we can use. I can already feel my strength coming back.”

The fever might not be overly dangerous, but walking wasn’t an option right now in her opinion. But he was a stubborn man and if he said he was going to do something then that is what he did. He did have a healthy coloring in his cheeks. That gave her hope.

“Who is Connor?”

Surprise flitted across his expression and tightened the muscles of his neck with how the vein in his neck bulged the second she asked her question.

“Where did you hear that name?”

“From you. You said it in your sleep.”

She straightened her shoulders when she saw the way his eyes glazed over and he grew pensive.

“Never mind. Forget I asked.” If he wanted to be a clam, so could she.

“It’s not—” He let out a gruff growl of frustration and scrubbed his hands down his face. “He was my brother.”

“Your twin,” she offered.

He nodded.

Remy shifted in her seat so that she could look him dead in the eyes. “Is he the reason you pull away from me every time you seem to want to get close?” She didn’t know the whole story but knew it was a tragic death that took his twin from him. From some of the stories she’d heard, they were inseparable from birth. Losing someone that close would leave anyone wounded.

“Drop it, Remy.” His tone was flat. Hurt.

“No. You’re not getting away this time.” She paused and leaned forward, winding her fingers through his. He squeezed back. “Talk to me, Ethan. I won’t know unless you tell me. Maybe I can help.”

Ethan didn’t bother answering. His closed expression said a lot, though. Evidently, she’d read him wrong earlier. He didn’t want anything past a fun fling after all.

She released their hands and pulled back.

“You’re right. We’ve only known each other for three months. Sleeping together at least two of those months. Doesn’t mean a thing, right?” That didn’t seem to budge him either. She felt defeated.

“It’s because I want to claim you in the strongest, deepest way possible and never let you leave this mountain or me. I want to come in you and see you round with my baby and do it all over again and again.” His expression tightened and his voice grew thick with emotion. “I can’t have that kind of connection to another human being, Remy. Not again. Something that deep-rooted would kill me if I ever lost you.”

Was that what Ethan really believed? Words like those meant one thing. Love. He loved her and all but said it. Her heart broke for him. The pain of loss that kept him from ever finding happiness wouldn’t just disappear which meant he would let her walk away in the end.

“You say those things like they are bad. Like wanting me is akin to having a disease. And what is so bad about wanting to be happy and loved?” Exasperation shot her tone an octave higher but he said it in a way she couldn’t help but feel frustrated over.

Braced against the armrest with his leg spread across her lap she had no choice but to wait. But the itch to pace had her biting her lip.

A tremor quaked in her chest. Maybe this was for the best. She only had a short time on her clock anyway. After they got some help up here, all she had to do was test the water, help the wildlife rangers fix the problem, and she could scoot on out of town. The Savage crew could handle their own problems, and she’d make it damn clear to Ethan he wouldn’t have to worry about her cramping his style or making him feel things he didn’t want to feel.

She pushed her glasses up and rubbed her eyes. Tension cranked the heat up in the room and finally cracked her patience.

She moved to slide his leg to the side and stand when he spoke.

---