Page 175 of Mountain Men Heroes

God that was sexy.

“Best breakfast I’ve ever tasted,” he groaned.

Done with his show he reached forward and helped me right my jeans and shirt.

I looked around as it sank in that I’d all but thrown myself at Sawyer while I was in the middle of my workday. God. Did this make me just like my mother?

But before I could delve too deeply into that humiliating thought, something else occurred to me. “If you knew this was my first time, why did you get so mad when Birdie called me a slut last night?”

It was Sawyer’s turn to be shocked, and if I wasn’t staring at him as intently as I was, I would have missed the slight widening of his eyes and the small breath he exhaled. His gaze searched mine.

“You’re a virgin?” he asked.

I pressed my lips together. Crap, crap, crap. That wasn’t what he’d meant. I turned my face to the side and refused to answer his question.

“Trinity.” His voice was warm, demanding.

I hid the only way I could, considering our positions. I buried my burning face in his neck, his arms coming around me like we’ve stood like this millions of times over the years.

His warm chuckle washed over me and my body stiffened. Could this get any more embarrassing?

“Look at me.” He slid a hand along my face and down to cup my jaw. He used his hold to tip my head back, his thumb gently caressing my cheek.

I forced myself to do as he asked. I looked at him, and the expression he wore stole my breath away.

“You haven’t been with anyone else?” He spoke gently, but demanded an answer.

I shrugged. “No, I haven’t...been with anyone.” I left off the “else” part. The fact I just came apart in the arms of a man fifteen years older than me with a past I knew next to nothing about and now had to admit to my lack of experience with men was humiliating enough without implying I intended to be with him.

A look so indescribably possessive broke like a wave over his face. For a second he looked so fierce, I would have been afraid if his eyes hadn’t remained so warm and his touch so gentle.

“We need to go, Trinity. Right fucking now.”

And before I could say another word, Sawyer was back to tugging on my hand. He dragged me out front where I’m sure all my customers got an eyeful of my disheveled hair and rumpled T-shirt.

Just great.

“Mac, take care of breakfast, will ya?” Sawyer called out. Without waiting for a response, he kept us moving through the restaurant toward the door. “Pete, sorry buddy, but Trinity quits. Effective immediately.”

And that’s how I found myself standing outside on Sugarbush Lane in front of Sugarbush Hot Cocoa Stand, no jacket, still in my apron, and trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

Seven

Sawyer

When we hit the sidewalk, all I could think about was getting Trinity to the nearest private spot. After she shared what she shared, I needed to make her mine. Now.

My eyes scanned the street up and down, like a hotel might have cropped up since I ducked inside the Sugarbush. When nothing presented itself, I tugged Trinity toward my truck.

“Sawyer?”

I glanced over my shoulder and cursed myself. Trinity stumbled along, her free arm wrapped around her middle to ward off the cold and her lips pressed together in a worried line. My first job, above all else, was to take care of this sweet creature, not act like a fucking caveman.

Looked like I was doing a piss poor job so far.

I stopped abruptly and Trinity ran into my back. I twisted and caught her in my arms, rubbing my hands briskly down her back to transfer some of my heat to her. She stared up at me with those wide eyes and for a second I was lost again, thinking of nothing but burying myself inside her.

Her shiver—whether from cool mountain air or the same desire I felt, I didn’t know—spurred me into action. I wasn’t taking any chances. I shed the black zip-up I was wearing and pulled it around her shoulders.