Page 2 of Forbidden Love

He arches a single brow and his head angles to the side. “No. You’re here to fight.”

His words bring more heat to the surrounding air. There’s an energy I struggle to pinpoint, but it’s something that goes beyond the protest and the land. It’s chemical, and it’s making my heart race in a way that has nothing to do with anger.

I step back to put some distance between us, but his gaze on me is ardent and unwavering. Lifting my chin higher, I make strong eye contact. “You don’t intimidate me.”

He places his powerful hands on his wide, masculine hips. “I didn’t intend to do that. I’d like to understand you.”

“Don’t bother.” I spin on my heel and march back toward the crowd. “Not interested.”

As I strut away, I hear him call after me, “I’ll be seeing you, Maya.”

Turning around, my mouth falls open. “How do you know my name?”

He doesn’t answer. He just stands there, watching me with a smug smile.

I face forward to continue marching back to my people. My body buzzes with emotions—curiosity, annoyance, and something else I’m unable to identify.

Whoever he is, he’s not just another worker. He’s obviously handsome, but he’s a little too arrogant for my liking. There’s more to him, something I must decipher. But for now, I have a protest to lead. I will not let some good-looking guy with a smirk distract me from my mission.

Lena catches up to me. “So? What’s the deal with him?”

I shake my head to clear the fog in my brain. “No idea, but he’s definitely not here to help us. Keep an eye on him. His name tag says ‘David’.”

She glances back over her shoulder. “Will do. You okay?”

I avert my gaze. “Yeah. Let’s get back to work.”

But as I raise my sign and join the chants, my thoughts keep drifting back to him and his fervent gaze. Whoever he is, I have the feeling this isn’t the last I’ll see of him. And that thought excites and terrifies me.

Devin

Theheatoftheconfrontation still simmers in the air. This girl. Maya Lopez—she’s not what I expected. Fierce, determined, and completely unafraid to get in my face. She’s a force of nature, and while I admire it, I’m not here for that. I must gain control of this situation and tame this wild fire, and that means keeping her close.

As the protest continues, my sight follows her, tracing her every movement. Now, she’s back on the truck, leading the crowd, her passionate voice carrying above the noise.

While she rallies and leads the people, her wavy brown hair cascades down her back, framing her glowing skin. Her deep brown eyes flash with the fire of her cause.

Her actions should annoy me, but they intrigue me. She’s intoxicating.

Enough of this. I step forward, making my way through the throngs of protesters, ignoring the glares and murmurs that follow me. My focus is on her, and nothing else matters.

When I reach the truck, I plant myself firmly in her line of sight, waiting for her to notice me. It doesn’t take long. Her gaze finds mine, and she freezes before her alluring lips part. “Are you on a break from playing foreman?”

I raise an eyebrow, unbothered by her dry tone. “I’m curious to see how the protest is going.”

She jumps from the truck, landing in front of me with grace that tells me she’s done this a hundred times before. “If you’re here to play nice, don’t bother. We both know how this ends.”

“We do?” I step closer, making sure she feels the heat of my presence. A scent of vanilla fills my nostrils and makes me lose my line of reasoning. I refocus on her cocoa eyes. “I’m not here to fight, Maya. Let’s talk.”

Without stepping back, she narrows her brown orbs on me. “Talk about what? How you’ll bulldoze this land and call it progress?”

While fixating on her, my heartbeat quickens. “No. Let’s discuss a solution that works for both of us.”

Her laugh is short, almost harsh. “There’s no ‘both of us’ here. There’s only you destroying this land and me saving it.”

“I’m not here to destroy anything.” Moving closer, I close the distance between us until I can smell her sweet aroma again. “I’m here to protect what matters.”

“And what matters to you?” She wants to challenge me, but the curiosity in her voice betrays her.

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