Page 15 of Claimed By 3 Mountain Men

I climb up trees to secure cameras at optimal angles, and scatter harmless markers to track animal movements.

With the last camera in place, I get to my feet and stretch, looking out over the expanse of the forest.

If the silver lynx is out there, these cameras will find it. And if there are any signs of illegal activities, I’ll capture that too.

“If you think you can scare me away, Truitt Boys, then you’ve got another thing coming for you. Believe me.”

The sun is just beginning to peak over the horizon, casting long shadows and painting the sky with hues of orange and pink.

On my laptop, I flip through the cameras, watching the live footage of each frame.

“Let’s see the three of you try anything now,” I whisper under my breath. There’s no doubt in my mind, they’re going to do everything they can to protect their father’s reputation.

The quiet hum of the forest surrounds me, broken only by the occasional chirp of a bird or the rustling of leaves.

I can’t believe they destroy this beautiful forest for a living.

Suddenly, I hear approaching footsteps. My heart skips a beat as I look up.

Shit.

It’s Ben Truitt.

I freeze as his eyes fall directly onto me. What the hell!

As he stands there, the last of the sunlight filters through the trees, casting a dappled pattern across his broad shoulders. His sandy blond hair, pulled back in a loose ponytail, catches the light.

There’s no doubt in my mind he sees me.

His jaw clenches, and he steps forward, his boots crunching the forest growth beneath him.

“Well, well, what do we have here?”

I swallow hard, my mind racing. I’m technically trespassing on their land, and I have no idea how he’s going to react.

What the hell is he doing out here anyway? How did he find me so fast?

“I... I’m just setting up my equipment,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I need to gather evidence on the silver lynx and monitor the logging activities.”

I’ll play dumb like I didn’t know.

Ben’s eyes narrow, and he takes another step forward, the approaching shadow highlighting the tension in his features. “You’re on private property. Did you think about asking for permission before setting up camp?”

“I know I should have,” I admit, my heart pounding in my chest. “But I didn’t know this was private. I swear.” A bad lie.

His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I’m worried he’s going to order me to pack up and leave. But then he sighs, the hard lines of his face softening just a bit. “You should have talked to us first. We’re not unreasonable. We want to protect the land too. We’re not the villains you think we are.”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

“I’m not so sure I believe that.”

Why the hell did that just come out of my mouth?

“Listen. I want to apologize for last night.”

“It’s alright,” I mumble.

The heat of his warm gaze, searching my eyes, sends a shiver down my spine.

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