Page 20 of Claimed By 3 Mountain Men

“You’ve got something on your face, there.” He steps toward me, his body only inches away. He brushes his thumb along my jawline. His eyes lock on mine, the playfulness in them nowhere to be found. My breath catches in my throat.

Is he going to kiss me?

Can he tell how fast my heart is racing?

As if I have no control, my lips part for his. A dark smile curls on his smug face.

“A little dust from the trail,” he teases, brushing it off on his jeans. Embarrassment floods my cheeks as I take a step back.

“I should review this footage,” I mutter, gripping the strap of my backpack.

“You don’t want help?”

“No, I’m good. I mean, I don’t need any...”

“Help?” he flashes me that charming grin again.

“I’ve got this, thanks,” I say, walking away.

I feel his eyes on my back as I head towards my tent.

“Hey, Mac,” he calls out.

I stop, turning back to look at him; he’s leaning casually against a towering pine tree. It’s probably the only thing out here bigger than him. Trees and grizzly bears.

“I’ll come swing by later to check on you.”

“Sounds good.”

“You might want to keep the noise down a bit. The forest has a way of carrying sound, and you never know what might be walking by.”

My cheeks flare up again.

Damn him. Damn all of them.

6

BEN

JT and Hank would freak the hell out if they knew she’s here on the property, conducting her research. Being with them is like being caught out in a hurricane, constantly being pelted by wind and their damn bullshit.

She’s lucky I’m the only one who comes out on these trails to relax and get some space from the two of them.

I exhale.

No. They don’t need to know about Mac. She’d only become the target of all their anger and anxiety. Hank’s already on edge around JT, nearly blaming him for the fact that we lost Dad, who didn’t want a funeral or anything to be held in his honor.

They can figure out what to do with the business. I’ll stay here or find somewhere else. Doesn’t matter to me as long as we stick together.

But in the meantime, Mac with her raven black hair and deep, hypnotizing eyes can be my own little secret.

Yesterday, I tried not to stare every time she climbed up a ladder with her long legs and tight ass on full display for me in those little hiking shorts. Damn. She’s the whole package. Whip smart. Sassy and sexy as hell.

My teeth grind together as I remember the sounds she was making yesterday morning in her tent, the soft moans and the flushed face when she saw me standing there.

She’d no reason to be nervous.

We’re all humans—all animals with needs of our own.

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