Page 69 of Cabin Fever

"Why would you think I want to leave?"

His casted arm waved at the room. "I don't have much and I'm not a city boy. That's what you're used to . . . That's not me. I don't have a ballroom or a library or anything big enough to house those things. You're used to guys who can offer you luxury . . . I can only offer you bacon and eggs and a sheep-filled barn."

"Again, this isn't the nineteenth century. I'm not looking for a grand estate and a titled gentleman."

His eyes were wide with hope. My hand cupped his bearded cheek, and I had to kiss him. Even after what we just did, he seemed so innocent, like a little boy looking for his mother in a crowded shop.

"Then what are you looking for, if anything at all?"

I sighed against his lips and rubbed my forehead against his. "I wasn't really looking for anything. Considering I ran away from my fiancé a few weeks ago, I knew I needed a break."

"Oh . . . Right. I understand."

I climbed off his lap and kneeled between his legs. "I don't think you do. I wasn't searching for anyone, but I miraculously found the perfect man for me. He puts up this strong, cold front but underneath it all, he's kind, silly, and unbelievably sexy. I would be a fool to walk away from him."

"I don't deserve you," he muttered more to himself than me, brushing the hair from my cheeks.

"Do you need me to show you how much you deserve me?" I bit my bottom lip, crawled up his body, and kissed his ear.

"Maybe you should. It's going to take a lot of work and long hours to get rid of this doubt." His hand slid to my ass, giving one cheek a healthy squeeze.

My stomach grumbled.

"Maybe we eat first, and then I'll get to removing that doubt." I winked and as we stood, I said, "I'll remove that doubt so hard." And then I slapped his ass before he had a chance to put back on his clothes.

TWENTY-TWO

Carter

"WHERE DID OLIVIA GO?" I asked Bea as she sat with her feet on my kitchen table.

Bea and I had a love-hate relationship. In the week Bea had been here, I was glad that she made Olivia happy and watched out for her sister. Bea grilled me the following day when we met at The Lodge restaurant for dinner.

Olivia thought Bea had gone too far with her line of questioning, but I approved. If I wasn't around to take care of Olivia, I felt at ease knowing her sister would watch out for her.

But Beatrice was spoiled. When I first met Olivia, I thought she was naïve and expected too much from me like I was her servant. But she quickly learned that real people take care of themselves.

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