Page 16 of Cabin Fever

"Do you have a microwave or something? I fear the food has gone cold. And if there's one thing I hate, it's eating cold bacon. If it isn't warm it isn't worth it, that's my motto."

Carter slowly turned back. I swore for a moment his green eyes flashed red as he glared at me. "No, I do not own a microwave. Maybe if you hadn't slept so long you could have enjoyed it fresh from the pan. Forgive me if this isn't the Four Seasons and I can't make everything to your specifications. The motto here is, if it's food and hasn't spoiled, you keep quiet and consider yourself lucky to have a meal."

Wow, it's rather easy to push his buttons.

"Kind of a long motto, don't you think? I thought mottoes were supposed to be short. Catchy. That has too much explanation—"

He slammed the mug back onto the table with enough force that I thought it would break. "You know what's also short? My patience. You have exactly five minutes to eat your unsavory cold breakfast and meet me in the barn."

Carter's footsteps were heavy against the floor as he walked away. Kitty, who had been drooling in her dog bed by the stove while staring at my food, flicked her gaze to Carter for a moment before settling it back on my plate.

"He's not much of a people person, is he, Kitty? I don't want to be mean to him, but you've seen his mouth. That's not something I should be messing with. It's lethal. A woman could die of orgasms just from his lips. Imagine if his tongue were involved?"

I chewed on the cool bacon that was delicious as always and thought about my dilemma. Living up here, secluded in a Hallmark-inspired cabin, surrounded by mother nature was all too tempting to want to hump the wild sheep farmer.

There was a thrill when his body stiffened with anger.

He had taken care of me since I arrived. Teaching me things when I asked. Willing to put up with my steep learning curve with what should have been obvious, like using a washing machine. While he was Mr. Grumpington through most of it, he did go out of his way to help.

I finished the last bite of potatoes and brought my dish to the sink.

After changing into another of Carter's old sweaters and jeans, I took off my house boots and slipped into the farm boots. The air was biting as I shrugged on my coat and stepped out back. I could feel my lashes form tiny icicles as I headed toward the barn.

I had decided to apologize to Carter about breakfast. His smile may be so foxy that I wished it would pounce on my vagina, but that was my problem, not his. He shouldn't be punished for being born with a sex mouth.

"Hey, Carter. Look, I wanted to say—"

"Here you go." Carter pushed a large rack into my gloved hand.

I stared at the wooden implement with horror.

"W-What is this?"

I knew what it was. I saw him use it yesterday. My concern wasn't what it was, but what exactly he wanted me to do with it.

"I felt bad this morning. You looked so peaceful before I woke you that I was angry. Upset with myself for what I knew I was going to have you work on today in the barn. I tried my best to be nice, making extra bacon and breaking out the coffee, but I should have known . . . That's what happens when you're nice to people, they start to believe they can take advantage of you."

I opened my mouth to argue but he wouldn't let me get a word out.

"I have to thank you, Olivia. Because I don't feel bad anymore for making you do your manual labor today. It's your turn to lay down fresh hay. If you need me, I'll be around the front of the house. Working on the truck so I can get you out of here."

Bile rose in my throat, and I was in so much shock I had forgotten to watch his ass as he walked away. Crap, I'm being punished because of his sexy lips.

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