Page 89 of Ten Mountain Men

“Hey,” Brooks says. “Let’s not wear her out completely on day one. How ’bout we start with some kissing and work up to the rest?”

“Easy for you to say…you’ve already had the rest,” Nash says. “And I think Goldie’s due the best, which would be me, obviously.”

“Boys,” Buck says. “I think there’s only one way to settle this.”

Chapter 27

Goldie

I’m sitting on the tallest rock at the edge of the swimming hole, feeling like a queen on a throne, or a goddess on a cloud, as I watch nine of the Björnsson brothers line up along the other side of the river, all of their eyes on me.

I had no idea what to expect when they all got into place among the slick rocks edging the water hole, save Buck, who scooped me right up out of the water and carried me to my perch. He took my hand, once I was settled, and kissed the top gently. My heart lurched in my chest as his mischievous, twinkling eyes met mine.

“I’ll be back, gorgeous. Just give me a minute to kick all of my brothers’ asses in this race. Your sweet kiss ismine.” And then he added, “If that’s okay with you, of course.”

Very okay, and I didn’t even have to open my mouth to say a word. Whatever he saw in my expression as he walked backward from my rock and then dove into the water was enough.

A race. For mykiss. Just wait until I tell Winnie. This is too surreal!

And yet, I have never been in a moment that felt morereal. Like I’m living life to the fullest, for the first time, hearing the water as it rolls over the rocks, the birds twittering in the trees above me, the feel of sunbeams on my skin. Fully present, and yet tempted to pinch myself just to find out what would happen.

“Listen up,” Ranger calls out, the low growl of his voice rising over the bubbling river. “First to reach Goldie wins her kiss. No pushing, no dragging anyone under by their legs, no dunking—”

“Oh, come on, Range!” Brooks calls. “That’s the best part of a race.”

“Just because you’re scared of being dunked and getting your head wet doesn’t mean the rest of us are,” Hunter teases.

“Yeah, bring it on,” Nash agrees. “I think the rules should be—there are no rules.”

They agree to that, finally, and then Lynx says, “You call it, Goldie.” He brushes the hair out of his eyes and gives me a wink. “We’re all ready for you when you are.”

I lean back on my arms, letting my feet dangle in the water. “On your mark!”

Nine sets of eyes and grins grow fierce with determination.

“Get set,” I call.

I can barely get the words out, growing breathless as that ferocious, wild look—the same expression that once had me sure this was a whole family of massive, mythical Sasquatches in the woods—takes over their gorgeous faces. Their looks are similar, obviously brothers with strong DNA, but as they hang on to my words, waiting to steal my kiss, I can’t help but marvel over each and every one of them.

Hunter’s crooked grin is caught between his teeth, and the intensity in his smile has my knees weakening. Thank God I’m sitting.

Brooks is thinking very dirty thoughts about me. He’s seen me naked and even though I can’t read his mind, not really, I sure as heck know he’s picturing me naked this very second. And I know he knows that I know when he winks at me and his tongue darts out to lick his bottom lip.

Clay is smirking, giving me a look like he’s got a dirty secret he wants to tell me and I’m all ears.

Buck’s expression is a lot more serious than the others. Determined. His light brown hair has streaks of gold that shimmer in the sunshine like a winning medal. I can see in his eyes that my kiss, to him, would feel like Olympic gold.

Nash and Lynx are having a little competition of their own, playfully bumping each other with their bulging shoulder muscles, watching me, ready for my call.

A competitive glint flashes through Ash’s eyes as he looks down the line at his brothers, sizing them up. He then gives me a lopsided smile that makes my belly flutter.

Ranger and Rusty both grin at me too, though they’re looking less competitive and more playful than the others. But as soon as I shout the word “GO!” the race is anything but playful.

Honestly, I’m not sure how the water hole even still exists, the way they set off with a series of splashes big enough to start a tsunami.

Drops of cool water splash my legs, even from the opposite side of the water hole, as they all slice their way through the water, bulging muscles flexing with every powerful stroke. They displace half the water, and all of the birds from the nearby trees, with their bellowing cries and deafening splashing.

Ranger has the clear lead until Buck closes in on him, reaching out, out, and then Ranger is down, under the water while Buck pushes himself ahead.

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