Page 90 of Ten Mountain Men

By the time Ranger pops back up out of the water, spluttering, he’s dead last.

It’s Nash who I expect to win as he pulls ahead of his brothers with long strokes. He expects the win as well, his eyes already lighting up with triumph.

At the last second, just before his fingers make contact with my ankle, Nash is dunked under the water by Ash, whose determination to win is written in every tense line of his face.

“Mine,” Ash growls under his breath when his fingers wrap gently around my foot. “Your kiss is mine, all mine.”

Behind him, his brothers emit a series of groans and smack the water, splashing each other. Despite the intense competition and defeat, they join Ash and me along the side of the water hole, panting from their exertion but wearing genuine smiles on their faces.

“Thanks a lot, Buck,” Ranger says with an eye roll and a groan. “I had this race in the bag.”

“All’s fair,” Buck says with a shrug of his beefy shoulders.

Before any more protests can be made, Ash pulls himself out of the water. His eyes are lit from within as he holds out a hand in my direction. I take it, expecting him to pull me up, but instead, he drops himself down next to where I sit and scoops me into his lap.

“You ready to give me my prize?” Ash asks.

“You won it fair and square,” I tell him, then I add, “Kiss me, Ash.”

It’s a good thing he has me wrapped in his arms, holding me tight, because the moment his lips touch mine, I melt into a puddle. His lips are so delicious I have to stop myself from pushing closer to him and fully devouring him. But damn if he doesn’t seem hell-bent on fully devouring me.

I’m almost too deep in his kisses to hear the others bellow and cheer, but eventually I pull away, my cheeks flushed. My eyes are heavy-lidded and my mouth feels swollen. Ash looks back at me like he’s ready to sling me over his shoulder and whisk me off so he can plunder my mouth in private.

I’m tempted to ask him to do exactly that when the other brothers climb out of the water, their laughter echoing across the river and into the woods. They’re loud enough for their voices to reach the cabin. At least, I hope so.

I’m not sure why I want Luke to hear how much fun they’re having with me, because I shouldn’t even care. He’s made it very clear that he wants nothing to do with me…and yet, it’s like something inside of me just won’t let go of the need for him to come around. Ranger said he would. So did Brooks and Hunter. But he might not ever like me, let alone ever want to battle his brothers for my kiss.

Fine. I’m fine with that. Who needs ten men to kiss anyway? NOT ME.

I just wish I didn’t have to see Luke’s disapproving expression behind my eyes whenever I blink. And I wish it wasn’t me who brings that expression out in him.

Why does his opinion matter so much? Why do I care what he thinks? I can think of multiple reasons, but none of them matter. The important thing is—I do care. Even if he’s not leaving to go to the big cave, how can I fully enjoy this while knowing he’s back at the cabin, more grumpy than normal, because of me?

And suddenly, I realize I can’t just leave things as they are. I can’t wait on him to come around, or not. He may be able to ignore me, but I won’t be able to ignore him or the fact that he’s uncomfortable in his own home because of my presence. I know I won’t.

“Hey,” Ash says, his voice as gentle as the caress of his fingertips down along my jawline. “Did I do that wrong? Because I’d rate that kiss a solid ten on a scale of one to ten, but you do not look like a woman satisfied.”

“You did everything right, Ash,” I promise him with a smile that I’m not sure looks convincing. “But I need to talk to Luke. I need to…”

“Make things right with him?” Ash asks.

“Okay, who gets the next kiss?” Clay wants to know. “Me, right?”

“We could wrestle for it, or see who can go the highest in the climbing tree,” Buck suggests. “Or—”

“You could see who can keep their trap shut for the longest. Goldie and I aren’t done here,” Ash calls out. “Give us a minute.”

“Boo!” a couple of them shout, but it’s definitely good-naturedly.

I watch Rusty belly flop back into the water, and that brings out my full smile. Clay dives back in too, nearly landing on top of Rusty, then pushing him under with a playful dunking.

I turn back to Ash. “Do you think I can? Make things right with Luke?”

He’s quiet for a stretch, tilting his head and studying me with those piercing green eyes as if I’m a particularly difficult algebra problem. Then he lets out a breath and says, “If anyone can do it, it’s you, firecracker.”

Not the most spirited or inspiring pep talk in the history of time, but I’ll take it.

Chapter 28

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