Page 63 of Shared By the Mountain Men

I glanced in that direction. “I don’t know, it’s getting chilly…”

“That’s what the fire is for!” Noah replied happily. “We don’t have to hang out too long. I just feel bad for him camping on my property, all alone.”

“Ash seems like the kind of guy who prefers being alone.”

Noah threw an arm around my shoulder. “Exactly. But it’s up to people like us to make sure he knows he doesn’thaveto be alone.”

Praying that this wouldn’t blow up in my face, I allowed him to guide me over to the fire.

29

Melissa

The campfire cast an inviting orange glow on everything in a ten-foot radius, and sent long shadows dancing across the field. It was a dark night, clouds obscuring the stars and moon, which made the area seem like a pocket of life in an otherwise endless black sea. Ash’s dark eyes were unreadable as we approached.

“Room for three?” Noah asked.

“It’s your land,” Ash replied in a deep voice.

“Doesn’t mean I get to barge in on you whenever I want.” Cut logs were spaced around the fire, and Noah sat on one across the fire from Ash. I took one in between the two of them.

“Drink?” Ash asked, nudging a cooler with his toe.

“Whatever you’re having,” Noah replied.

Ash’s gaze collided with mine, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Same,” I said.

He handed a can of beer to Noah, then stretched across to give one to me. Our fingers brushed for a split second, and it was like electricity arced between us. The memory of our kiss was still sharp in my mind. I wondered if it was the same for him.

“You’re not cold?” I asked. He was wearing jeans and a white tank top.

Ash pointed with his beer. “Fire.”

“Oh. Yeah.” I moved my log a little closer to the pulsing heat.

Noah chatted with Ash for a little while, allowing me to relax in silence. They discussed his short trip to Ouray, and the contract with the Colorado Parks Department that Jack had taken today, clearing away debris after the storm.

“I can’t believe it stormed that hard the other night,” Noah said. “I slept through the whole thing.”

Ash’s gaze cut over to me for a fraction of a second. “I bet you did.”

I winced. It was eerily similar to what Jack had said when I mentioned the storms.

“Dude,” Noah said, “did you see who the Avalanche signed?

Ash let out a growl. “Yeah. Awful. They always spend money on the wrong players.”

My plan was to have one drink and then go inside, but Noah and Ash seemed like they were having a good time. And itwasa nice night to sit by a campfire.

Noah got a second beer, so I did too. Paired with the first beer and the drinks at dinner, I soon had a nice buzz going.

But the alcohol made the guilt come bubbling up again. And as soon as it reappeared, it refused to leave. Not even imagining all the sexy fun Noah and I would have tonight could take my mind off things. If anything, it made the guilt of my lie of omission worse.

Ash casually leaned back on the ground and rested a thick bicep behind his head. God, he was sexy. The campfire illuminated his tattoos in a way that made them come alive, almost dancing in the flickering light.

His eyes cut over to me, and I quickly looked away.

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