Page 15 of Driven Wild By The Grizzly

He frowns. “He’ll be worrying about you. That’s not good. But I don’t think there’ll be any signal until the storm is over.”

I sigh. “Not much I can do, then. Hopefully he’ll figure that I took shelter someplace.”

Trying my best to sit in a way that keeps my legs together and shirt hanging loose over my boobs, I dig in.

It’s beef stew and it tastes real good. I tell him so.

“Not a lot of restaurants around here, so I had to make sure I could cook my own food,” he says in that careless way of his. Like his talents are not a big deal.

“Do you like living out in the wilderness?” I ask. I’m burning with curiosity about his mountain-man lifestyle, but trying my best to act casual.

“Yeah. I love the peace. And I’ve got a few family members living in cabins around here, if I’m in the mood for some company.” There’s a sparkle in his eye, as if he knows I’m really trying to ask whether he’s a complete recluse.

“And you don’t miss the city?”

He looks appalled. “Reckon my soul would shrivel up if I had to live surrounded by all that concrete.”

He has a point, I think, gazing around the cabin. He’s got everything he needs right here. Out of nowhere, an image pops into my mind of me sitting at the kitchen table, designing jewelry, while he’s designing his apps at the computer. It would be so cozy—

I startle. Where didthatthought come from?

We both eat fast. When we’re done, I jump up and insist on washing the dishes. His kitchen is just perfect, too. Small, but well-equipped. Through the window above the sink, I can see the storm raging. It eased off a little while we were eating, but now it’s gathering force again.

When I turn back to the living area, a crack of thunder rips right overhead.

“Sounds like it’s gonna take the roof off,” I say with a nervous laugh.

Ethan reaches behind himself and knocks on one of the wooden walls. “Don’t worry, this place is solid. Even a twister couldn’t take it out. That’s how my grandad built it.”

“The same one whose bus you’re now driving?”

“Yup. See how I owe him one?”

Then the smile drops from his face. “Jessica, you’re safe here. You know that?”

I go still. I do know that. I only met Ethan today, but I feel like I’ve known him for a lifetime. Maybe many lifetimes. “Yes,” I say in a quiet voice.

“Come sit down.” He taps on the seat beside him. His eyes burn into me and I shiver. I’m powerless to do anything other than obey him. If he’s trying to hypnotize me, I’m all in. This gorgeous mountain man has me under his spell.

I walk over and perch on the edge of the cushion beside him. Tingles run through me, quickly turning into a deep throb between my thighs. I swallow hard.

I’m longing for him to take me into his arms, throw me down on the sofa and kiss me senseless. I think he feels the same. But what if I’ve got it all wrong? I’m not good with guys. Not good with guys who aren’t sleazy assholes, anyway.

“Tell me what happened,” he says.

I blink. “When?”

“What were you running from, Jessica?” His voice is serious and I sense that every bit of his attention is focused on me.

How does he know?I wonder. But I already know the answer to that: he just does. He reads me.

I take a big in-out breath. “My ex—well, a guy I was dating—”

A snarl breaks from his throat. “You had a boyfriend?”

I startle. “Y-yeah, but it wasn’t serious. To me anyway. We’d only been on a few dates, and I wasn’t sure about him.” I clasp my hands together. He has that look in his eyes again—the one he had on the bus. Like he’s already planning to hunt down my ex and take him out.

And I have no idea why that’s making my clit throb out of control.

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