Page 7 of Protected By the Surly Carpenter

My eyes roll, possibly for the first time in my life. “Then that will be all my fault. Please – just try it.”

Her teeth sink into her bottom lip as she hesitates. It’s…very distracting.

“If you throw a couple of real punches, I’ll take you to dinner anywhere you like in Cedarville. If you don’t, you’re stuck with somewhere in Pinesley.” From the way her nose scrunches up as if she’s smelled a skunk, she’s clearly heard about that vile town already.

Elena takes a deep breath, then on the exhale aims her fist directly into the center of my chest. It’s a solid hit that would make most men stagger back a few steps.

Although I don’t wobble, my grin is so wide I’m afraid my face might get stuck this way. “Great job,” I chuckle. “I thinkthat’s the first time in my life I haven’t blocked a punch, but that was perfect.” She beams.

“Two more,” I insist. She surprises me by smacking me with her left fist, then delivering a slight uppercut with the right, landing both. I actually stagger back two steps from the force.

My girl is a legit firecracker.

Scooping her up in a bear hug, she giggles sweetly as I twirl her around. “That is not the reaction you’re supposed to have to getting punched,” she sputters.

“Too bad. I’m really proud of you.” The second her feet touch the ground again, we’re kissing, her lips soft against mine. Then I realize that we’re alone in the woods. I don’t want to make her nervous.

“Did that feel good?” I whisper.

“Yeah.” Her eyes soft and dreamy, she leans in for another kiss.

I can’t resist, my tongue gently exploring her mouth, our bodies melting together. Our heat reaches a fever pitch in seconds, and I hear a small whimper as I grab her ass with one hand, pressing against the back of her shoulders with the other. Finally, I pull back, both of us nearly gasping for air.

“I actually meant, did it feel good to throw a punch?”

Her delighted grin makes my stomach tingle. “Oh! Yeah. That too. Yes.”

We get back in the truck, and I begin to drive. “I hope you don’t mind, but I have to make a quick delivery in Cedarville. It’ll only take a minute. Then we can drive around and you can pick any restaurant that looks good to you, or you can let me know what you’re hungry for. I think I’ve tried almost everything.”

“Let’s play it by ear, see what happens.” There’s something in her tone. Glancing over, Elena is giving me a look that states very clearly that she’s into me.

“Perfect.” I reach out to squeeze her hand gently. “Let’s see what happens.”

4

ELENA

It’s quickly becoming extremely obvious that Clark doesn’t date much, if at all. Although I lowkeylovehis idea of just driving past some restaurants and seeing what looks good.

I also love that he taught me how to throw a real punch. It’s one of those things that I vaguely thought I would figure out in the moment, but now that I actually know how to do it right, I feel a lot more confident. It’s amazing that he wants me to be strong.

Looking over at his huge frame as he casually drives down the slow, winding forest road, I wonder what it would be like to be with him for a long time. This intense flirtation is incredible, and I want more, but I’m wary of staying in one place for an extended period, at least for the next year or so.

Somehow, I’m clinging to the hope that Dad will stop looking for me if there are zero breadcrumbs for him to follow. He’s never been particularly tenacious if there’s no instant gratification for him, so I’m expecting him to give up.

But if that Lawney guy is talking about Mom’s rings and the safety deposit box key, he must know Dad, or somebody that Dad knows, andthatmeans Dad’s been calling in favors. Thatmakes the situation much more serious. It’s not pleasant to think of your own father as a sinister villain, but hey, if the shoe fits…

The man is just nasty. Rumors of illegal activity, associating with lowlife scum. Mainly it’s the way he glares at me as if I’m the biggest inconvenience in the world and he wished that I didn’t exist.

Gah, why am I thinking about that on my first date with this amazing man? Talk about a buzzkill. At least I know I’m perfectly safe so long as I stick to Clark like glue.

I sneak another peek. He is absolutely stunning in a black button-down shirt and black jeans. Not formal, exactly, but definitely dressier than yesterday. His thick, slightly wavy dark brown hair is pushed back a bit more, accenting his rugged bone structure.

The long, meandering road through the forest begins to straighten out, and houses become closer together after we pass a sign welcoming us to Cedarville.

“What is it you’re dropping off?” I turn around to peer into the back of the truck but see only the shipping blankets.

“Easels.” He gives me a sideways glance. “Betty’s Bistro is run by Betty and Cullen Pinckney. Known them for years. They started running one of those nights where everybody gets together and paints the same photo.”

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