Page 41 of The Darkest Knight

“The first year I had enlisted. I found myself in a fight with a disgruntled enemy in Afghanistan.”

He’d never had anyone investigate his wounds so closely. Probably never had anyone who cared too. His body was battered and beaten, and what remained were ugly scars. He’d gotten used to them, but he wasn’t so sure anyone else could. “I’ll go put a shirt on.” He was fully aware how husky his voice sounded. He was slammed with wave after wave of emotion, both from her close inspection and soft touch. A warmth spread through his body.

“Don’t be embarrassed, Seth. Don’t hide from me. I think we’re passed that, don’t you?” She worked her bottom lip.

Hearing his name on those seductive, sweet lips made his limbs ache. Primal desire stroked his spine and he had a strong urge to drag her into his arms, but he couldn’t fall to every sensation that rocked his body. This deserved and needed a light touch…logical reasoning

“I’m not embarrassed, and I’m not hiding.”

She stepped closer, stealing all his oxygen right out from his lungs. From his vantage point, he could see straight down her smooth chest and into the cleavage between her firm breasts. She stood there, staring at him, but saying nothing.

As if an invisible force had control, he could no longer fight it. He buried his hands into the satin blanket of her long hair and pulled her closer. “My God, you’re far more dangerous than any badass enemy. What are you doing to me? What are you doing to my wall?” He was ready to taste those beautiful lips…

Knock. Knock.

He jerked back. “Who the hell could that be?”

“Someone with very bad timing.”

*****

Oh brother! She’d almost lost herself in the arms of the Dark Knight. How in the world would she manage working so closely with him without sampling his beautiful lips and masculine body?

Reese kept up with Seth’s stride as they headed toward the group of men standing in a semi-circle near the barn. Gage, Lex, Johnny, and a few men she didn’t have the opportunity to meet, all turning their gazes to watch as they approached. Reese felt as if they could see straight into her internal turmoil.

They all proved they had manners by greeting her with a dip of their hats. “Mornin’, ma’am.” She smiled and waved in return.

Gage shifted in his boots. “Sorry I had to drag you out here this early,” his gaze shifted from Reese, then back to a frustrated looking Seth, “but we have a problem. Taylor didn’t get beyond the first cabin before he realized the electricity isn’t up to code.”

The man who must have been Taylor, stepped forward. “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but not only does the one cabin need electrical updates, but I’m going to assume that they will all need work. These wires look like they’ve been chewed up and spit out by a rat. It’s a problem.”

Seth shifted from one foot to the other. “What’s your suggestion?”

She listened as they exchanged “construction” terms that she didn’t quite understand, but she was able to decipher that whatever there was, it was a big problem. Her heart dropped.

“This will definitely put us behind. I hadn’t expected this issue.” Seth kicked up dust with the toe of his boot.

“You’ve always sent business my way, Seth. I’ll call in my crew and we’ll get this done before you can say ‘electricity’.”

“I appreciate that, Taylor. Let’s get this started.” Seth turned to her. “Hold off on any more painting for the moment.”

She nodded and he went back to discussing the finer details with the electrician.

Reese silently left him to the stressful business and headed back down the hill to her cabin with Abby trailing beside her. Considering she couldn’t continue with her hands-on work, she’d use the time to sit down and write out her plans for basic furnishings for the cabins. She’d never been the head of such a large task before, but she was confident that she could do this. Seth had made it clear, and she had agreed, that the cabins would be decorated in a practical way. He’d set a tight budget and she couldn’t go over that amount.

As she sat down on the porch with pen and paper to jot down her ideas, her thoughts kept wandering to the ‘almost’ kiss back at Seth’s cabin. If the knock hadn’t come on the door, it was hard to tell where she would be right now. In his arms? Naked? Probably more than likely.

She gave her head a quick shake, remembering that she couldn’t get ahead of herself. Obviously, the attraction was real between them. Seeing him shirtless had affected her in such a way that she’d lost herself—lost all logic. Beyond the fact that he had a powerful physique, he also had the scars of a soldier who had fought many battles. Most women might be repulsed by seeing the marks and blemishes, the puckered skin of shrapnel wounds, to the longer scar of a stabbing injury. But Reese felt drawn to his suffering, his story. His wounds told their own story. Would he open up to her fully? She wanted to know all his trials and tribulations, and for the first time, she wanted him to know all her fears.

It wasn’t until lunch time when she met back up with the crew on the grassy knoll for their gathering that had become the norm these days. Isla and Vanna had prepared the food again. This time, there was a massive buffet of the makings for fajitas. Sliced flank steak. Chicken. And all the fixings.

She filled her plate and started for her usual spot underneath the oak tree when she heard her name being called. Seth stood and waved her over to sit next to him. A tingle shot down her spine and her throat constricted. She’d have to face her own battle sitting near him with so many eyes watching.

Approaching the table, she smiled as all the men stood until she took her seat on the bench. She was barely settled when Seth sat, his bulging thigh brushing her knee, sending swirls of heat into her senses. If only she could ignore the sparks flying between them, but something so overwhelming could never be left unacknowledged. They were growing much like the wildflowers in the fields surrounding the cabins. They had taken on a life of their own, offering beauty to the landscape. Looking from each of the men, she was glad that none of them seemed to notice her flushed appearance as they dug into their meal hungrily.

Seth’s heat warmed her bare leg, making her toes curl. If only she could slide over a few inches, but then she’d almost be on Lex’s lap. Not happening.

The men laughed as they discussed the situation with the electrician. She felt like a fish out of water, and was glad she could nibble on her steak to stay occupied instead of salivating each time the breeze kicked up and wafted Seth’s spicy scent under nose.

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