Page 14 of Accidentally Kidnapping the Mountain Man

“You’re what?” she asks, blinking up at me with those blue eyes that I’ve become obsessed with over the past two weeks. I can’t tell if she’s still angry or shocked or what. But I do know that it feels like my heart’s about to pound out of my chest as I stare down at her. I do know that holding her in my arms feels so fucking right that I’m never letting her go.

She might’ve been the one to kidnap me, but I’m the one who’s going to keep her forever.

“I’m in love with you,” I say again, warmth blooming across my chest.

The fire pops and crackles softly, and the wind howls outside. It feels like we’re the only two people on the planet.

I’ve shocked her into silence, apparently. Her beautiful eyes are wide, her lips parted slightly as her chest rises and falls rapidly. She searches my face, and I let her look, meeting her gaze. I’ve got nothing to hide. Not anymore.

I feel lighter now that I’ve told her the truth.

“And I feel awful for the stress I’ve caused you. I had no idea, Kaylee. I swear. I would never do anything to jeopardize your safety or your well being. I love you. I want to take care of you.”

“Logan,” she breathes, and it takes every single ounce of restraint I have not to kiss her. Not to claim her pretty little mouth and show her exactly what I’m offering. Her brows furrow, a tiny crease appearing between them, and I can tell she’s still working through what I’ve just told her. If I start kissing the daylights out of her now, she might run.

Not that I wouldn’t chase her.

I lift a hand to her face, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. I almost groan at how silky smooth it is between my fingers.

I want to wrap it around my fist as I do depraved, filthy things to her.

Her eyes flutter closed at my touch, and she leans into it. It’s enough to give me hope that in time, she might return my feelings. If she ever wants me even a fraction as much as I want her, I’ll consider that a win.

“I needed you to know. To understand why I did what I did. I wanted you to know how I feel about you so that you can figure out how you feel about me.”

She swallows hard, her eyes blinking open. “I…” She shakes her head.

Okay. Still processing.

“I know I’m too old for you,” I say, smirking at her. “I know. But I can’t help how I feel. I started falling the second I laid eyes on you.”

She bites her lip, and I do groan this time. I can’t help it. What I feel for Kaylee is lust and need, protectiveness and possessiveness, love and desire and hope, all wrapped into one. It’s so strong and consuming that I feel drunk on how badly I want her. How much I love her.

“I’m done playing games, Kaylee. Done being a coward who rejects house after house just because I need to be around you.”

She huffs out a breath and then god help me, she rolls her eyes. “I hear that people go on these things they call dates? Maybe you could’ve just asked me on one of those instead of almost costing me my job and forcing me to kidnap you.” Some of the heat is back in her tone, and I grin. Good. The shock is wearing off.

“And what would you have said if a man old enough to be your father asked you on a date?”

“If it was you, I would’ve said yes.” She answers quickly, her eyes bright.

My heart does a flip in my chest.

“You would?” I ask, one eyebrow arching.

She nods, her cheeks going pink. My cock thickens, my balls starting to ache. “Logan, I…” She looks down, her lashes casting shadows over her freckled cheeks. My heart hammers in my chest as I wait for her to say something.

I feel like my entire fucking life is hanging in the balance.

“I have feelings for you, too,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. Her confession sends a rush of dazzling heat through me, and it takes everything I have not to kiss her. Not to sink down onto the couch and pull her into my lap. Not to make her every promise I have to give.

“Yeah?” I ask. It’s completely ineloquent, but it’s all I can manage. If I say more, I’m scared my heart will leap right the fuck out of my throat and into her hands.

She looks up, those blue eyes that are my undoing meeting mine. “I have this massive, massive crush on you. More than a crush, really. I have since the day we met.”

I lift my hand, leaving one arm locked around her waist, and cup her cheek. Christ, her skin is soft.

“Yeah,” she whispers, her cheeks so pink they’re nearly red. “I…I think about you all the time. Constantly.”

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