Page 23 of Shielded Hearts

Awe widened her eyes. “This is some view, Colt. This is the kind of place my billionaires would love to visit.”

Her hair smelled nice. Which made him think of her in that horse trough earlier that morning—Christ, it felt like a week ago—and how he’d almost jumped into the bath with her. After waking with a hard-on that would dent steel, he barely had control of himself, and seeing her bare skin and her knees tucked up to cover her nudity from him almost stole what little control he had left.

In the reflection, their gazes met.

He jerked his head. “I’ll give you the tour, then we can have that drink.”

As he showed her the living room with an enormous sectional sofa and large flatscreen TV, he saw how impressed she was with the place.

He hoped that she didn’t treat him differently. Or worse, kiss up to him.

“You about finished staring at the artwork, princess?”

“You about finished calling me princess?” She turned her head from the art his sister called abstract but just looked like a bunch of blotches to him. Aspen locked gazes with him for one beat…two.

“I still think you’re a jerk too.”

A laugh burst out of him. Her own soft smile transformed her face from pretty to stunning. Riveting.

Christ, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and that was saying a lot for a Malone. He and his brothers were never lacking for beautiful women.

Quickly, he set off through the rest of the house, showing her the huge kitchen.

She stepped up to the enormous gas range with about five burners more than he would ever need. “A chef’s kitchen? Colt, I didn’t know you cook.”

“I don’t.”

She tossed her head on a laugh, eyes dancing with a happiness he hadn’t seen on her up to this point. But what would she have to be happy about? His grumpy response to her crashing his brother’s wedding, followed by the bad news that her plane was grounded and two terrible cabins.

He showed her two bedrooms, both with comfortable beds. “This is the blue room.”

She made a sweep of the space, ending at the tall window that looked down on the deck.

He led her to the second room. “This is the green room.”

“So calming.”

He didn’t tell her that she could take her pick of them.

When he opened the door to the master bedroom suite made up in shades of khaki and brown that he preferred, Aspen let out a little squeal. “Colt…this is stunning!”

He stared down at her, gaze roaming over her angel’s features. “I know.”

Whatever she heard in his voice made her jerk her gaze to his. She stood inches away. He could settle a hand on her lower back, over the curve of her ass, and draw her against his body.

“You’ll want to check out this view.” He stepped back and waved a hand to urge her to the massive window.

She let out a gasp. “Look at the leaves! All the fall colors are reflected on the lake! Oh my god. Is that a private dock?”

“Yep.”

“Two stories?”

“Mm-hm. We can go down later if you want.”

She turned to him, shaking her head. For once when it came to a property, she seemed speechless. “This window is frickin’ amazing. I’m in love with this window. I could stay here forever.”

“Stay and take in the view. Freshen up if you’d like—the bathroom’s through that door. I’ll grab those drinks for us and we’ll head down to the dock.”

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