Page 24 of Shielded Hearts

The gleam in her eyes was worth all the crap he’d had to go through over the past few days. After he left her alone, he washed up and went into the kitchen. He located a big picnic basket exactly in the spot his sister Willow told him it would be last time she’d visited the cabin. Then he added a bottle of wine and a few snacks from the pantry that boasted more than expired cans of food.

He set the basket at the back door leading down a couple flights of stairs to the dock. He found Aspen still staring out the big window.

“This view is amazing,” she said without turning.

“It’s what made me fall in love with the property.”

“I can see why.”

“Want to head outside?”

She nodded, and he ushered her out ahead of him. Downstairs, he passed by the sofa and snagged a plaid wool blanket. He draped it over his arm.

She spotted the basket by the door. “Is that a picnic?”

“Just snacks and that drink I promised you. C’mon.”

The scents of cedar and pine filled the air. The sun hadn’t completely set, leaving a lingering warmth that he knew would cool off fast after sunset. Tiny waves rippled on the water that now reflected a more blurred image of the foliage everyone flocked here to gawk at.

Once they stepped onto the dock, Aspen turned in a circle, drinking it all in. “It’s so nice that you have a covered dock.”

“Wanna see the upstairs?”

“Yesss.” She gave him a look like he must be crazy for asking. Again, he chuckled, low in his throat.

With the basket and blanket in hand, he followed her up the stairs. The deck boasted a gas fireplace and had all the makings of a perfect romantic evening.

If someone was into that.

She took a seat on the outdoor furniture while he set the basket down. “Can I take a look?” she asked.

“Help yourself.”

She opened the lid and stared at the wine, specialty crackers and some almonds that he thought would pair well with the wine.

She jerked her gaze to his. “You just threw this together?”

He scooted close to her—within grabbing and throwing her down on the outdoor sofa distance.

“There’s a lot more to me than meets the eye.”

She raked her gaze over his chest. When it skimmed lower to his groin, his cock began to swell. Leaning near, she let out a soft sigh. Her long lashes dipped over her smoldering eyes. “I can see that, Colt.”

He moved in. Her sweet breath washed over his lips. “Does that mean your opinion of me has changed?”

She tipped her face up, bringing her mouth a breath away from his. “No. I still think you’re a jerk.”

He laughed, and then crushed his lips down on hers.

* * * * *

When Aspen arrived at the ranch to hand-deliver that portfolio, she never guessed at the chain of events that would take place after. And she especially did not seethiscoming.

This hunky god, a former SEAL, kissing her like he had been waiting for it forever.

Truthfully, this kiss had begunlongbefore he actually took action. Back in the master bedroom suite, their gazes locked with a sizzling chemistry she tried to brush away. Colt clearly felt it too.

He slipped his hand under her hair, cradling her nape as he brushed his mouth over hers three times, then four. As he slid his hand upward, her breath hitched at the feel of his callused fingertips running over her sensitive skin.

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