Page 11 of Dangerous Mountain Man

“You have to be in love?”

“No.”

I was frowning by then. I didn’t know what the hell I was talking about. I’d spent very little time examining my thoughts on this matter.

“I mean, I guess I’d have to have more than a physical attraction to the person. I don’t have to marry him, but I’d want it to be more than just a one-time fling, you know?”

He nodded. “I get it. I was never much for casual sex either.”

Just hearing him say the word “sex” did something to me. Warmth spread through my whole body, centering on the area between my legs.

“I think I’d want it to be someone like you,” I said.

Now I really had his attention. He’d sliced off his second piece of garlic bread and took a generous bite. I worried he might choke again, but he managed to keep his cool, neutral expression in place.

I, for one, could not believe I’d actually said those words. What was going on with me? I was known for being direct, but I’d never been able to talk about stuff like this, even with my closest friends.

“Older and more experienced?” he asked. “Hot and highly intelligent?”

“All of the above. Nobody I’ve ever met has gotten me this close to considering it.”

There. My face was warm, and I knew it was probably showing. I was pretty fair-complected, and my cheeks tended to turn red when I was feeling shy.

“Well, I can say this,” he said. “I’ve never met a woman like you, and it’s been a long time since I’ve even thought about breaking my no-women rule. But you definitely have me thinking about it.”

6

MEMPHIS

Being a gentleman sucked. Especially tonight.

If I’d been a creep, I would’ve found a way to get her into bed. Instead, I was here in bed alone, trying to get to sleep and telling myself I had to get up for work tomorrow.

I needed rest. I couldn’t lie here all night thinking about her.

I could just jerk off. That’s what I’d done last time. But the difference was, this time, that wouldn’t get her out of my system. Not after the conversation we’d had tonight.

A loud click resonated through the small cabin, making its way into my bedroom. I sat up in bed, cursing myself for not moving the rifle back in here yesterday.

I had a gun in my nightstand. But the rifle by the door was a problem if someone was breaking in.

I was a real dumbass. This was definitely not like me. I tried to stay on guard at all times. Letting down your guard for a second could cost you your life.

I quietly opened the bedside drawer of my nightstand and pulled out my Glock 19. The safety was on, but it was fully loaded. All I had to do was flip that safety off and?—

“Hi.”

A distinctively female voice filled the room. I looked up, and my heart seemed to stop beating. Mallorie was standing in the doorway, and here I was, sitting on the bed, holding a gun.

Her wide eyes flitted from my face to the gun, but I couldn’t make out the finer details of her expression. It was too dark, and she was backlit.

“I thought you were an intruder,” I said, sliding the gun back into my nightstand.

What was she doing here? She was wearing a robe. Was there something underneath it? My dick twitched at the thought that there might not be.

“You left the door unlocked,” she said.

Oh, fuck. Another oversight. This was getting pretty bad.

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