Page 17 of Wilde Sanctuary

Wilde Outdoor Adventures was barely operating in this century, let alone this decade. He didn’t want to spoil what he’d felt last night by having her look down on him.

He rinsed his cup out, heading towards the door to pull his boots on.

“There’s a tree?”

Rhett gestured past the truck, glad that she appeared to have lost interest in talking about the land again.

“Oh, wow. That’s certainly a problem.” She grimaced. “Can I help?”

Rhett bent to pull his boots on and tie the laces. “No, I’ve done plenty of these before. It shouldn’t take too long to clear enough to get past in the truck.” He straightened. “I’m not sure about your rental, though.”

Charlie bit her lip. “I’m stuck here?”

“No, beautiful.” He dropped a kiss to her nose, smirking as she scrunched her face up. “But you can’t stay here.” He explained about the other trees and the risk of limbs coming down after a storm and she paled.

“I’ll pack my things,” she said.

He nodded, striding towards his truck to grab an axe from the trunk on the back. He paused, one hand on the latch and his breath caught at the sight of her standing in the doorway to the cabin. Her hair was messed from sleep, and she was still in pajamas, but it didn’t matter to him.

She was still the most stunningly beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Charlie lifted her hand, and he smiled, lifting his in return.

Be cool, man. Be cool.

He yanked the trunk open and grabbed the axe, turning to walk to where the tree fell across the track. He started by trimming the smaller branches, and it didn’t take him long to work up a sweat. He pulled his shirt off, draping it over a branch and kept going, falling into the familiar rhythm of chopping wood.

It was half an hour later and the sun had risen properly when he heard Charlie calling his name. He finished dragging the limb to the side of the track and turned to see her standing a dozen or so feet away. She was holding a flask in one hand, and a plate in the other, frozen in place. Her mouth dropped open as she stared at Rhett.

He looked down at himself and then back at her. “What?”

She snapped her mouth shut and then dragged her eyes to his, her cheeks flaming red. She took a step towards him and held her hands out.

“I thought you might be hungry.”

Rhett’s stomach growled. “Sounds like you’re right.”

He was famished. He hadn’t eaten since lunch the day before and swinging an axe had worked up an appetite.

He grabbed his shirt from the branch where he’d hung it and mopped the sweat from his neck and chest with it. “Thanks.”

She went to speak but squeaked and then cleared her throat. “You’re welcome.”

“Charlie?”

She closed her eyes, still holding the plate and flask out. “Yes, Rhett?”

“Open your eyes.”

Her eyes snapped open, and her brown eyes met his. Her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip, and she chewed on it as she looked down, her eyes trailing over his still bare chest before snapping back up to his face. Her cheeks were bright red and Rhett smiled, enjoying the effect he had on her.

“Surely you’ve seen a man without a shirt before?”

“Of course,” she scoffed. She extended her arms towards him. “Here.”

Rhett ignored the food and hooked a thumb through his belt loop. “Beautiful, you have not turned beet red just from seeing me without a shirt?” Rhett chuckled as he tossed the item of clothing in question over one shoulder and moved to stand directly in front of her.

Charlie was forced to tilt her head back to meet his eyes or stare at his chest, so she just closed her eyes. Her chest rose and fell rapidly with her breathing. The breeze whipped strands of chestnut brown hair around her face and Rhett couldn’t help but reach out to finger one soft lock.

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