Page 61 of Hell or High Water

“Why did he get a room? I don’t think our guy is this old woman.”

Ransom sighed. “Because she owns a B and B, and if he broke into your truck that easily, then he could break into any vehicle and use it.”

I paused. I’d not thought about that. But then with the scent of Montana’s arousal on my fingers, I was struggling to think about anything other than getting back into that bedroom with her.

“Does Oz think he could be staying there?”

“It’s a possibility.”

I wanted him found, and I wanted to kill the fucker myself. Slowly.

“Let me know as soon as he gets back to you.”

Ransom yawned. “I will. I’m going to sleep for a few hours.”

“Yeah, okay.”

There was a pause, and I thought we were going to end the call.

“Than,” he said.

“Yeah?”

“Don’t fuck her. If you haven’t yet, don’t.”

Yesterday, I could have agreed to this. But now, well, I couldn’t be sure I’d make it to lunch. I stared out at the field in front of me, not sure how to respond. I knew he wanted a confirmation that I wasn’t going to, but I couldn’t give him that. Her being a virgin did carry some weight though. That was an issue.

“Than.”

I held the phone between my ear and shoulder, then brought my fingers closer to my nose to inhale. Fuck, that was good.

“Did you fuck her already?” he asked, sounding annoyed.

“No,” I replied, at least being able to say that honestly.

“Does Linc need to send someone else over there? If she’s getting to you—”

“NO,” I snarled, hating the idea of anyone else being near her. “She trusts me. I’m not leaving.”

“Fuck,” Ransom muttered. “Than, this isn’t a girl you can fuck around with.”

It was a little late for this talk, but then if I was honest with myself, it had been a little late the second she opened that motel room door and I got my first look at her. Every moment after, getting to know her—it was just nails in my coffin. Because my brother was right. I might get killed over this. But I’d be damned if I was walking away and handing her off to someone else.

“If Linc sends someone else over here, she and I both will disappear. Don’t push me. Let me handle my problems. If Blaise puts a bullet in my head over this, then he will have to hunt me down to do it. But I’m not leaving her, and no one else is getting near her.”

Silence. I knew he wanted to give me more of the big-brother lecture, but he also knew me well enough not to waste his breath.

“No cunt is worth that,” he finally said.

“Yeah, Ransom, some are.”

I ended the call and turned to walk back inside. The sound of the shower was a tease. If we were in my bedroom at the house, I’d be able to get in my large walk-in shower with her. But that tiny-ass tub barely fit one person, standing up. Grinning, I headed for the bedroom. I’d be there when she stepped out. The sight of Montana getting out of a shower with droplets of water running down her body was one I wanted burned into my brain.

The bedroom smelled like her. The scent wafted from the steam rising over the curtain she’d closed that separated the bedroom from the bathroom area. That was cute. I pulled the divider back and leaned a shoulder against the wall while she finished. Waiting was hard, but the way she’d been so shy about me pulling her top up in front of the mirror, I figured I’d let her enjoy her shower.

I didn’t know how long I had with her, but she was going to have to get over her modesty—at least with me. I was going to need her naked a lot. Our time together was limited, unless my hand was forced and I had to take her and run. But I didn’t think it would come to that. Most likely, the fucker would try to get close to her again, but we’d be waiting. He would be caught, I’d kill him and end any future stalking, we’d finish up our three months in this cabin, and then…she’d move on with her life.

I could get her out of my system by then. We had a lot of alone time. I probably should try to keep from fucking her though. She was a virgin, and the reason I steered clear of those was because they got attached. You took a girl’s virginity, and she mistook it for love. Things got messy. Lots of drama.

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