Page 6 of Tiago

She shudders.“Have you seen the slim pickings in this town?”

I chuckle.“To be honest, I haven’t paid attention to any of the men, single or otherwise.I’ve only seen one woman, too.After I met her, I stopped looking.”

She hesitates for a moment and then faces me.“You’re so cheesy.”

I thread our fingers together and shrug.I don’t care if the entire town thinks I’m cheesy as long as I get the girl.

We walk in silence for a few minutes until I finally look at her again.I need to know definitively if what she’s alluding to is true.“You’ve dated no other men?”

She draws in a slow breath, not meeting my gaze.“No.”

“Have you hooked up with anyone?”

She yanks her hand free of mine, stops walking, and cocks that hip again.This time, she crosses her arms, pushing her breasts high on her chest.“I have nothooked up with anyone, Tiago.I’m twenty-six years old, and I have not had sex.Happy?That’s what you want to know, right?”

I did want to know, but I don’t like how defensive she is about it.“Reagan…”

She shakes her head.“I’m sure I seem like a child to you.I practicallyama child to you.I’m a small-town girl.I’ve been here all my life.I never knew my father.My mother left me with my grandfather and took off.She never came back.My grandfather is a wonderful man.He did the best he could raising me on his own.I owe him my life.I would never disrespect him by acting like a fool.So, if you see me and think I’m some dumb unattached girl you can fuck around with, you’re wrong.”

Wow.Now I’m in love.It’s going to take some work convincing her, but I’m up to the challenge.I take my time stepping closer to her, giving her a chance to step back, but she doesn’t.

Reagan is strong-willed and spunky.She’s sexy as fuck when she’s all riled up.She’s cute and fun, and I’m going to love going head-to-head with her for the rest of my life.

I lift my hand to her face, cup it, and gently stroke her cheek with my thumb.“Thank you for sharing all of that with me, baby.I would never disrespect you or your grandfather.I can’t wait to meet him.I like him already.”

She holds my gaze.“I’m not going to sleep with you.”

I smile.“I’m not even going to ask.I don’t need you to sleep with me to figure out we’re perfect for each other.”

Her eyes widen.

I shrug.“I think I’ll make you wait until our wedding night.”

She gasps.“You can’t be serious.”

“About which part?”I tease.

“All of it.”

“Dead serious.I didn’t realize how important your virginity was to you until now, but I’ll respect it.I can keep my cock in my pants until you meet me at the altar.”

She starts panting.Thank fuck.I know I’ve rattled her but in a good way.

“Youareserious,” she murmurs.

“Totally.”I slide my hand down to hers, thread our fingers together, and nod toward the path.“It’s going to take us a very long time to hike five miles at the rate we’re going, baby.”

Chapter4

Reagan

He’s serious.Either that, or he’s an amazing actor who thinks he can lure me into his bed by pretending he doesn’t want to.Time will tell on that one.

I can’t believe how much I just shared with him.It was practically my whole life story.Why on Earth did I do that?Now, I need to know about him.“What about you?Why aren’t you married or in a relationship?”

He shrugs.“I’ve had a lot of relationships, but my last one left me with a sour taste in my mouth, so I’ve steered clear of them for a while.”

“How long isa while?”

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