Page 4 of Hooked By the Mountain Man

She's a fucking badass.

Bright red liquid blooms on her skin from the puncture wound, mixing with the water and falling in diluted droplets onto the deck. "Ow," she says with a little gasp, touching her forehead and pulling her fingers back quickly as a large goose egg grows before my eyes.

"I need to get you to a doctor." I scoop her up, ignoring her protests. "Barrett, my keys are in the kitchen. You're driving."

Barrett sprints for the house as I take the quicker path, up along the pine trees and around to the front.

"I'm fine. You don't need to carry me!" Brynn, aka, my future wife, tries to wiggle out of my grasp, but I hold her tightly to my chest.

Barrett sprints out the front door, followed closely by West who, of course, wears a grin even in an emergency. Barrett clicks the locks open and rushes around to the driver's side door.

"I leave you alone for five minutes, and you hook a mermaid!" West pulls open the back door, and I carefully lower myself into the backseat with Brynn cradled in my arms. Her eyes, bright and burning, are locked on mine.

"I can sit by myself," Brynn breathes out, but I pull her closer to me with a growl, and her cheeks turn red. Nothing has ever felt more right than having Brynn in my arms.

West loops an arm across the back of the passenger seat, and Brynn breaks eye contact with me to look at him, which makes me want to knock his teeth in.

"Well hello, Ariel." West wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. "This is Barrett, and I'm West. The big guy holding you is none other than renowned best-selling author, Ethan Hobbs."

She turns to look at me in surprise, and then her beautiful eyes flutter closed, and my heart almost stops.

"West, call ahead. Let them know we're coming!" I yell. Pulling her closer to me, I lean down to whisper against her temple, "I've got you. You're safe."

Chapter 3

Brynn

"Blood pressure looks great, hun. The doctor will be in shortly." The nurse smiles at me as she takes the cuff off my arm. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and glances at Ethan and his two friends quickly before meeting my eyes again. The three of them, all tall and handsome, take up a lot of space in the small room. As she leans in to adjust my pillow, she whispers, "Get it, girl," and then heads out of the room with a giggle.

I shake my head, darting a quick glance at Ethan who has not stopped watching me since he pulled me out of the water. "Um, you guys should go. I can get a ride back toThe Palmerwhen I'm done."

"No." Ethan crosses his arms in front of his chest stubbornly, and I look at his friend for help instead. Did he say his name was Garrett? No. It was Barrett.

Barrett eyes Ethan carefully, before shrugging his shoulders. "We'll stay a little longer."

I let out a long sigh.

"Are you in pain? Should I get the nurse?" Ethan paces a few steps and then comes back to the bed. He tugs at his light brown hair, making it stand up on the side. His bright blue eyes are filled with concern.

"No, I'm fine. I just...I don't understand..." I trail off, shaking my head again as my cheeks heat. "I'm not going to sue you, if that's what you're worried about."

The third guy, whose name I've completely forgotten, scoffs. "You totally should. Ethan's loaded. And not just from book money." He winks at me with a flirty smile, and I let out a nervous laugh.

"Shut up, West," Ethan grits out, but he doesn't look away from me.

"No, seriously, Brynny—may I call you that? I can tell we're going to be great friends. He's got the money. Sue the pants off of him."

Ethan walks over to West, shoves him backward, and closes the curtain between us. "I'll pay for all your medical expenses and any other bills that arise from this situation, Brynn. No question."

"No. It's not necessary." I lick my lips and then flush when unmistakable lust flashes in his eyes. This man is ridiculously hot. All strong and growly. His expensive t-shirt strains around his biceps, emphasized when he crosses his arms stubbornly. I shake my head.

Nope. This is a no-boys allowed summer. It's the painkillers. It's making me impulsive and horny. I squeeze my thighs together and firm my resolve.

My vag is off-limits, Hotty-Pants-McGee.

"I have health insurance through the resort. And I shouldn't have been by your pier." The last part comes out embarrassinglybreathy as I try, and fail, to calm my racing heart under his intense attention.

"My client is not admitting fault, Ethan Hobbs." I break eye contact with Ethan as West's vice floats through the thin curtain, loud and clear. "Brynny-kins, you should be able to swim wherever you like without fear of being hooked like a common fish." I glance at Ethan quickly, biting back a smile as infuriated irritation flashes across his face.

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