Page 16 of The Maverick of the Mountain
“I’ll tell her, Hank. I promise.”
“Tell her what?”
My mouth dries. Hank swoops back into the kitchen, ready to see me shove my foot in my mouth.
“I-uh-I was just talking with Hank.” I turn around slowly, scratching my head. “And I?—”
Sweet Jesus, is she trying to kill me?
My vision blurs, unable to focus on the beauty standing before me. Corinne’s damp hair is pulled up off her shoulders,and her sweater hangs low off one side. No bra. No shirt. No underwear beneath those leggings.
Shit, I misspoke when I said she looked like an angel. Corinne’s a goddess. The kind of beauty men write poems or songs about. Jesus, she’s perfect. And she’s staring at me because I haven’t said a damn word after her beauty stunned me, turning me into an unthinking, salivating mute.
I finally shut my mouth and then try to swallow, but my throat’s dry and I start coughing.
“Maverick?” Corinne takes a few tentative steps toward me.
I clear my throat, trying my best not to imagine what’s beneath that sweater. That torturous outline. The curve of…
Deep.Breath.
I need to calm down. I’ve already done enough, and she must be scared to death, lost out on the mountain in a storm that’s continuing to rage. Finding herself locked inside with a man of my stature… and Hank.
“Hank’s just enthralled with you. He uh—He’s glad you’re here because I’m terrible company.”
We both glance at Hank. He tries to chitter, but he’s got a mouth full of beef. That son of a gun came back for it like I knew he would.
She walks toward me, the soft patter of her feet against the wood floor sending my heart racing. Her fingers barely reach the edge of the sweater. I swallow hard. Her lips. I’m having a hell of a time focusing.
“Well,” she says, stopping in front of me. She smells like heaven. Looks like it too, although I can’t say for sure, given I’ve never visited. Although if she touches me again, gifts me the honor of claiming those lips just once, I’ll likely be on my way. Just looking at her is making my heart race. A kiss would make it explode.
“I think you’re great company. Cooking for me.” Another small step. That swath of skin at her shoulder. Those… Jesus, I can see her nipples poking through the fabric.
She smiles. “Saving me.” She drags her hand down the front of my shirt, and I swear I’m about to bust in my pants. “My knight in fluffy flannel.” She picks at something, rubs her fingers together. “And raccoon fur.”
I’d be a little embarrassed if I weren’t a lot turned on.
“How’s the stew coming?”
Her soft voice rolls over that delicate tongue and her plush lips like my favorite song. I could listen to her all day and never grow tired of her voice. I could stare at her all day and think I had a fulfilling day. I could?—
“Maverick?”
The corner of her mouth turns up along with an eyebrow.
“Yes?”
“Did you hear me?”
Certainly. Although I can’t remember what she said. Again, my concentration isn’t all there, especially when my skin still tingles from her touch and all the blood from my head has drained, entering a different one…
“Yeah,” I rasp, scratching my head.
Hank chitters at me.You okay, big guy?
Nope. Not at all.
“The stew?” Corinne supplies helpfully.
