Page 29 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
She assumed that meant another round. Or maybe some more burgers on the grill.
“Get your hands off the lady,” JJ jokingly growled as he pried the younger man’s arm away.
And then JJ was standing in front of her.
For a second, her lungs hitched in anticipation. Would he scoop her up in a bear hug like Cody had? Wrap an arm around her like Boone?
But no. The burly mountain man tousled her hair like she was his kid sister.
She found herself sticking her tongue out at him in return as she mock-glared through her now messy locks.
Was it childish?
Absolutely.
But did they both crack up?
Yep.
Boone rubbed a hand over his T-shirt-covered abs. “Anyone else hungry again?”
“Boy, you’re always hungry.” JJ rolled his eyes, then winked at Dahlia.
She snickered along with him.
Cody headed outside to the still-burning charcoal grill. “I’d have some more.” He looked to Dahlia with arched brows.
She shook her head. “I’m still full, but thanks.”
JJ nodded that he’d have some more, and then the two younger ranch hands bundled up and went outside.
Dahlia took a deep breath. For the first time all night, she and JJ were alone.
Not that there was anything of significance to that.
Not that she’d beenhopingto be alone with him.
She turned with a shake of her head.Get a grip, Dahlia. “I should, uh… I should get back to the main house before it gets too late.”
She felt him moving behind her, but he didn’t say anything.
When she turned, he was closer than she’d realized, and she stumbled a step in surprise. The twitch of his lips told her he’d noticed.
“Thanks.” She swallowed. “For tonight. This was… fun.”
His smile warmed her all the way through, and she wished she’d said something different. Once again words had failed her.
But… fun? Really?
Tonighthadbeen fun, but that wasn’t what she’d meant to say. It wasn’t just fun, it was a relief. It was what she’d needed. To not feel like the big bad dragon. To not feel like every word out of her mouth was being picked apart.
“I, uh… I don’t get to have nights like this very often,” she admitted.
Again, not good enough. But it was closer to what she wanted to say.
He nodded, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans as he watched her.
How did he do it? How did he manage to look so attractive while so very unkempt? His beard was a mess, his hair too long and hanging in his face when it wasn’t pulled back like it was right now. His clothes seemed like they were purely functional. The gray T-shirt and tattered jeans he was sporting looked like they’d been through battles, but they also had that well-worn comfort to them. Cotton softened and stretched by hours of wearing and multiple washes until it knew the body it clothed all too well. She had the most alarming urge to touch the fabric of his worn tee and press her cheek against it to see what it smelled like.
