Page 71 of Broken on the Mountain
"Of course! They see how happy you make me."
My throat tightens. God, this man.
"What about your week?" I ask, needing to shift focus before I get emotional. "Any dramatic rescues?"
"Actually, yes." His face lights up with that boyish enthusiasm I adore. "Wednesday, we got called out for a hiker in distress up on Eagle Point."
"Oh no. What happened?"
"Turned out to be Mabel."
I blink. "Mabel? As in, Etta and Mabel?"
"The very same." Chase laughs, shaking his head as he begins regaling the story. "Apparently, bless the old girl, she decided she wanted to experience nature and got about fifty feet up the trail before declaring it too steep. Called 911 instead of just walking back down."
"You're joking."
"I wish I was. Jamie nearly had an aneurysm." He shakes his head, still grinning. "We hiked up there in full gear, ready for a medical emergency, and she's sitting on a rock eating a baloney sandwich Betty made her."
I smother my laugh with a hand. "What did you do?"
"Escorted her back down while she lectured me about my intentions toward you." His ears go slightly pink. "She wanted to know if I was going to 'make an honest woman' out of you."
I burst out laughing again.This place. These people."Oh my God."
"Yeah. Beau thought it was hilarious. Me? I'm never living it down."
I lean across the console, unable to resist being closer to him.
"I missed you," I murmur, pressing my lips to the curve of his jaw.
His breath catches. "Missed you too."
I trail kisses along his jawline, then up to his ear, nibbling gently on the lobe. His hands tighten on the steering wheel as he shifts gears around a sharp bend that helps me slide even closer.
I slide my hand down his chest, over his stomach, lower still. "Keep your eyes on the road."
"Piper," he warns, voice going rough. "I'm driving."
I stick my tongue between my teeth and giggle. Reaching over, my palm finds the hard ridge of him through his jeans, and I squeeze.
He groans, deep and guttural, his hips jerking slightly. "Jesus Christ."
"Something wrong?" I ask innocently, squeezing and stroking him through the denim.
"Yes. You're going to make me crash this truck."
"Then you better drive carefully." I palm him again, feeling him grow harder beneath my touch. My fingers twist the button at his waist, unhooking it to loosen his jeans. "Wouldn't want anything to happen to us before we get to your apartment."
His jaw clenches, knuckles white on the steering wheel. "You're evil."
"You missed me."
"I really did," he admits, voice strained. "But we're still ten minutes from home, and if you keep that up—"
I squeeze again, diving my hand into his underwear so my cool palm hits the warmth of his hard cock. He swears colourfully, struggling to focus on the road.
"Ten minutes?" I tease, grinning wickedly. "I better hurry then."
