Page 68 of Montana Freedom

“You’re all the porn I need.”

A snorted laugh made its way out of me. “Good to know.”

“Let’s just get out of here.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Chapter22

Daniel

The wind blew Emma’s hair wildly around her as she drove, and all I could do was look at her. She was so beautiful, and the pain in my shoulder was a visceral reminder of how quickly someone could disappear.

Only a second. That was how close it had come.

And I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should have known something was wrong. Why didn’t I feel the eyes on me? Was I so out of practice I couldn’t sense the changes in the air anymore?

Or was it simply because I wasn’t the target?

Either way, I didn’t want Emma out of my sight. After last night, dancing with her in my arms and seeing the tears on her face, something flipped in me. I went from wanting her and finding joy and relief in being together toneedingher more than I needed to breathe.

I was barely holding myself back from sliding across the seat of the truck and touching her now. Which would only distract her from driving and get us both killed.

“You’re staring at me,” she said, looking over quickly before her eyes were back on the road.

“You’re right. I am staring at you.”

“Do I have something on me?”

I smothered my smile. “There doesn’t have to be anything wrong with you for me to stare, Emma. I was never allowed to before, and now I can. All I want to do is look at you.”

She pressed her lips together, and her hands tightened on the steering wheel. A beautiful contradiction. She’d been the one to tell me what she wanted, and yet sometimes she was shy.

It wasn’t unexpected. With what she’d gone through, her own father only giving her value until he needed her gone, I was happy she wasn’t doubting herself more than she already did.

“Where is your house?” We were turning into the ranch. “I don’t know where I’m going.”

“Past the lodge and take a right,” I said. “Keep going straight, and you’ll see it.”

A couple miles down the dirt road, my house came into view. Looking at it how she must see it, I wished it were bigger and a little nicer. I liked my house, and it suited my bachelor ways. But this wasn’t a place you brought someone home to.

And I did want her to feel at home.

Emma jumped down from the truck and sprinted around to my side, opening the door just like I’d done for her. She was smiling. “If I could lift you, I’d help you down.”

“I would love to see that.”

Still, I held her hand as I stepped down.

I had the prescription from Dr. Gold, but I wasn’t going to take it yet. No chance was I was going to sleep while this woman was in my house and could be in my arms. I needed to feel her, and as strong as she was, I could sense the underlying anxiety in Emma. She needed me just as much as I needed her.

Taking the keys from her, I unlocked the door and ushered her inside.

“This is nice.”

“Not as nice as it should be.”

“What does that mean?”

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