Page 11 of Brave Enough (Love In Montana)

Her eyes darted down to my hand, then back up. When her eyes lingered on my mouth, I let myself believe for a hot second she wanted to seal our new friendship with a kiss. I quickly pushed that thought away. It was inappropriate…considering I’d be sort of dating twenty damn women in a few weeks’ time.

“To our newfound friendship.”

Chapter Three

KIPTON

The way my body came to life when Hunter touched me was something I wasn’t expecting at all. Never mind that the guy was insanely handsome, with blue eyes that you could get lost in for hours on end. And that dark brown hair that looked so soft, my fingers itched to touch it. And his body…

Sinful.

Friends, Kipton. He’s a friend, and one you desperately need right now.

“We should probably get back to everyone. My mom might have sent a search party out for us.”

I chuckled and nodded. “We should totally go.”

But neither of us made a move to leave. In fact, my hand was still in his as we continued to stare at one another.

“Are we, um…are we going to go?” I eventually asked, gently drawing my hand away.

Hunter snapped out of whatever daze he was in and laughed. “Yes! Let’s go.”

As I preceded him, he placed his hand on my lower back and guided me across the room. I prayed he didn’t feel my body shudder at his touch. I’d always read in books about men placing their hands there, and wondered if it was as sensual as romance novels made it seem. I could say without a doubt that it was.

Maybe it was just because of Hunter, who knows. Maybe it was simply me, reading into a private moment in a gorgeous library, with a good-looking man, who’d just promised to be there for me when I needed him. That was rare these days.

When Hunter stepped forward and reached for the library door, holding it so I could walk through, I glanced up to thank him…and was assaulted by his smell.

No, assaulted wasn’t the right word. Engulfed. Yes, I was engulfed by the scent of Hunter Shaw. It was an earthy smell, not too heavy, not too light. A spicy, woodsy smell, like rosewood.

Trying not to seem creepy, I drew in a small breath before walking past him, and I swore his eyes seemed to turn darker.

We continued in silence through the house, toward the muffled sounds of people talking. As they grew louder, I grew more nervous.

It was like Hunter could sense it. He took my elbow and drew me to a stop.

“They’re all harmless, I promise. And they really will have your back, always. But my younger cousins, I have to warn you, are going to trip over themselves in order to get your attention.”

I chuckled. “Thanks for the warning.”

He smiled, and I noticed a dimple in his right cheek.

Look away, Kipton. Look away.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Let’s do this.”

I walked into the large living room as Hunter cleared his throat and got everyone’s attention. Suddenly the room was silent, all eyes on us.

“Sorry, Kipton and I wanted to spend a few minutes alone, introducing ourselves.”

Hunter’s mom, Lincoln, beamed at us, while my mother placed a not-so-subtle hand over her heart and smiled a big, goofy smile.

We stood there, everyone staring at us, before I gently elbowed Hunter.

“Right. Okay, so, let’s introduce you to everyone. You already met my mother, Lincoln, and my father, Brock.”

---