Page 34 of Trails of Temptation

ChapterSeventeen

Keely

Archie was being really flirty. At one point, he even tried to put his arm over the back of the camping chair I was sitting on. It’d felt possessive, and I wasn’t in the mood for his attention. I shrugged him off and glared at him, but he only winked at me and leaned in, smelling of whiskey.

“Come on, Keely,” he whispered. “Don’t you want to hang out? We can go back to the bunkhouse.”

I looked around the circle of people gathered around the firepit, all of which were engrossed in conversations. No one seemed to notice that Archie was all over me.

“No, Archie,” I said firmly, scooting away from him.

“Don’t think I can show you a good time?” he pressed, grabbing the arm of my camping chair. “Keely, look at me. Why hang out with some old-timer like George when I can I give you the ride of your life?”

I glared at him as I stood up. I wanted to slap him across the face but not in the company of others. Grant had just gone to take Moira to the house so she could get ready for bed, so it was just me and the rest of the employees who worked on the farm. George had been here just a minute ago, though, and had gone up to the house with Grant and Moira. He’d told Randy he’d be right back, and Archie had waited to try to make a move on me until George was out of earshot.

George and I hadn’t even made eye contact during the barbeque. Grant had invited some of the neighbors as well so the party ended up being a lot bigger than I’d anticipated. I wanted to get him alone if I could, but that hadn’t happened, at least not yet.

Instead, I was stuck with Archie, who was dead set on taking me to his bed. I’d have to tell Grant about it, of course. I planned to. Archie was being a creep.

I wanted to tell George, too. The only reason for that was to see if I’d be able to see jealousy behind his eyes and witness him defending my honor.

It was silly, I know. But something in his eyes earlier today when he found us down by the creek had my stomach curling with anticipation. Was he finally coming around to the idea of me? Of Us?

The way he’d said my name still sent prickles of gooseflesh over my arms.

But I snapped back to reality when I felt Archie’s hand close around my arm before I could yank out of his grasp. He was so, so drunk. But that was no excuse.

“Let go of me right now,” I growled.

“Don’t act like you don’t—”

I yelped in surprise as someone grabbed me by the waist and flipped me around. I met a brick wall in all aspects. George had me hoisted up and over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes before I could even come to terms with what was happening, like I was weightless.

I was sure my whole ass was hanging out of my shorts as George growled, low enough that only Archie could hear him, “Touch her again and make you wish you were never born.”

Holy shit. I was immediately turned on, even though I had no idea what the hell George was thinking, throwing me over his shoulder in front of literally everyone he worked with. George turned us away from the group and walked off into the night, toward his house. I clawed him back as he trudged up the steps to his front porch.

“Let me down!”

He didn’t answer as he pushed open his door and walked inside, kicking the door closed with his foot. He didn’t set me down until we were in the kitchen and my ass slapped against the granite countertop, George standing between my knees with his handscurledinto fits on either side of me on the counter.

“George, what—”

“I need you,” he said hoarsely, looking into my eyes. We were only inches apart when he leaned in, his lips hovering over mine. “I want you. I always have, and I always will.”

I wanted him as much as he wanted me, but I couldn’t shake the fact that we needed to have a serious talk.

“I want you,” he said, stealing whatever I had to say right out of my mouth. I looked up at him, reaching up to take off his cowboy hat. He exhaled as my fingertips brushed over his temple tucking one of his dark curls behind his ear.

I was trembling as my hand fell to his chest.

“I know I fucked things up,” he continued, “but there’s still a chance I can make this right. If there’s still a chance, we have a shot… I’m going to take it.” He was stone-cold sober, every word edged with emotion.

“Yes,” I choked out just before his mouth met mine in a desperate kiss that had my toes curling. I wrapped my legs around his waist and held him tight, pulling him closely as his tongue parted my lips and I gratefully opened up to him. He growled low in his throat as my fingers tangled in his hair.

“I don’t deserve you,” he rasped.

“I don’t believe you,” I whispered against his lips.

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