Page 23 of Liberated By the Logger

“Want what you see?” My eyes narrow with disappointment. “As in, you want to fuck me?”

“Oh, I definitely want to fuck you. But not the one and done scenario I can see you’re assuming behind that angry little scowl of yours.”

Furious, I try to pull my hands away. But he hangs on tight, refusing to let me escape.

“Then what is it?” I snap, heatedly. “A friend with benefits scenario?”

“Don’t demean my sincerity, Aspen,” Brose warns, though I get the distinct impression his tone is not to scare me. “Not when I want it all with you.”

“Pretty hard to take you seriously when we know nothing about each other,” I counter, trying to reason with him.

“Then get to know me. Spend the rest of tonight drilling me and I will you. If when the storm breaks you aren’t convinced we’re good for each other, well…I’ll take you home.”

He hesitated when saying, “take you home,” like he really doesn’t want me to leave, especially when he transfers both my hands to one of his and uses his free arm to wrap around my waist.

The way he draws me in has my heart jackhammering against my ribcage, not in a fearful sort of way, but in a way I’ve only imagined it feeling like to fall in love.

Falling for someone this fast is neither realistic nor safe. I attempt to shake the delusion from my head, but the girly-girl in me is twerking.

“I get this is fast,” Brose says, harnessing my attention once more. “But life is like that sometimes. If you don’t take advantage of the opportunities that arise, you may not get a second chance. I don’t want any regrets, not with you. If I leave you alone for the night only to say goodbye to you tomorrow, I will kick myself for not fighting harder for a chance with you.”

Spontaneous orgasm activated. I bite my lip, trying to stifle a whimper.

What is happening to me? I’m a practical woman—I don’t believe in love at first sight, or at least I didn’t. However, if you asked me right now, at this moment, I don’t think I could dispute it.

The years I wasted dating losers, and this guy literally pops out of the woods, carries me off a mountain, and has me hearing wedding bells. Common sense is slipping from my grasp with every word he says to me.

“This is crazy,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. He’s close, his lips inches from mine and taunting me to taste him.

“So is chaining yourself to a dead ponderosa during a lightning storm, but here we are.”

Everything Brose says is outrageous, yet I can’t help considering taking a chance on him.

The science geek in me never believed in destiny—things happen and that’s that.

And then Ambrose happened.

For whatever reason, fate brought us together in the Rockies, and I can’t deny this growing magnetism between us.

Would it really be the worst thing in the world to get to know the man who saved me?

No. But will it hurt me if Brose decides tomorrow he’s no longer interested?

Yes. No matter how short our time together will be, rejection always stings. Having had my fair share of rejection over the years, I’m tired of love letting me down.

How can I possibly do this while still protecting my heart?

Brose releases my hands, cupping my cheeks instead. “I can see the conflict going on in your head through your eyes. We don’t need to talk about anything or do anything you’re uncomfortable with. You set the pace and I’ll follow your lead. This doesn’t need to be hard. If it’s anything like I suspect it is between us, this will be the easiest thing in the world.”

Baffled, I ask, “How can you be certain?”

“Cause I ain’t never wanted this with anyone before you.”

Whoa! “Are you saying you’ve not had anything like the relationship you’re suggesting you want between us?”

“Met no one I wanted beyond a hookup until you looked up at me with those pretty green eyes of yours on that mountain. It’s like my heart took its first beat when I laid eyes on you.”

“Ambrose,” I warn, my resolve slipping. “Don’t play with a woman’s heart.”