Page 3 of Single-Dad: The Mountain Man

“Youthought? What gave you that idea?”

“Becca says you want to pop your cherry.”

My jaw drops and I peer around his large frame to see the girls casually chatting away then Becca meets my eyes and nudges Cassie.

They giggle and wave.

I blow out a labored breath.

It’s not their fault. How are they meant to know that I recoil whenever a man touches me. That only one man has ever filled my stomach with a swarm of fireflies, lighting me up and making my insides tingle at the same time.

I peer up at him. He’s crestfallen. Jeez, he looks worse than I feel.

It’s just a kiss, right? My aversion can’t extend to every guy on the planet. Can it? Does that mean I’ll never have my first kiss?

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“Tony,” he says, recovering.

“What are you waiting for, Tony?” I say, offering my most seductive smile.

He grins and he leans in.

Things crawl to a stop.

My insides screamno. This doesn’t feel right. I’ve given countless hours and too many years dreaming about this moment with Shane.

Shane, who’s never taken you seriously?

Shane who looks at you and sees you as a little sister?

Shane whose sexy laugh became an instrument of torture and humiliation when you confessed your feelings for him?

That Shane?

Maybe kissing another man will douse the flame.

I close my eyes and pray I don’t squirm or throw up. But I don’t even find out if my prayers are answered because a shadow falls on us and a roar rends the air.

“She’s mine.”

His rough, gravelly voice blankets me in goosebumps and my body shivers in recognition.Mine. The word shatters any illusions that I might be free of him.

I open my eyes in time to see him shove Tony against the wall and for my heart to jackhammer—Shane Faulkner.

My breath catches.

I was foolish to think I would ever come across a man as big as him. There’s no comparison. Shane is a giant. A pissed-off giant. He shrinks the room, forcing the air itself to acknowledge his presence. He’s all-encompassing, large enough to be the sole focus of my thoughts and desires.

I feel every eye subtly shifting to him as he closes in on Tony.

“Bone, what’s going on, man?” Tony asks.

Bone. Ten years ago the moniker rang bells around town. Before he became a father. Back when he was an MMA Champion, when all deemed him the baddest man on the planet. Now, only his students call him that name.

I glance at Tony, if he never said that name I would have mistaken the expression on his face for complete and utter fear, but fear is just one of the emotions present, I also see a deep admiration.

“Didn’t you get the message? She’s off-limits,” Shane growls.

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