Page 4 of Single-Dad: The Mountain Man

Off-limits?Then what’s with thisminebusiness?

“Loud and clear, Bone,” Tony says and walks off without a second glance at me, which is so familiar by now that it shouldn’t hurt but it does.

“Let’s go,” he says with fierce, possessive, blue eyes that imprison me. His tone brooks no argument. I nod, brushing by him to retrieve my bag. An electric jolt shoots up my arm as soon as I touch him. I close my eyes, attempting to shut it out, and move through the parted crowd.

“What’s going—?” Cassie begins to ask when Becca interjects.

“You know Hunkalicious?”

I’ve never seen a look of admiration, jealousy, disgust, and curiosity in a single expression but Becca pulls it off.

“He’s just my brother’s friend,” I reluctantly groan out as I hook my bag over my shoulder. I’m glad I’m not sticking around to tell them about my unrequited feelings.

“Cassie, why didn’t you tell us,” Courtney says.

“I didn’t know.”

“Sorry for ruining your night. I’ve got to go.”

“Wait. And you’ve never hooked up?” Becca asks, grabbing my hand.

“No.”

“Something is clearly going on,” Courtney says. “No guy looks at you the way he is right now unless you’ve fucked or he wants to fuck you.”

And in that moment I look across the room and the air stalls in my lungs. He looks through every woman in the bar and trains his unwavering eyes on me.

My pulse spikes and my blood runs hot.

Is she right?

I hold eye contact and meet his challenge almost defiantly. I feel powerful. Standing at five feet, I’m the only one in the bar, maybe the whole world who can match the gaze of this unfathomable dominant man.

But my feet root to the spot, fear and arousal dart through my veins, and the thrill cramps my stomach.

He marches to me without breaking eye contact, parting the crowd with his determined stride.

“Ready?” he rumbles as he stands over me.

“Sure.” I nod.

He envelops my hand in his and leads me out of the bar. I’m aware that I’m the center of attention and lower my head as righteous indignation wells up inside me. It’s enough to beat back the way my skin tingles from his tender grasp.

I hear a concerned voice say, “Oh boy, she’s in trouble. He looks mad.”

They all want to know what’s the deal with us and I can’t imagine it’s anything more than him looking out for his best friend’s little sister.

“What was that?” I ask, pulling myself free from his hold once we step out into the back alley.

“Exactly,” he asserts. “What wasthat?”

Hold the phone, he’s mad at me? Did I miss something?

“Excuse me?”

“I know you, Willow. You’re a people-pleaser. You didn’t want to be there but you couldn’t say no.”

His words hit home.

---