Page 119 of Rough and Rugged

I sucked in a breath. “You barely know me.”

“I know enough to recognize a kindred spirit when I see one. A fellow artist, a lover of nature, a passionate soul. I realize we’re just getting started, but I was hoping for more.”

When was the last timeanyguy had ever been that honest with me? Pretty much never.

I scrambled for a reply. “I… I feel the same way you do. Like we’re soulmates or something. I came looking for you because I wanted to tell you I’m not taking Brayden’s offer. Not just because of you, though I’ll admit you played a part in my decision.”

He moved in closer and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure? It’s a lot of money.”

“I know. But I also know from experience that money is no guarantee of love or happiness.” I’d seen how miserable my family could be, always chasing wealth. It was never enough, either. Whatever they had, they wanted more. I didn’t want to be like them.

And if I never earned their approval, so be it. I could live with that.

“Will you be able to get by?” Sam asked. “I’d be glad to help you out.”

While I appreciated the offer, I didn’t want to be financially dependent on anyone. “Thanks, but I think I’ll be okay. I found a part-time job in Kernville to help tide me over. Two days a week, I’ll be working as a receptionist at the local yoga studio. That’ll leave me plenty of time for my art.” Even better, I’d invited the studio’s owner to visit the cabin next week. She’d been fully on board with my idea of hosting outdoor yoga classes on the property.

Sam’s smile couldn’t have been wider. “Sounds perfect.”

I grinned. “There’s more. Remember when I sorted through those boxes in the closet? One of them was filled with Grandma’s antique jewelry. When I went into town, I had it appraised. It’s worth more than I expected. Like, thousands more. I’m keeping a few pieces but selling the rest.”

Would Grandma have objected to me selling off her old jewelry? Probably not, since I’d never seen her wear it. If anything, she’d be glad I was using it to save the cabin.

“That’s incredible. I think we need to celebrate.” Sam reached down and scooped me up in his arms.

I laughed at his eagerness. “My cabin is five minutes away. I can walk.”

“What kind of mountain man would I be if I didn’t haul you off to bed?” He waggled his eyebrows. “With your consent, of course.”

“Always.” I looped my arms around his neck as he carried me back to my cabin, with Farley running beside him, barking in excitement.

Sam took me into the bedroom and gently placed me on the bed. After ushering Farley out the door, he shut it firmly behind him. I lay there, watching in appreciation as he whipped off his shirt, followed by the rest of his clothes. When he stood over me in all his naked glory, I took a minute to ogle him before stripping down to nothing and welcoming him into my bed.

We spent the next hour in a breathless, sweaty tangle, punctuated by groans and cries of passion. Afterward, when we lay together in blissful contentment, I couldn’t stop the words that tumbled out. “I… um… I think I might be falling in love with you.”

“Might be?” He grinned. “I’m already there. It killed me, not talking to you this week.”

“That hurt a lot. But I get it—you were mad at me.”

“At first. But then I held off to give you a little space. I wanted to make sure whatever you decided was the right choice for you.”

“Thanks. It feels right. I’m so glad we’ll get to stay together.”

“Same here.” He kissed my forehead. “I can’t wait for our next backgammon game. I’ve already figured out what I want from you if I win.”

“Now you’re getting me excited.” But before my imagination could run wild, I had a call to make. “Hold that thought. I need to tell Brayden the deal’s off.”

I leaned over the bed, found my shorts, and fished my phone out of the pocket. When my cousin answered, I took a deep breath, determined not to show any weakness. “Hey, Brayden.”

“Maggie. About time. Are you playing hardball, or what? The developer’s getting antsy.”

“Thanks for being patient, but I’ve decided not to accept your offer.”

The outburst of obscenities that followed was so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear. When Brayden finally stopped yelling, I spoke calmly. “All done with your tantrum?”

“You’re an idiot. If this is because of that woodsman you’ve been fucking, then you’re going to regret it. You’ll never get another offer like this.”

“I don’t want it. I’ve got everything I need.” With that, I hung up, put my phone on Do Not Disturb, and turned to Sam. “There. All done.”

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