Page 125 of Rough and Rugged

My mind reels a little as I process everything he’s told me. He’s not just the sexy gump next door; he’s a sexy lumberjack veteran who works with his hands… a lot. My gaze slides down to his hands, strong, firm, and surprisingly well-groomed. No dirt under his nails, and they seem to be filed down nicely.

“What do you plan to do when you’re finished?”

He shrugs. “I’ll figure it out when I get there.”

“And your wife?” I scan my surroundings; it doesn’t look like much of a woman’s touch. “Or husband?” I shrug, not wanting to assume.

“Wife.” My heart sinks until he adds, “No, I’m not married. But if I was, I’d have a wife.” His brows cave for a moment. “I don’t have time to date.”

“Well”—I lean forward, grabbing my wine glass—“what do you call this?”

His gaze is steady as he answers, “Dinner.”

Holding my wine glass out to him, I clink it against his, winking as I tease, “I call it a date.”

He lets out a low chuckle that sends an exciting shiver right down to my sex. “I’m too old for you, sweetheart.”

I sit back, finishing off my drink as I scan him once more. He’s rocking the salt and pepper on the top, but his beard is light brown and red, with patches of white. I’d guess late thirties, but… “How old are you?”

“Forty-three,” he responds around another bite of roast.

I do the math in my head quickly; I’ll be twenty-nine in three months. “Fifteen years isn’t that much of a difference.”

“I could be your dad.”

“I can call you Daddy, if you’d like.” I raise a brow at him as he clears his throat, hiding the red that appears above his beard, coloring his cheekbones.

Chapter Four

Griffin

ThankGodthere’safucking plate in my lap. My cock’s never jumped so high; her little Daddy comment got me stiff in a matter of seconds, and I clear my throat to cover my exposed embarrassment. What the fuck is wrong with me?

Maybe it’s the fact that I haven’t been with a woman for a long time. Or maybe it’s that a twenty-eight-year-old bombshell is flirting with me.

“Listen.” She scoots to the edge of her seat. “I’m only here for two more days.”

My focus snags on the way her teeth graze against her lower lip as she thinks about the words she’s about to say.

“I’m attracted to you.” Her hazel gaze moves over me. “And I might be presumptuous to assume, but it seems mutual. I wouldn’t say no to a little extracurricular company this evening. Besides”—she sets her plate down on the coffee table before standing—“it’s the perfect setting.”

“The perfect setting?” I repeat, trying to process her words, her proposal.

“Secluded remodeled cabin, a storm in the dead of summer, a sexy you…” She steps closer. “And a sexy me.”

I find myself setting my plate on the end table near my chair as she continues to approach. “I don’t even know your name,” I say, licking my lips as she squeezes one knee between me and the side of my chair. I have no control over my hands as they smooth over her thighs, lifting her up and assisting her as she sits on my lap, pressing me between her legs.

“Nora.”

“Griffin.”

She feels so damn good in my lap, but I can’t stop from asking, “And the age difference?”

“Is only a number.” She rests her hands over my shoulders, smirking. “I think I like you, Griffin.”

No one in my entire life has ever told me they liked me only hours after meeting me. “You don’t have to lie.”

“No,” she breathes with a light laugh. “I’m serious. There’s just something about you. And I’m not usually this forward, but I figure—”

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