Page 36 of Most Likely to Fear Love

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me flush against his body. The solid warmth of him sent a shiver down my spine. I parted my lips, inviting him in, and he accepted with a low groan that vibrated through me. Our tongues tangled. Liquid fire oozed into my system and I wanted to melt.

My back hit the cool metal of my car door as he pressed forward, his hands roaming down my sides. The contrast of his heat against the chill of the night air made me gasp.

“Cassidy,” he murmured against my lips, his voice husky and filled with want.

I couldn’t think straight. All I knew was that I needed more. My hands slid down his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscle beneath his shirt. I tugged at the hem, desperate to feel his skin against mine.

Harle broke the kiss, his hands covering mine as he pulled back just enough to look into my eyes. His pupils were blown wide, his breathing ragged. “What are you doing to me?”

His words hit me like a bucket of iced water. “Oh god, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what that was. I didn’t mean to—” I went to pull away, but the arm around my waist kept me there.

His thumb traced my cheekbone, soothing me. “Whatever it was, it was fucking amazing.” Then he let me go, stepping away. “But it’s also not a good idea right now, is it?”

“I guess not.” Relief washed through me. I’d thought he would be mad at me. That he would chastise me.

“Don’t think I don’t want to. It’s just, yeah…”

“It’s fine. I get it. I, uh... I’m sorry. And thanks again for everything,” I managed to stammer out.

Harle’s lips curved into a gentle smile. “It was no hassle, Cassidy. Really.”

We stood there for a beat, the air between us thick with unspoken words. I knew I should get in the car and drive away, but my feet seemed rooted to the spot.

“So, um... same time tomorrow?” I somehow managed to keep my voice light.

Harle nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll have everything ready for you.”

Another pause. I could hear the crickets chirping in the distance, the soft lapping of water against the shore of the lake. It all felt so peaceful, so right. So fucking confusing.

Finally forcing myself to open the car door, I said, “Well, goodnight then.”

“Goodnight, Cassidy. Drive safe.”

As I slid into the driver’s seat, I cast a glance at Harle standing there, bathed in moonlight. I started the engine and turned the car around, heading for the gates and the main road, watching Harle in my rearview mirror until he disappeared from sight.

The drive home was a blur. When I finally pulled into my own driveway, I sat there for a moment, trying to process everything. This arrangement with Harle was supposed to be simple, clinical even. So why did I have to go and fuck it up my kissing him? This was quickly becoming so much bigger than I was capable of dealing with.

HARLE

Ihefted the axe, bringing it down with a satisfyingthunkon the log in front of me. Sweat trickled down my back, soaking my shirt as I worked. The rhythmic chopping usually cleared my head, but today it wasn’t doing the trick. As if anything could.

That kiss with Cassidy kept replaying in my mind. The softness of her lips, the way her body fit against mine, the little gasp she’d made when I’d pulled her close. It was driving me fucking crazy.

I grabbed another log, setting it on the stump with more force than necessary. This arrangement was supposed to be simple. Help her have a baby, no strings attached. But now? Now I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

The axe came down again, splitting the wood clean in two. I tossed the pieces aside and reached for another log.

“Get it together, Robson,” I muttered to myself, lining up my next swing.

But it was no use. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Cassidy’s face, felt the ghost of her touch. The way she’d looked at me before we kissed, all wide-eyed and wanting. It was enough to make a man lose his mind.

I swung the axe again, harder this time. The satisfying crack of wood splitting did nothing to ease the tension burning in my gut. I needed to focus, to remember why we’d agreed this was a bad idea. But all I could think about was how right it had felt to hold her. How badly I wanted to fuck her.

I heard my phone ping and glanced at the screen. Cassidy’s car was approaching the gate. My heart rate picked up, and I wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand. I pressed the button to open the gate, then turned back to the woodpile.

Grabbing the axe, I resumed my work. The rhythmicthunkof metal on wood filled the air as I tried to focus on the task at hand. But knowing Cassidy was on her way had my nerves jangling.

Hearing the crunch of tires on gravel, I kept swinging the axe, determined to look casual. Natural. Like I hadn’t been thinking about all the things I wanted to do to her since our kiss.

---