Page 11 of Rescued By the Lumberjack

I’ve got to say, having her attention on me feels really fucking good. However, I don’t just want her to look. I wouldn’t mind feeling her hands cupping my cheeks again.

“I got a hold of my sister earlier,” I explain as she’s flipping a pancake far too large. “Took some hunting down, but I found an old radio she gave me. Didn’t expect her to reach her, but she’s too loving for her own good.”

In the corner of my eyes, I see the way her shoulders tense up. Not the reaction I expected.

A voice in the back of my head pushed me to call Daisy. Even if I wanted Piper to stay here until every rain cloud in the sky disappeared, I needed to give her a way to get home.

Shouldn’t Piper be excited?

No, she’s looking at her pancakes with an expression I can’t read. Definitely not happiness, that’s for sure.

“Will they send someone?” Her lips press in a firm line.

“Don’t know. I told her not to.” Mixing my concoction, I add even more sugar into my pan. “Figured I’d take you down most of the way. You didn’t make it too far up, no offense.”

Her mouth twitches as she nods. “Good.”

Good? What am I supposed to do with that?

Do I tell her I rejected help because I wanted to extend our time together? Would she still saygood? Or would she want to give me a good shake for being a greedy bastard?

What I’d do to find out.

“Here.” Spooning up some of the runny red sauce, we both watch as chunks of strawberry fall from the top. “Try this. I don’t care for sweet things like most.”

As her tongue swipes at the spoon, her brows lift, and she brightens. I’m so distracted with her mouth that I almost miss what she’s saying. “This might put me through a sugar coma, but it’s delicious!”

I want to kiss this woman.

Yesterday, she’s the one who almost kissed me, but I didn’t go for it. My failure to meet her halfway haunts me; otherwise, I would know what she tastes like.

I can’t let that happen again.

Catching my stare, she tilts her head. As if she knows exactly what she’s doing to me, her tongue strokes the metal one last time before she’s offering it back to me. I toss it right back into the pan, not giving a damn.

Turning the knobs off on the stove, I keep my eyes on hers as I pluck the spatula out of her hand. Her pupils dilate, and it’s like she’s on the same wavelength as me. The tension between us has been nothing but tight, and I’m not sure how much more either of us can take.

Had last night tortured her as much as it had me?

A part of me hopes it has. Despite fisting my cock, knuckle caught between my teeth to stifle any sounds, I couldn’t get her out of my system.

All I want is Piper, and she’s made me crazy. Can’t act right with her around. However, I don’t want to let her go. Even if it means going insane, I want her to stay in my cabin until the end of our days.

Fuck, I want her as my wife.My wife.

Two words I never thought I’d ever think.

“Grayson?” Whispering my name, she steps back as I step forward. Hands free, she slowly lifts them as her back hits the counter. Pressing her fingers against my chest, the heat burns straight through my shirt.

“Your ankle, it’s fine, isn’t it?” My fingers curl at my sides as my strength dwindles. I don’t want to be rough without thinking and hurt her if I’ve misunderstood.

Her eyes widen, and we both know the truth. I don’t have to ask her twice.

For a few years, I’ve had men pretend to be hurt. They’d come to me to avoid being put on the field. Some would beg me to turn the other eye, some returned with their head hung low. I’ve learned how to get a good read on people.

She’s been brighter than the sun ever since I stepped into the room. From spinning on her heel, to swaying her hips with excitement. All the signs were there, and she didn’t even notice.

So, why does Piper think she has to keep the condition of her ankle a secret?

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