Page 2 of Wounded Hero

"I got lost. I just thought I would climb this tree to see if anyone is home at that cabin over there."

"My cabin."

She turns on the limb of the tree to get a better view of me. "I'm sorry to ask. But you're not a serial killer are you?"

I pause. Killer? Everybody around me dies. Maybe I am a killer. I fix the girl with a dark frown.

"Oh, my God, you paused. You're not meant to pause when someone asks if you're a serial killer."

"I'm not going to stand here and argue with you. Get down out of my tree."

She moves to a different position and drops one leg. Waving it through the air awkwardly. Then another leg.

I wait a good couple of minutes in silence, watching as she moves and shifts until, with a sigh, in a small voice she says, "I think I am stuck."

Standing there and watching her ass wiggle back and forth in front of me had a strange effect on me. It's a good looking ass. And it has been a long, long time since I had any sort of feelings towards a woman. But the sight of her stuck up in a tree also made me feel like laughing. And it has been even longer since I remember wanting to laugh at anything.

I reach up and grab her thigh, pulling her roughly down. I didn't intend for her to land in my arms but she twisted. Her hands on my shoulders to steady herself. And there we were, standing out in the wind and the cold. My hands holding her ass. Her looking down at me with those beautiful eyes. And once again, I don't know what I am meant to do.

"You can let me go now."

Startled, I let go. And drop her on the ground. Watching her get up and dust off the mud off her jeans. I cross my arms over my chest and give her a stern look.

"So you are lost?"

"That's right. I'm new in town and thought I would do a bit of exploring."

"Where is your car parked?"

"I got dropped off."

My frown darkens. She doesn't seem afraid of me. Warry. But not afraid. There is an intelligent look in her eyes and she looks at me with curiosity. Her gaze flicks to my scar and I turn my head slightly away. There is a good reason why I hide away up here. I don't need people staring at me. I don't need their pity and I sure as hell don't want their curiosity.

"How are you going to get back to town?"

"I don't mind walking. If you could just point the right direction?"

Fuck. I don't want this girl here, I don't want to invite her into my space. But I can't leave her to wander about in the woods, not with a storm rolling in. I don't want to spend all day thinking she is out here freezing to death.

"Come with me."

"Excuse me?"

I'm in no mood to stand around in the cold any longer. I go to grab her by her jacket but she swings a fist through the air. I grab her wrist. Glowering down at her. She still doesn't shrink in fear like a normal person would. Instead she has her shoulders back, points her stubborn chin at me and her eyes flare wild and daring.

I drop her wrist and shove my hands in my pockets. It has been so long since I had company I have forgotten how to act. Living out here on my own has turned me into an ogre. But I was once brought up to have manners. Trained to control a situation and remain calm.

"I'm sorry.” I let out a long sigh. “There is a storm coming in. It's cold out here and you can't be wandering about on your own. Would you like to shelter in my cabin till the storm has passed?"

Chapter 3

Cora

I've made a lot of crazy decisions in my life but this might be the craziest. Of course I wasn't just out here walking around. I had come looking for him. And I have a car parked nearby, but he doesn't need to know that. From the first moment I looked down from the tree into his handsome face, I want to know everything about this guy. He is huge, sexy in a strong, overbearing, burly, sort of way. And he has the eyes of a devil, like they are lit by the fires of hell.

I was so distracted by his eyes it took a moment to even notice the thin line of a scar running from through his eyebrow and down over his cheekbone. It certainly adds to his gruff, dangerous appearance. But I don't feel scared to be with him.

From everything I have heard about this man he is a good guy. Donates piles of money to the town. Sure, he keeps to himself and rarely comes to town, doesn't talk to anyone, or have any friends. But nobody mentioned any people going missing. He grew up in town, and people know him. And sure, people canchange. But I had watched him with his dog and serial killers just don't have that sort of affection for an animal.

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