Page 12 of Made for the Mountain Man

"Yes. They taste terrible," I try to whisper, but I'm pretty sure I yell it right at Anderson, who is now only a foot away from me.

"Oh, shit, Brooks. Milo, did you tell him what was in the cookies?"

I burst out laughing at Anderson's serious expression.

He rears back. "Did you just giggle?" he asks, laughing. "I'm not sure I've ever heard more than a humorous grunt from you, Brooks."

I laugh so hard I have to hold my sides. When I finally stop, I look at Anderson again. His face swims in front of me before it settles into one person. "I don't feel well."

"Milo's experimenting with edibles." Anderson grimaces like he's giving me bad news.

I stare at him, trying to figure out what he's saying.

"You're high, Brooks."

"Ah, that accounts for the forest flavor." I nod, but the movement makes me want to vomit, so I stare up at Anderson. "Take me home?"

"Yeah, bud. I...I don't have a car, though." Anderson scratches his head.

"My truck is parked down the street fromThe Grounds." I sway as I stand up.

"Okay, yeah. Let's get you home." Anderson puts his arm around my waist and loops my arm around his neck. "Milo, can you help me here?"

We both turn to see Milo snoring softly in his chair.

"Perfect," Anderson mutters.

Chapter 6

Violet

After drinking my last cup of tea, I reluctantly open the door ofThe Reading Grounds. I’m not quite ready to return to the hotel and have it out with my friends, but I have no choice. I need somewhere to sleep tonight, and my lack of a job means I can't afford my own room again, so it's time to claim my bed.

The afternoon air is a little chilly, and I pull my thin jacket tight around me as I try to remember which direction the hotel is in. I'm so distracted that I don't see the two-hundred-pound wall of muscle coming at me until I'm almost knocked over.

A strong hand grips my upper arm, keeping me from falling straight on my butt on the cold sidewalk. "I'm sorry about that," he apologizes in a gravelly voice. "Well, hello, gorgeous."

I don't pay attention because the guy who knocked into me has his arm around Brooks.

"Anderson, if you don't get your hand off Violet right now, I will knock your fucking teeth down your throat," Brooks snarls, glaring at the guy holding him up. He turns to me with a goofy grin. "Hello, beautiful."

My mouth opens and closes wordlessly in my now-perfect impression of a floundering fish. Shocked, I finally stammer, "W-why are you holding him up?" I direct my question to Anderson, but my eyes are locked on Brooks, who appears to be swaying. "Is he drunk?"

"No, nothing like that, doll...er, Violet," Anderson corrects himself quickly, glancing at Brooks, who glares at him again.

Hey, I'm talking to a guy. Yes!And he's cute. Not my type, but unequivocally attractive. Although, it's hard to notice when he's holding up the sex on a plate man who has described in vivid detail everything he would like to do to my naked body.

But something's wrong. Brooks' deep chocolate eyes are bloodshot and hooded like he needs sleep.

I glare at Anderson, placing my cold hands on my cheeks to cool the heat. "Why do his eyes look like that?"

"He needs some rest, is all." Anderson gives me a grin that probably works on a lot of women, but I'm not in the mood.

"Excuse me, but what the fuck did you do to Brooks?" I jam my hands on my hips and narrow my eyes at the tall, blond, muscled dude in front of me, voicing my question without a hitch.

Anderson startles at my tone, but I continue to glare at him, demanding an answer. To be fair, I'm unsure where I’ve summoned my attitude and commanding tone from, but I need to know what the fuck is going on here. Something about Brooks being in trouble and hisfriendbeing responsible for it snaps me out of my signature awkwardness.

"I ate cookies!" Brooks yells, tipping forward.

---