Page 17 of Forever Theirs

I waved her off. “Uplift has all that you can borrow. Let’s meet up after our morning clients tomorrow to sort through the gear and determine if we need to hit the general store in town for anything missing.”

She nodded while taking a drink. I couldn’t help the way my gaze slid to the bob of her throat. Without my approval, images of my hand wrapped around it flashed through my mind, making my cock twitch.

Clearing my throat, I redirected the conversation to distract my horny-ass thoughts. “Now that Aiden’s back, tell us the story you mentioned earlier. I’m hoping the SEAL, whoever he was, put the douche canoe in his place.”

With a wide smile stretched across her face, Aspen excitedly launched into the story, hands waving as she detailed the disastrous assignment that ended abruptly when the former SEAL called James Peoples out on something inaccurate and dumb, which resulted in the idiot storming off like an angry toddler at being told he was doing something wrong. To make it all worse, James then refused to finish filming the clips needed for the episode of his survivalist show or approve any details, pictures, or commentary taken for the multipage article the magazine had planned to publish.

The douche canoe really was pathetic if he couldn’t take being corrected. How Aspen dealt with his superiority complex as long as she did spoke to her abundance of patience and calm nature.

That story led into another, then another, with Aiden and me tossing in our own. Before we realized it, hours had passed, with the three of us drinking and laughing while swapping wild, disgusting, and awe-inspiring stories that revolved around our mutual obsession with nature and anything outdoors. With every story she told and every question she asked to gain more detail or insight into one of ours, the miles-thick wall I’d constructed around my heart through the years weakened.

Thankfully, the stories and her questions stayed lighthearted, never once asking about my years in the service, which felt intentional from both her and Aiden. The few times the conversation lulled or when Aiden got up to grab another round of drinks, it felt like she wanted to ask but somehow knew better. As much as I was drawn to the amazing and beautiful woman, there was no way in hell I’d open up about those years of my life, allowing her a glimpse at how truly broken I was. If she asked, I knew the walls around my heart that had weakened tonight would slam back in place, protecting me from the bombarding memories it would bring to the surface.

Surprising the shit out of me, I didn’t want to pull away or close myself back off when it came to Aspen Carter. For the last few hours, I felt no phantom pain, didn’t lose minutes in a memory, or worried about what nightmares would haunt my dreams the moment I crawled into bed later.

She was more than beautiful. Aspen was special in a way I’d never experienced. So, every time it felt like a personal question was on the tip of her tongue, I abruptly redirected the conversation right back to her. Which worked out, considering I craved to know every detail of her past, present, and future.

Toward the end of the night, when I couldn’t stop watching her, studying the way her perfect lips pulled into a smile, or imagining how they would feel against my own or wrapped around my cock, I realized how much I fucking wanted more of Aspen. More as in taking this beyond the easy conversations to a more physical path. It was obvious Aiden wanted to take it further, too, but we still had a major hurdle to jump before we could even hope for more with Aspen. Despite our hinting about our unique relationship style, we hadn’t broached the subject outright. Who the fuck knew if she would be open to the idea of both Aiden and me?

I scrubbed at my beard, not liking the thought of her walking away from us, the calluses along my palm catching on the coarse hair.

Fucking hell, why was I even thinking about any of this? Aspen was only in Anchor Bay for a week. It was dumb to get attached, knowing she would leave at the end of her temporary stay and head back to her life in Seattle, even if she seemed unsure that the big-city life was what she wanted in the future. I sure as hell wouldn’t use that uncertainty and sudden life shift to sway her into something with Aiden and me because I had a crush on the woman.

Too lost in the dirty and vivid visions of Aspen and us, for the second time tonight, I failed to notice when someone approached our table. Catching Aiden stiffening in his chair plus a waft of a familiar, expensive perfume snapped me back to the present and put me on high alert. Both hands curled into fists beneath the table as I glared at the unwanted woman while Jubie sat up from where she lay at our feet, a soft growl vibrating from her chest while a corner of her muzzle curled into a snarl.

Glancing at Jubie, Aspen’s words trailed off mid-sentence. Her big brown eyes skipped between me and Aiden, sensing our almost palpable tension that only grew worse the closer Jessica came to our table.

“Are you two okay?” Aspen asked, reaching over to run a hand over Jubie’s head.

“Well, hello there, boys. Who would’ve guessed you’d be here tonight?”

Nostrils flaring in annoyance, back molars clenched tight, I fought the urge to tell Jessica to fuck off.

Pausing behind the chair Jubie had vacated earlier, she wrapped both hands around the back, her long nails clicking on the wood. “Is this seat taken?”

Lips pulled into a snarl, I didn’t get the opportunity to tell her “Hell yes” because Jubie took care of it for me. Front paws on the seat, she pushed off the floor and sat her wide backside down in the spot Jessica wanted.

Smirking at Jubie, Aiden shook his head. “Guess that answers that question.”

With a scoff, she stepped back and scanned the bar. “I’ll just grab another one from?—”

“What are you doing here, Jessica?” Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re aware that we have the restraining order paperwork all filled out and ready to file with the sheriff.”

Instead of watching Jessica’s reaction to Aiden’s words, I studied Aspen, whose eyes grew to the size of saucers. Fuck. Of course the good thing we had going with her would end before it even got started. All because of one of our past mistakes that seemed to be harder to eradicate than bedbugs.

“Oh, no need to bring that up. I’m not here for you two, just here for a date.” She paused, watching both of our faces, no doubt hoping to find jealousy. Licking her red-painted lips, she huffed. “Running into you guys was an unexpected coincidence.”

A humorless snort escaped into my water glass as I took a sip. Jessica’s calculating gaze slid to me before moving toward Aspen, and a malicious smile pulled at her lips, making her look as crazy as we knew she was. Heart slamming in my chest, I shifted in my seat, ready to react to whatever Jessica tried. “And who do we have here? Your next conquest, I’m guessing? Little plain for your tastes, don’t you think?”

“Watch it, Jessica,” Aiden practically growled, clenching his beer bottle so tight that every knuckle was void of color. Fuck, he better not shatter that bottle. The last thing I wanted to do tonight was haul him up to Doc at The Nest for stitches again. “If you’re really not here for us, then move on.” He leaned back, folded both arms over his chest, and leveled her with a blank stare.

Jessica simply smiled, as if enjoying his annoyance, and gestured to Aspen. “Oh, I will, but first, it’s girl code for me to warn your new little friend here about what exactly she’s getting into with you two assholes.”

“Leave. Now.” I stroked a hand down Jubie’s back in repetitive soft strokes to calm my racing pulse and ease my building anger. I’d never hit a woman, but I sure as hell would pick Jessica up and set her outside the bar if she continued with her little warning.

Fuck, this was bad.

“Did you know?” Jessica leaned in closer to Aspen, who inched back until she was on the verge of falling out of her seat. Aiden tipped forward, ready to catch her if she did. “They only share. A two-for-one special, if you will, but”—Jessica’s hateful gaze cut my way—“Miles is too damaged in the head to?—”

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