Page 6 of Infatuated with the Mountain Man

The dog took off down the stairs, and a second later, an even louder thunder sound cracked through the sky. I shrieked insurprise, and Caden chuckled. Just then, the sky opened, and the rain poured down.

Caden took my hand in his, and we ran. We made it to the car, both Jolene and the dog in the back seat, looking a lot drier than we were.

He didn’t hesitate to walk around to the passenger side and open the door for me, all while getting more soaked. When I slid inside, Jolene giggled.

As I turned to ask her what was so funny, Caden slipped inside and started the engine. “Fuck, it’s coming down. Glad you two missed it.”

“Seriously, or the car would stink like a wet dog right now,” Jolene said as she ruffled the dog’s fur.

Caden started the engine and pulled out into the road. Despite his headlights and windshield wipers, it was hard to see because the rain was coming down in sheets. A bolt of lightning lit up the sky, and suddenly, a branch crashed into the road.

He slammed on the brakes just in time, stopping inches from hitting the large branch. “Fuck!”

“Damn. I guess you were right.” I pulled my sweater around me tighter.

“Yeah, these storms get bad fast,” Caden said as he expertly steered the car around the fallen branch. A few minutes later, we stopped in front of a small, cozy cabin.

“Hunker down, Sis, and call me later, okay?” Caden said to Jolene.

“I will. Stay safe, you two. Bye!” Jolene kissed Sir Barksalot on the head and hopped out of the car, making a beeline for her front door. She was inside a few seconds later as another bolt of lightning lit up the sky.

“Damn, Mother Nature isn’t happy today.” Caden’s voice captivated me, and a shiver ran down my spine.

“Apparently not.” I chewed on the inside of my cheek and shifted in my seat.

My cheeks flushed with the way he kept glancing at me, and suddenly, it was as if all the air in the car had been sucked right out. My pulse quickened, and my chest tightened. If it weren’t for the downpour outside, I’d roll my window down and gulp the fresh air.

I pictured Caden carrying me inside, tossing me down on the bed and having his way with me, and a little moan escaped my mouth.

“What was that?”

Shit! Control yourself, woman.

“What was what?” I feigned innocence as I desperately tried to wipe the fantasy from my head.

He looked at me curiously and pulled to a stop in front of a beautiful log cabin, complete with a wraparound porch. There were even hanging baskets of flowers and a well-tended garden.Did he hire someone?

“Gorgeous, right? I work hard at keeping my garden. Kind of a green thumb I have and a passion for flowers.”

I swooned. Was this man for real?

Sir Barksalot barked and licked my ear, and I laughed.

“Hey, mister. Don’t violate her like that. Only I can.” Caden winked, and I nearly melted into a puddle right there on his seat. “I doubt this rain is gonna let up anytime soon. Ready to book it?”

“Yes.”

Caden opened his door and let the dog out before running over to my side.

Yet he didn’t step back so I could get out.

No, this man scooped me up into his strong arms, kicked the door shut with his foot, and sprinted inside.

I was done for.

“I know you don’t have anything with you, but if you want to take a warm shower and get out of those wet clothes, I can give you a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt?” Caden set me down gently once we were inside and closed the door behind him.

“Yes, please.” I shivered in my wet clothes.

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