Page 7 of Seduced By the Mountain Man

Chapter Three

“Lake Rules and Fireworks”

Delaney

"Spill. Everything. Now."

Whitney's demand came the moment our cabin door closed behind us. My arms ached pleasantly from paddleboarding, my skin tingled from the sun, and my nerves were still jangled from Jace's hands on my hips during that not-so-accidental rescue.

"There's nothing to spill," I insisted, reaching for a bottle of water. My throat was suddenly parched.

"Oh please," Amber flopped dramatically onto the sofa. "That man looked at you like you were dessert, and you practically melted when he touched you."

I nearly choked on my water. "I did not melt."

"You definitely melted," Kayla confirmed, giving me an apologetic smile as she settled into an armchair. "Your whole body went soft for a second before you remembered to be angry."

"And that comment about Magic Mike?" Whitney raised her eyebrows. "You two obviously have history."

I sighed, knowing resistance was futile. These women had seen me through breakups, promotions, family drama, and my disastrous attempt at bangs in 2021. They could read me like a book.

"Fine," I said, dropping onto the couch beside Amber. "Remember when I told you about Jackson Hole? The hookup at my cousin's wedding?"

Three pairs of eyes widened simultaneously.

"No. Way." Amber sat up straight. "That's your brother's friend? The one who disappeared the next morning?"

"The very same," I confirmed, picking at a loose thread on the sofa cushion.

"Well, that explains your reaction yesterday," Whitney said. "You looked like you'd seen a ghost in the massage room."

"I felt like I had." I pulled my legs up beneath me. "One minute I'm expecting a nice, relaxing massage, the next I'm face-to-face with the guy who left me sleeping and texted'This never happened.'"

"But why did he do that?" Kayla asked, ever the analyst of the group. "It obviously wasn't a chemistry issue. The electricity between you two could power the entire resort."

I shrugged, trying for nonchalance. "He's my brother's best friend. Tyler would have a meltdown if he knew."

"Tyler needs to grow up," Whitney muttered. She'd witnessed my brother's overprotective streak firsthand during college.

"So what's the plan?" Amber asked, a dangerous glint in her eye.

"The plan is to enjoy our vacation and pretend Jace doesn't exist," I said firmly.

"Boring," Amber sing-songed. "I vote for hot revenge sex followed by you walking out on him."

"I vote for finding out what actually happened," Kayla countered. "Maybe there's more to the story."

Whitney examined her perfectly manicured nails. "Twenty dollars says they hook up before Thursday."

"Fifty says it happens tonight," Amber countered.

"No one is betting on my love life!" I protested.

"So you admit it's a love life situation," Whitney pounced.

I groaned, covering my face with a throw pillow. "I hate all of you."

"No, you don't," Kayla said, patting my knee. "You love us because we want you to be happy. And potentially well-satisfied by a mountain man with shoulders like a Greek god."

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