Page 5 of Big Burly Foreman

“Why not?”

“We just can’t, okay?” she whispers. “This dinner party was meant to introduce Joseph to me. Our families are . . .”

“Do you want him?”

“Of course not, but . . .”

“Then that settles it. You won’t end up with someone you don’t want as long as I am here.”

There is hope in her eyes, but she’s also skeptical of my words.

How can a simple farm hand like myself go up against a powerful family like hers and the Berkleys?

I don’t blame her for doubting my words when she doesn’t really know me as anything beyond the man who works for her parents, but I need her to understand.

I will do everything it takes to make her mine!

If it gets me Ashley, I will stop at nothing until it happens.

Chapter Three

Ashley

Oh, God!

What am I doing?

For two years, I have craved, longed for this man, but I dared not get my hopes up. Even now, all I can do is imagine myself leaning closer and taking in his strong earthy, masculine scent. The thought of his hands running over my taught nipples is enough to drive me to madness, but I cannot touch him.

I just can’t.

I can’t entertain the idea when I know the result will be heartbreak. I want to believe him when he says he’ll take care of it . . . of me. I want to trust that he would face two of the wealthiest families in all of Texas for me, but how is that even possible?

I mean, there is no doubt of his physical strength. His bulging, heavily tattooed arms are strong enough to take on at least a few men at once, and his large, veiny hands . . .

Snap out of it, Ashley!

It’s a battle between what I want and what I know can happen. And Logan and I . . . No matter how much I want it, we can’t happen.

We’re too different!

Shit, tonight is not going how I expected it would.

Between meeting Joseph and being alone with Logan, it’s too much for my system.

The second I met Joseph, the reason for the dinner party made sense. This was no business dinner.

My father wanted to introduce the Berkley family to a home that would soon belong to them as well, show them the woman who would marry their son.

No one said anything, but the intentions behind dinner were as clear as day, and yet, I couldn’t focus on anything, what with the six-foot cowboy I caught a glimpse of in the kitchen, his massive arms folded over his chest, watching me with an expression that bordered on fury.

His look had only darkened when Joseph caught my attention to feed me stories about his backpacking adventures. I’m sure the places he described are as beautiful as he said, but I could hardly pay attention to him when the source of my fascination was watching me with such undiluted need.

Part of me was half afraid that Logan would stalk into the room and punch Joseph in front of everyone, probably getting himself arrested for assault, or worse. The second Joseph excused himself for the bathroom, I hightailed it out of the party when no one was watching.

Hoping Logan would follow me.

Hoping he wouldn’t.

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