Page 16 of Her Rugged Guardian

“Oh, yeah? And why is that? And don’t call me that any longer.” I barely recognized my voice, the sound deep and throaty.

Dear lord, his scent was suddenly all over me, far too masculine and laced with a heavy dose of testosterone. I was blindsided by another dose of longing so intense that I momentarily lost all the nasty thoughts and likely a part of my mind in the process. When his lips were suddenly dangerously close, I didn’t realize until it was too late that I’d dragged the tip of my tongue across my bottom lip. Filthy images rolled into the back of my mind, ones I wasn’t proud of, so vivid I couldn’t tell anyone about them, including Jessica. I’d never hear the end of it.

“What would you prefer I call you, femme fatale?” His deep, husky voice vibrated into every cell, skittering into my muscles in such a way they were suddenly weak.

I suddenly had no voice as well as no mind. All I could do was breathe and God forbid, moan as if I was attracted to him.

That’s the very moment he took advantage, capturing my mouth, kissing me as if he already owned every inch of my hot and wet body. I’d always been the kind of woman to scoff at the alpha dogs in romance novels who took women in a somewhat nonconsensual kind of way, citing feminism and some sense of decency. But as he swept his tongue inside, dominating mine, I was fairly certain I’d add a bookstore to my list of chores for the day, my search for the hottest and darkest romance books already underway in my mind.

Jake pressed his full weight against me and as I wiggled in his hold, trying to find the strength and resolve to break free from his tight hold, I realized he was rock hard.

And huge.

My mouth watered as another series of savage images floated into the forefront of my mind. Of him licking me, caressing me.

And fucking me.

Get a grip, you foolish girl.

I had no idea how much time drifted away but when he finally pulled away, another moan slipped past my lips.

He let go of me, yet I remained exactly where I was. The smirk from the night before returned to his face as he backed away by two steps. His eyes remained filled with lust, his heated gaze sweeping all the way down to my toes.

After snagging a quick look at the thick bulge between his legs, which confirmed my guess that he was well endowed, I followed through with my earlier instincts.

I slapped him across the face.

He immediately cupped his face with his rugged hand, his ferocious glare entirely different than before. He still wanted to eat me alive, but it had nothing to do with passion.

“The number on the invoice is correct, princess. Your mother was all but broke and you’re right. This house is a dump. I was doing your mom a favor by continuing to work on it because unlike you, she was a lovely person who’d give her shirt off her back to anyone in need and she did several times, including to me.” His glare remained as he spun around so he wouldn’t be forced to look at me any longer, his work boots thudding against the floor given his anger as he headed to the door. “I’ll expect payment by the end of the month.”

He threw me another look that was an odd combination of fury and desire before walking out, slamming the door afterwards. I lifted my middle finger, snarling as only a woman could do. At least I resisted screaming obscenities after he’d stormed out. I sagged against the back of the door, pressing my fingers over my mouth, his scent lingering and realizing that the sash on my robe had come undone, exposing my hard nipples poking through the gauzy material. Shit. In town less than twenty-four hours and my life was going to hell in a handbasket.

“I’ll have you know I’m nice too.” Okay, of all the words in the English language, of all the retorts I could come up with, why in God’s name had I chosen that?

I licked my lips, still able to taste him, including my hazelnut brew.

Time to brew another cup of coffee, tossing in every drop of the Irish Cream.

And to try to get the rugged man out of my mind.

Only one was going to be easy.

CHAPTER 5

Jake

I’d kissed her.

Of all the women in the small town of Depoe Bay, I kissed the single woman who hated me. Obviously, I’d forgotten being dropped on my head at some point. Or maybe the old hockey injuries, including getting my head bashed in by a half dozen players, were finally coming back to bite me.

On top of the woman slapping me, she’d acted as if I’d lied about the work I’d done. That infuriated me more than anything. I’d spent three months doing work on and off, doing my best to put my finger in a dike that would soon blow wide open if the new owner didn’t take the repairs seriously.

From what I could tell, Miss High and Mighty couldn’t tell a craftsman if she ran over him with her rental car. Hell, I’d refinished the kitchen table only a few weeks before Margaret had died, a surprise to the sweet lady who’d kept me in cupcakes to the tune of more than a few pounds.

To hell with Cassandra. She was trouble with a capital T.

I pressed my elbow against the door panel of my truck, rubbing my index finger across my lips. She’d tasted sweet, more so than I would have thought given her caustic mouth. Plus, the girl not only had excellent aim with a household appliance, she also had a mean right hook. Well, actually she’d slapped me, but I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of her fist.

---