“Besides,” she continues. “The next bus isn’t until Thursday night.”
“What?”
“Seriously?”
Jamie and I speak at the same time.
“Shit, I don’t have time for this, Mia. It’s not safe for you there. Rock Creek is full of wild and unpredictable men.”
Hell, she knows all about that already.
“Help me out here, Wolf. Tell her.”
“Oh…” I chuckle a little. “I don’t think I need to tell?—”
Mia’s arm shoots out and her slight fingers wrap around my wrist. When I meet her gaze, she’s pleading with me with her eyes, and I can see that there’s no point in worrying Jamie more.
I shake my head and I know, before I even say them, that I’m going to regret the next words out of my mouth.
“Not to worry, Jamie. I’ll take care of her for you. She can stay with me until you get back.”
Mia sucks in a breath but I don’t dare look at her. I already know this is going to be trouble.
“Seriously, man?” Jamie’s relief is audible. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that. My little sister means everything to me. She’s going to med school in the fall, and the last thing she needs is to fall into the hands of…well, you know. Take care of her for me, Wolf.”
Mia doesn’t release her grip on me, but instead slides her hands around until her palm is beneath mine and we’re almost holding hands. Her smile is sweet, but there’s something else in the way she’s looking at me that has my cock rock hard and straining the zipper of my jeans.
I don’t take my eyes off her as I say, “Don’t worry about it. She’ll be safe with me.”
Fuck me. I’m a dirty liar. And I know it.
CHAPTER FOUR
Mia
“This is your place?”
After finishing our lunch, Briggs makes me put my sweater on to cover up a little bit before he bundles me up into his truck and drives the short distance to his cabin. The way he described it, I expected a rustic shack in the middle of nowhere.
I did not expect…this.
I hop out of the truck as soon as Briggs puts it in park and, with my eyes wide, try to take it all in.
Instead of a rustic shack, I’m standing in front of a two-story cabin with a wraparound porch made from highly polished and stained, giant logs. Planters full of late-season flowers hang from the roof of the porch, alternating with hummingbird feeders.
He appears at my side, holding my backpack. “It’s not?—”
“It’s gorgeous.”
“My brothers and I have a log home business. We built this one as a prototype because it’s so close to town.”
“Do you live here alone?”
As I ask the question, I realize I don’t know anything about this man. Not beyond the fact that he’s massive and strong, and exceptionally good-looking. He’s also protective and has a super-sweet mother who makes amazing chili. And of course, he’s my brother’s best friend. I wasn’t expecting that. So, I guess I do know a few things.
But I need to know whether he’s married or has a girlfriend because if he does, my plan will be a lot harder to execute.
Not that it’s much of a plan yet. But it will be. I have three days to seduce him and lose my virginity.
