He’s huge, towering over me, and my body is reacting to his presence in all kinds of ways. But I need to stay strong. It’s already going to kill me to walk away from this place tomorrow. I don’t need to make it any harder by letting myself fall for him even deeper.
So I steel myself and swallow hard before I say, “Thanks for bringing me some food. If you don’t mind…” I wave my hand in the direction of the door. “I really do have a lot of work to do.”
A few minutes later, when he actually walks out the door and it clicks shut behind him, I fall to the floor and drop my face in my hands. It’s my own fault, but my heart is completely shattered.
Ryder
She’s lying.
And I don’t know why.
Everything in my body is telling me to stay with her until she admits the truth.
That story is about us. And if I’m right—which I know I am—then that means Chloe feels the same way about me that I do about her.
There was so much more than what I’d read the other day at the cabin. This was a story that was about a lot more than just sex. It was about love.
Like a fool, I let her push me out of her room. It’s not until I’m on the other side of the closed door that I realize it’s for the best. She’s tired and hungry. Plus, she has an article to write and I will not be responsible for distracting my girl from her goals.
Besides, I have my own work to do.
Starting with telling my brothers the truth about what happened in the hunting cabin. They’re going to be pissed, but I don’t care because Chloe isn’t like other women. She’s different. Hell,I’mdifferent with her. There’s no way I’m going to let her walk away from the lodge and out of my life.
Not without a fight.
And that’s the second, but most important thing I need to do.
I have until morning to figure out how to tell my girl how much I love her and convince her to stay in Rock Creek with me forever.
I take one more look at her closed bedroom door before turning away. My bed will be cold and lonely tonight, but I’ll be damned if it will be any longer than one night without Chloe’s naked body wrapped around me.
Exactly where it belongs.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Chloe
I’m exhausted when I finally pack up my bags in the room I didn’t have nearly enough time to enjoy. Somehow, after Ryder left my room last night, I’d cried myself to sleep right there on the floor. It must have been a combination of physical and emotional exhaustion.
When I woke up, it was almost two in the morning.
I’d missed my deadline.
And the article wasn’t anywhere close to being done.
When I saw the text message from Lisa, I knew there was no point in attempting to finish it.
I expected better from you,Chloe. We need dependable writers on staff. I had to fill your space. That was your last assignment.
I spentthe rest of the night writing my novel, only crawling into bed shortly before dawn for a few hours of much-needed sleep before checking out.
“Chloe.” Briggs greets me the moment I walk down the stairs. He takes my bag from me and leads me to the front desk, where Jaxon is waiting. “I hope you were able to enjoy some of what the lodge has to offer.”
“It’s really beautiful here,” I answer honestly and do my best to smile at both of them. “I wish I could stay longer.”
“Would you like to extend your stay?” Jaxon taps a few keys on the computer behind the desk. “Your room is actually?—”
“I can’t.”
