“Careful, princess,” I mutter. “Keep pinning me to this bed and I might get the wrong idea.”
My words catch us both off guard, slipping out before I can stop them. Aria pulls her hands away from me like she’s been burned, and I can’t help savoring the way her cheeks redden.
“You really are the most infuriating man in Crave County,” she says, pouting at me.
I fight back a smile, getting out of bed with no resistance this time.
“You’ll change your mind once you try my pancakes.”
8
ARIA
I giveup trying to make Thorne rest. I’m starting to realize that arguing with stubborn mountain men is futile. He insists on making me breakfast, so I wait at the table in the corner of the living room, running my fingers over the knotty grooves in the wood as I try to control my heartbeat.
God, I’m acting like a giddy teenager with a crush.
I know Thorne was teasing me with the whole “pinning him in bed” thing. But my cheeks haven’t stopped flaming ever since he said it. It doesn’t help when he emerges from the kitchen—still shirtless—holding two stacks of pancakes. My eyes keep drifting to his thick muscles, the tanned skin of his chest, the dark ink swirling up his arms. He’s so big. A tattooed mountain of a man. The angry red claw marks only make him look wilder. More rugged. They’re proof that he fought off a mountain lion and won.
“Thanks,” I say a little breathlessly as he sets the pancakes down. He sits opposite me and we start to eat. The pancakes are thick, fluffy, and swimming in maple syrup—just how I like them.
Great. Another reason to obsess over Thorne. His awesome pancakes.
“These are delicious,” I tell him, taking another bite.
“Glad you like them.”
There’s silence for a few moments but for the scrape of cutlery. I chance a glance at Thorne and my heart jolts when I see he’s looking right at me.
“So. How long are you in town for, princess?”
It’s a simple question, but I don’t know the answer. Cherry Hollow was always meant to be temporary. But right now, my life in New York feels a long way away.
“Maybe a few months,” I say vaguely.
Thorne’s permanent scowl lifts a little. I can tell I’ve surprised him.
“Damn. Your job doesn’t mind you taking off for that long?”
I take my time chewing my pancakes, trying to think up an answer. I could just tell the truth. Admit to Thorne that I lost my job and my dad’s company after he died. I don’t want to lie, but I also don’t want to get into the whole sob story after what Thorne has been through today.
“I’m kind of between jobs right now,” I say eventually. “Things have been a little…complicated since my dad passed.”
Vague, but not a lie. And thankfully, Thorne doesn’t push it.
“I’m sorry again about your dad,” he says, those intense green eyes softening a little. “Never easy losing a parent, but it sucks you lost him so young.”
“Thanks, Thorne.” I smile at him sadly. “It’s been tough, but I’m lucky to have my grandma. It was her idea for me to come to Cherry Hollow.” I’m eager to take the focus off me, so I ask, “Have you always lived around here?”
“Grew up in town,” Thorne says. “Left when I was eighteen to join the military.”
“Army?” I guess.
He nods. “Served for twenty years. Was a sniper for eight of those.”
My fork freezes in mid-air.
A sniper.
