This man knows meandknows my brother.
In a professional, clipped tone, he reports the fire—just the facts—and hangs up.
Screaming feels like a dangerous risk. What if this man is going to do something to Caleb? I need to find out.
A new wave of anger floods through me, a metallic tang in my throat from the fresh dose of adrenaline heightening my senses.
When I tug against his grip this time, he lets go, stepping a few feet away from me. Robbing me of the mind-scrambling pressure of his pelvis against mine, and the ride of his thigh pressing against the seam of my jeans in the most obscene way.
Now I can think.
I always think better when I’m moving. Pacing in a tight circle, I stare at the ruins of my new Dodge dually, focusing on the real facts here.
My life just got turned on its ear. This man knows my brother’s name. There’s nowhere for me to go. This spot is twenty miles in either direction to any reasonable population that doesn’t have horns.
When I look back at him, he’s a sharpened weapon in a predator’s posture, gaze scanning everywhere. The hillsides, the truck fire that has now completely destroyed my belongings, and back to me.
There’s a raw, hardened energy about him.
“Hey,” I swallow roughly, choking on a tumbleweed of fear and frustration. “How do you know my brother’s name?”
CHAPTER 2
I fucked up.
Not only did I get physical with a primary, I said her name when it’s off-limits, and revealed information that’s strictly locked down.
Jesus, I’m an idiot.
I’m also royally screwed because when she was writhing on my thigh, all I could think about was making her mine.Mine.
As in wifed-up.
Drunk on dick. Never-look-at-another-manmine.
“Get in the truck,” I yell, equal parts pissed at myself and her.
“That’s not happening”
“It’s for your own safety.”
When she stares at me, vibrating withher anger at me, I shake my head and get in her space. I’m a physical guy. My negotiation language is in-your-fucking-face, and it’s served me well.
“I need you to get inside the truck.”
She screams bloody murder, kicks like a mule, and manages to land another one of those knockout blows to my shin. For Pete’s fucking sake, the woman’s a wildcat.
She’s also my best friend’s little sister which means her wild streak shouldn’t make my dick as rigid as a lodgepole pine.
“Help me!” she yells.
Thank God there’s no one around to hear all the commotion. But as fucking luck would go, the Sheriff’s department SUV tops the rise at the perfect time to see me hauling her to my truck.
Great. Just what this situation needs.
I open the passenger door and deposit her inside on the seat, half tempted to buckle her in just to slow her down.
“I need for you to listen to me and listen fast.”
