And I’m lost. For the first time in my life, I’m not in New Orleans.
My touchstone.
I reach the couch, and then I turn and look back at Jared.
He’s watching me.
He cocks his head like he’s trying to read me.
“You okay, Hill?” he says softly.
I shake my head. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m homesick.”
I expect him to laugh it off. After all, I just left home a few days ago.
But as usual, Jared Storm takes me by surprise.
“It’ll get easier. You’ll feel at home in Montana in no time.”
“I don’t have a network here—a team to back me up. I just have myself.”
As if on cue, Louie comes up next to me and rubs her sweet furry body against my leg. I squat down to pet her, burying my face in her soft fur.
“Ash.”
I look up at Jared, who’s stepped closer.
“Yeah?”
“First of all, you’ve always been enough for you. Right?”
He’s right. “Yes.”
“And second, you’re not alone. You’ve got me.”
I don’t remember either of us moving, but all of a sudden, I’m standing up, and we’re directly opposite one another.
I reach out and touch his bare chest that’s wet from lake water.
He trembles.
I didn’t mean to unleash years of pent-up raw lust with that innocent touch, but…
My hand, unbidden, begins to move over the muscular planes of Jared’s chest and abdomen.
He sucks in a breath. I’m not looking at his face, but I hear his inhale, and I feel his chest move against the palm of my hand. My finger starts to trace out a word, and then another, on his burning hot skin.
Will he be able to decipher my message?
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Jared
I want you.
Ashley’s index finger spells out the three words I’ve both longed to hear from her and the three words I’ve prayed she’d never say because I knew I’d be too weak to turn her down.
Ishouldturn her down.
