Arden walked to the front of the truck, his arms full of my bags, and I could’ve sworn I saw a ghost of a smile grace his lips. But he was back to serious in seconds, walking past me toward the front door. I followed like a puppy dog, but I was determined to break down this man’s walls, even if it took me all weekend.
He opened the door, and I could hear barking from somewhere in the house. “Fred’s in his crate. I’ll bring him out to meet you. But first, let me show you your room. Follow me upstairs.”
Confusion washed over me. Aren’t we sharing his room?
Or was that too soon? Too awkward? I wasn’t sure how this was supposed to work. But what I knew was the attraction, the sexual tension, whatever you want to call it, it’s there between us. And only getting stronger…
I said nothing as he led me upstairs. He showed me to what I assumed was a spare bedroom, but there wasn’t a bed. It was a blow-up air mattress. Oh no. No, I didn’t want to sleep on an air mattress.
I wanted to sleep inhis bed.
“This is a nice room,but I thought I’d be sleeping in your bed?”
Arden shot me a funny look. “No, why would you think that?”
“I won a weekend with you. I just assumed I would be.”
He shrugged like he couldn’t care less. Yet he wouldn’t look me in the eye.What is going on with him?
He ran a hand over his beard, revealing more silver hairs underneath. “Honestly, I was going to stay in a hotel, and you could have the cabin to yourself.”
“That’s a terrible idea!” I sputtered. “I wanted to win a weekend with a mountain man. Don’t spend it alone. Besides, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Who wants to spend it alone?”
He scratched the back of his head and sighed. “Listen, I joined this auction because of the cause and because the mayor’s wife wouldn’t stop hounding me. I just want to get this all over with and go back to our regular lives.”
“I think you’re lying.”
“What?”
“Exactly what I said. I think you’re lying. Maybe when you joined, you felt that way, but now? Now you don’t. I see the way you look at me, Arden. Men who aren’t interested don’t look at me in the same way.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t date or do relationships and love and all that crap. I only love my dog, and that’s about it. Believe me, love leads to loss, which leads to pain. And I’m all set.”
I stood in front of this tall, broken man, his shoulders sagging, a sad look etched across his face.
Who hurt you?
“I’m sorry, Arden. But not all love is a loss. Some love is really beautiful.”
“Yeah, well, not in my world.” He turned to go, and I grabbed him by the arm, tugging him back toward me.
“Please, just let loose and have fun for one weekend. And when it’s over, we can say our goodbyes and be done with this all.”
Arden spun back around, his eyes wild, his chest heaving. “You really think it’ll be that easy? To just say goodbye to each other?”
My heart rate doubled. “I mean, I think so. Why not?”
“Because I…”
I waited for him to finish.
Sexual tension sparked between us like fireworks.
I searched his eyes for clues, answers, anything for a hint of what this man could be thinking. There was no way he didn’t feel whatever the hell this was between us. The air was thick with it, the intensity so thick and heady.
And then, without another word, Arden grabbed my face with both his hands and kissed me.
CHAPTER FOUR
