“That’s so embarrassing.” I feel the heat rise in my cheeks. This sexy mountain man must think I’m crazy for not knowing my sister wasn’t the bride at yesterday’s wedding, when I realize I interrupted him from attending his friend’s wedding. “Oh my gosh, you must hate me for dragging you away from Aspen and Wilder’s wedding.” I quickly stand, pushing the chair out behind me. “If you point me in the right direction, I’ll walk back to the church, get my car, and leave you in peace.” Something sharp presses inside my chest when I think about leaving this mountain man. I barely know him, but the instant attraction I feel for him is something I can’t explain.
“It’s dark out. You’re not going anywhere tonight, especially not dressed only in my shirt.” He growls, his possessive tone underscoring his words. A dampness pools between my legs, coating my bare thighs. I know his possessive tone was about his shirt, not me, but tell that to my body. “Now finish your food and tell me about your sister.”
With a sigh, I sit back down and tell him the whole story of my sister’s arranged marriage, her running away before the wedding began, and how I came to Temptation Ridge to stop a wedding I thought my sister was the bride for, leaving out no detail.
“That’s a lot to take in.” Dash finishes off the rest of the food on his plate, a look of deep concentration on his handsome face.
“So, you see, that’s why I have to find Journee.” I push the now-cold scrambled eggs around on my plate to distract myself from thoughts of my sister, alone out there somewhere.
“I think I know someone who can help us find your sister.” The way he says “us” makes my heart race. I’m sure it was just a slip of the tongue, but the thought of having someone by my side gives me comfort, even if it’s not real.
“If you give me his contact information, I’ll call him and be out of your hair as soon as I can.” I sneak a peek at him through my lowered lashes, and the fierce possessiveness shining in his eyes makes me gasp.
“I said us, and I meant us.” He growls. “I’m not letting you find your sister on your own. You’re mine to protect now.” I snap my head up, our eyes locking, the air around us sizzling with something I can’t name but want to dive headfirst into.
“A-alright.” I stammer, the heat of his stare making me feel overheated.
With a nod, he breaks eye contact, stands, grabs his phone from the counter, and places a call. It doesn’t take long for the person on the other end to answer before I hear Dash reply, “Hey, True, it’s Dash. I have a job for you.”
seven
Dash
“Hey, True, it’s Dash.I have a job for you.” My eyes drift over to Jenna, the look of relief on her face makes me want to wrap her in my arms and never let her go.
Is this the instalove attraction my parents always talked about?
It has to be. How can I go from barely knowing someone a few hours ago to wanting to make her the center of my universe? She’s strong, sassy, and sexy as hell.
“I kind of have my hands full right now.” True says, but I refuse to give up for Jenna’s sake.
“It’s really important. My girlfriend’s sister ran away from her own wedding ten days ago and is out there somewhere, and she hasn’t contacted her family.” I watch Jenna’s eyes go wide as I call her my girlfriend. She’ll figure it out soon enough. I can feel the attraction between us—she has to feel it, too.
True is a former military man and bounty hunter. At thirty-eight, he retired to an isolated cabin in the mountains but still takes the occasional tracking job.
“Did you say, ‘runaway bride’?” True hesitates. “Can you describe her?”
I give True the name and description of Jenna’s sister, as Jenna described her to me, and relay the story of her running out on her own wedding.
“Do you think you can help us?” I look at Jenna’s hopeful face, and I know there is nothing I won’t do to help her find her lost sister.
“I think I already have what you’re looking for.” True says.
“What? You have Journee?”
“Yeah, I found Goldilocks sleeping in my bed a couple of days ago. She’s refusing to leave.”
I smile, thinking Jenna’s sister is just as stubborn as she is. “That sounds about right.”
Jenna rushes to my side, grabbing the phone. “Let me talk to Journee.” She says to True.
A wave of relief washes over me, now that I know Journee is safe with True, but another thought hits me just as hard. Now that Jenna has found Journee, she has no reason to stay with me.
eight
Jenna
“Journee, where are you?Are you okay? He’s not holding you against your will, is he?” I rattle off question after question to my sister, not giving her a chance to respond. “I’ll kick his ass if he is.”
