Chapter 6
Axe
Goddamn it all to hell.
Dear God, Kenzie was all grown up. Her green eyes had always been mesmerizing, the shade of the most perfect emerald always catching me off guard. They were even more expressive than they’d been, accenting the fact she wore her emotions on her sleeve.
Anger brought darkness, the shade drifting into a deep moss.
Joy allowed gold flecks, although I’d yet to see any concept of happiness today.
Sadness brought dullness, which is what I’d captured earlier. Not only because I’d been her savior.
I took long strides from the room, cursing under my breath as I did.
What in the hell did I think I was doing, bringing her into my private space?
Her! Of all people I could have rescued.
Of all the times to have a guest in my house when all I wanted was to fucking be alone. Why did God hate me so much?
One look in her eyes and I’d been yanked back in time, wishing as I’d done at least two dozen times that I could fix what had gone wrong. Only time had obviously been even more of an enemy than I’d realized. I could tell that by the look of hatred in her eyes.
When she’d had the same look all those years ago, I’d wanted to smack the hell out of the asshole who’d hurt her.
There’d been plenty of those, guys far too old for her pawing at her, treating her like she was a piece of meat.
I’d had to intervene more than once, although most times she hadn’t realized I’d saved her from some dude with octopus hands and only one thought in his mind.
Yeah, I’d been her protector.
Until I hadn’t been, failing in my duties.
I stormed into the kitchen where I’d been nursing a drink. It was about time to guzzle it. With a laugh, I yanked the glass off the counter, fighting images swarming though my mind. Of her.
Her.
Just thinking her name was troublesome. Almost kissing her? Not only a bad idea but a disloyal one. Why was I still honoring some stupid pledge made as kids? That made no sense, especially since Wade and I weren’t exactly on speaking terms.
Still. But goddamn, she was so damn beautiful, adulthood turning her into even more of a gorgeous creature. She’d never known how stunning she’d been at eighteen, always calling herself an ugly duckling. Complaining about never being asked on a date.
Little did she know I was partially to blame.
Fuck. I raked my hand through my hair before grabbing the bottle of whiskey. I’d forgone my usual beer for something stronger. And why? Because I’d seen her naked.
Her beautiful, luscious body. Shit. Shit. Shit.
When I’d poured almost a full glass, I closed my eyes while bringing the rim to my lips.
Inhaling the scent, I hoped it would drive away the sweet scent of the soap she’d used lingering in my nostrils.
While an improvement from river water, the shift in fragrance was a terrible reminder of eight years before.
Why was it that I could still remember the light jasmine scent of whatever perfume she’d used as a teenager?
I’d never forget the sinful visions the fresh fragrance produced.
Filthy, not just shameful. I’d known better then and I did now but when you added on the factor of seeing her voluptuous body?
I was already fucked up from her being inside my house.
She needed to get the hell out. Now.
Only that wasn’t possible.
I was stuck with her for at least twenty-four hours.
The weather radio had mentioned the rain should stop any time.
That was only the beginning of being able to clear and repair the road.
Sure, I could go up and over the mountain to the other side, but that would take a couple of days. Might as well wait it out.
With her in my house.
I took a hearty swig, holding the liquid in my mouth before swallowing. If I’d hoped for a burn on the back of my throat, I was sorely disappointed. I’d grabbed the good bottle, the one reserved for company.
Not that I usually had any and lately, never. I didn’t want anyone here. Not a fucking person. This was my private space and I’d allowed her to invade it.
“Kenzie.”
In finally whispering her name, the angst from the past returned. So did the guilt for wanting her. She had been deemed officially off limits on the day I’d become best friends with her brother.
That hadn’t stopped him from eventually asking me to watch out for her. He’d complained she was a wild child, refusing to follow rules and always getting herself into trouble. A half laugh surfaced. He’d been right.
She’d been the adventurous girl, finding herself in hot water more than once. If she learned the things I’d done behind the scenes, she’d really hate me.
Including threatening her prom date. He’d been a real asshole, his daddy richer than anyone else in town. When I’d found him in his car making out with another chick prior to the prom, I’d gone ballistic, giving him two choices.
Learn to live without one leg or break off the prom date with Kenzie.
Yep. That had been me. Balls to the wall. She’d stick a knife in my heart if she knew.
At this point, I had no intention of confessing my sins.
On top of protecting her like I had my own little sister, I’d honored our friendship, remaining loyal.
Until one damn summer afternoon when I’d almost tossed the bond aside.
She’d cajoled, pushed, and otherwise taunted me.
With her body. With her soft lips. With her rounded hips.
With her laugh. With the way her long dark eyelashes had skimmed across her rosy cheeks.
And the way her copper hair had captured luminous rays of sunshine creating a halo around her beautiful face.
Well, fuck me. My cock was aching the same way I’d experienced then. Nothing had changed. She was still my former best friend’s little sister. She was still off limits, forbidden fruit.
Partially because it was obvious she hated me for how I’d acted after the kiss. I couldn’t blame her. She’d always been too good for me. I’d need to keep it that way. Fewer headaches. Besides, I doubted she’d return to Missoula. Why was I putting myself through torment?
Maybe because I liked pain.
And I’d seen her naked.
My dick twitched again in response.
Sure, I’d had a direct, solid reason including worrying about hypothermia. I’d needed to get the wet clothes off. I’d wrapped her in a robe, the gentlemanly thing to do. Right? At least that’s what I continued to tell myself.
Then why was it so difficult to think about her without becoming angry?
The best thing to do was to try to figure out if there was a way of getting her off the mountain.
When I grabbed my phone, I laughed once again.
No reception. The storm had obviously knocked out the internet.
Maybe the walkie-talkies would work, but I was safe and sound, nothing about the situation an emergency.
Unless she drove me crazy.
Since I’d been scheduled off, no one needed me.
Well, fuck. What choice did I have? I’d need to make the best of the horrid situation.
My body bristled, every muscle suddenly tensing.
Because I sensed her presence. However, I refused to turn around.
Did I honestly think she was just going to hide in another part of my house?
My mountain cabin wasn’t that large to begin with.
Plus, I had to feed her. Another gentlemanly thing to do.
Since when had I ever considered myself a gentleman?
“I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me here.” Her voice was rich with the same fury as before.
“There’s little we can do about it.”
After a few seconds and with a heavy sigh, I turned around. Acting childish wasn’t going to help the situation.
Her glare was harsh, eyes capable of leveling me to the ground from the flame throwers in them. Her personality was intact, exactly as I remembered. “There has to be a way.”
“Trust me, there isn’t. Like I said, we could slide down the mountain.” As before, her defiance yanked at the bad boy side of me. I’d adored egging her on before. Apparently, it was a trait I hadn’t lost.
Kenzie looked away. “Fine.”
“Fine.” When I mimicked her, she threw me another look. Back to the way we used to communicate.
She grumbled under her breath, yanking hair from her face with enough force I was surprised she hadn’t ripped out a handful yet.
“So you’re a smokejumper.” Her voice was stronger, with the same lilt I remembered yet no longer girlish. There was also a slight barb to the tone.
“Are you making fun of my career choice? I mean not all of us want to work out of some fancy office.”
“I assure you my office wasn’t fancy. Just… I wasn’t making fun of you being a smokejumper. It’s just a dangerous profession. That’s all.” Her attitude was as locked and loaded as mine. We were going nowhere fast.
The stare she offered was harsh. Then again, so was mine.
“Maybe we could cut the sarcasm down a couple notches,” I suggested.
“We could try.” The anger slowly faded and she shifted her heated gaze away sheepishly. That allowed me to take and enjoy a longer look. “Being a smokejumper is admirable.”
She was all woman now. Every curve perfectly rounded. Her long legs meant for stalking a runway or being wrapped around a man’s torso. And her breasts were perfectly suited for my hands.
What the hell was I doing, envisioning her riding me as I used to do with an angry bull? Fuck, an ache had developed behind my eyes.
“Yeah, it is. To answer your question. I had to find a career after being tossed around like a ragdoll by a bull. I bet that made your father very happy. Any other questions you need to grill me about?” There it was again, the anger reserved more for her father, including with him convincing the city council wildfire planning wasn’t necessary.
Apparently neither was additional funding for the local fire department team, who were stretched thin. But that wasn’t her fault.
Goddamn it, what was I doing? Maybe the captain was right. I was enraged by the entire world around me.