Chapter 2
Chapter two
Dolly
The scent of Silas washes over me. Clean, woodsy, mixed with the citrus from his shampoo.
It's one of my favorite things about him, and it used to pain me to wash it out of his hair each month.
I stalked the shelves at the market, assuming he would most likely buy his shampoo in town, pulling the caps off every brand until I found it.
I started keeping a bottle in my shop for his monthly visit.
Yeah, it's crazy pants, but I'm head over heels for this man.
Silas left his flannel behind one day, and I sniffed it like a psychopath for months until I couldn't smell him anymore.
I've wanted Silas Jansen since the moment I laid eyes on him.
His strong back, chiseled jaw, and those muscles that look like they could lift my curvy ass up against a wall any day.
But more than that, his gentle spirit pulls me in like a love magnet.
I'm not exactly what you'd call a wilting flower.
I'm a big personality, so I need balance.
And finally—finally!—this man has made his move, and now he's going back up the mountain without me?
Hell no.
"Hi."
My eyes widen in disbelief. "Hi? Hi? That's all you have to say to me?" I huff out a sharp breath, begging the angels for patience.
If I wasn't so in love with this man, I might have to get Whitney and Nora to help me bury his body.
"You just bid on all three dates, claiming me in front of the entire town, and now all you can say to me is hi?
" I glare at him, wishing he didn't look so damn handsome. It would be easier to stay mad.
"Hello."
Silas's deep voice lands right between my legs, but my mouth drops open.
"Are you mocking me? Who the hell do you think you are?
" I finally spit out, and he shakes his head quickly.
I narrow my eyes at him when he still doesn't say a word.
This is our dynamic. I babble on, sharing my entire life story, and he sits quietly, revealing diddly-squat about himself.
I've told the entire town my intentions, and they all say the same thing: good luck.
Silas has been in my chair over a dozen times, and I know this attraction cannot all be one-sided, but I'd half convinced myself it was. And then he bids on me, getting my hopes up, only to dash them again?
No, sir.
My favorite auntie always said sometimes you need to call a stubborn mule's bluff. "Fine. Maybe I'll go back in there and put myself up for three more dates then."
I reach for the door handle, but the growl from behind me stops me in my tracks and my heart soars.
"The hell you will!"
There's the man I'm in love with. I can't help but grin. "So, you do want me?"
"Of course I want you. I just bought three dates with you," he huffs out in exasperation.
"Alright then." I bite my lip, trying not to grin like a giddy schoolgirl getting picked first on the playground. "Take me home, Silas."
He nods, his eyes flitting over my body before he turns forward and puts his key in the ignition. "Where do you live?"
Silas glances at me when I don't respond. My gaze bounces to his mouth, and then back to his eyes.
"Take me to your home, Silas."
He opens his mouth like he wants to say something, but I turn forward, not giving him any other option.
After a long moment, the gorgeous lumberjack of my dreams pulls out onto Main Street and turns around, heading toward the road to take us up the mountain.
Excitement takes off like a bird in my chest.
As we pass by the front of The Wet Whistle, I grin when I see Flint carrying Whitney over his shoulder down the sidewalk. Hale and Dean are hot on his heels.
"Should we help her?" Silas asks, and I turn to him.
"Are you kidding me? That little situation has been a long time coming." And so has this, baby, I add silently, unwilling to scare him away by saying that thought out loud.
Silas locks eyes with me, a little flash of desire heating them like he can read my mind. He swallows hard and then turns to face forward again.
I war with myself, wanting to give him the silence he needs, but also desperate to know more about him. My nosy side wins.
"Tell me about yourself." I angle my body toward him, taking him all in.
He's wearing jeans and a nice button-down under his thick coat.
Not a flannel, which I would have said was a negative, but he cleans up nicely.
I'm pretty sure I would like him in anything.
I let my eyes roam over his manly face, a rush of desire soaking my panties when his tongue darts out to lick his bottom lip.
He's a cautious driver, keeping his eyes on the road, so I take my time studying him.
"What do you want to know?" he finally asks, and I clap my hands excitedly.
Everything.
"Did you grow up here?"
"Yes."
I nod, but realize he is not planning to continue, so I try again. "Do you still have family here?"
"No." He shakes his head and takes a left to head up the mountain. I know his place is quite a way up this road, and my core throbs with anticipation of what I hope is going to happen when we get there.
I try to keep my voice even, but my chest practically heaves with excitement. "Where are they now?" I ask, my voice breathy.
Silas clears his throat. "Here and there."
Because it's freezing outside, he has the heat cranked up. Between the warmth coming from the vents and that coming from my body just being this close to him, I'm boiling. I take off my coat, letting out a short laugh in exasperation.
"I'm going to need a little more information, Silas." I furrow my brow when he grunts softly in response. "You think I can't make you talk to me?" I tease, and he graces me with one of his rare grins, shaking his head.
"I'm not... I spend a lot of time alone," he says, glancing at me quickly. His eyes heat as they drop to my cleavage, and then he turns his gaze back to the road quickly.
I consider what he's said. My heart squeezes as I realize this big, strong man might be embarrassed by his communication skills, or lack thereof.
As if proving my point, he squirms a bit in his seat.
My gaze drops to his lap, and I suck in an excited breath when I spy the large bulge pushing against his zipper.
This man is attracted to me, and I'm going to make sure he wants more than the three dates he paid for.
I bite my lip. "How about I help you find your voice?" It comes out sultry even to my own ears, and Silas glances at me quickly before shifting in his seat again.
"I'll tell you what," I say softly. "Every time you answer a question with a full sentence, I’ll take off a piece of clothing."
Silas lets out a soft little moan, closing his eyes and then snapping them open so quickly, I think I imagined it. He doesn't respond for a long moment, and I'm worried I've freaked him out. But then he glances at me and nods once.
My heart pounds and I try not to grin, but it's a failing effort.
"You weren't living in Foxy Falls when I moved here five years ago. Where were you?" I swallow hard, praying to the universe that giving him more than yes or no questions will allow him to win the game. The heavens shine down when his deep voice wraps around me like slow-running honey.
"I was on base in Antarctica." He grips the steering wheel tightly, and I bite my lip at the number of words he managed to get out. Silas looks over at me, and I realize he's waiting for me to fulfill my part of the bargain.
I grin, slipping my boots off one at a time. "Military?"
He shakes his head, but the rules require a full sentence.
"Keep going," I whisper encouragingly, and his gaze drops to my fingers playing with the first button on my top. He faces forward, but even in the dark, I can tell his knuckles are white. And one more glance at his pants tells me he's as excited by this game as I am.
"I - I worked as a carpenter's apprentice for my first contract there."
My fingers fly down my buttons as he talks. I should have made him this deal months ago. My core drips with the thought of straddling him in my chair at the salon and letting him have his way with me.
"Just a summer contract the first time, which is winter here. I traveled around New Zealand and Australia for a bit before signing a second contract." He licks his lips but keeps his eyes on the road as I slip out of my blouse. That was two whole sentences.
I tug my skirt down over my hips, letting out a soft squeal when my bare thighs touch the leather seat, cool, despite the heat in the cab.
I bite my lip, suddenly excited as the only thing between me being fully naked is my bra and my soaked panties.
I'm a curvy girl, thick thighs, round hips and ass, and a soft stomach, but I own it all.
If Silas bid on me tonight, blocking anyone else from having a date with me, then I know he likes what he sees, and I refuse to second-guess that for a minute.
I picked a blue and black lace lingerie set for tonight, and I intend to make him drool.
Silas still doesn't look at me, although his breathing is shallow. I pick up my shirt and release my seatbelt, so I can scoot closer to him.
"Fasten your belt, Dolly."
Yes, sir, is what I want to say in response to Silas's gruff demand, especially when my nipples tighten from his commanding tone, but I'm already sliding across the bench seat of his truck on a mission.
"Having a hard time keeping your eyes on the road, Silas?" I say with a breathy laugh, and the corner of his mouth quirks up despite his stern expression. Draping the fabric of my shirt over his shoulder, I lean close and whisper in his ear, "Go on."
Silas shivers and swallows hard. "I worked as a Maintenance Tech for the second contract and did thirteen months.
I met good people there, and the pay let me travel in between contracts, but by my second full year, I was ready to be done.
I applied for a logger position, and they offered me a chance to come back to Foxy Falls.
My first run into town for supplies, a sexy blonde offered me a haircut, and here we are. "
I laugh, loving his account of that day over a year ago when I saw him through the window. He didn't really need a haircut, but something told me I had to meet him, so I ran outside and talked him into my chair.
I lean forward to unhook my bra to reward him for all the information he's giving me, but Silas grabs my hand, stopping me in my tracks.
His rough, calloused fingers touch mine, and it's like an electric current jolts through my body with exquisite torture.
I look up at him, hoping desperately that he hasn't changed his mind.
"Wait," he says, checking the rearview mirror before he pulls over into a little turnabout a few yards ahead. He pulls the emergency brake under the dash and unhooks his seat belt, pulling me onto his lap so fast I let out a little squeal of delight.
He maneuvers his seat back and wraps his arms around my hips. I grind my core against his hard bulge, and he lets out a little moan of pleasure. I'm breathing hard when I lean back, staring into his chocolate-brown eyes. I've never been this close to him, and my body is begging for more.
"Hi," I whisper, brushing his hair off his forehead.
"Hi," he whispers back before his lips capture mine, and the damn fireworks make it hard to focus on anything but the beating of my own heart.
I'm in the middle of the woods in the dark with my legs wrapped around the man of my dreams, and I can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else. He pulls back, his eyes searching mine, and I whisper the three words I've wanted to tell him since the day we met.
"I'm yours, Silas."