Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Flynn
“Where are we going exactly?” Devin asks, her tone understandably skeptical. Now that it’s an hour past sunset, it’s pitch black in the park. With the sky overcast, the only light shines a quarter mile ahead, casting a dim glow over a one-bedroom cabin.
“My grandparents have a cabin.”
“On state park land?”
“Actually, there’s a small five-acre section inside the park that doesn’t belong to the state. My family has had a claim to it for almost a hundred and fifty years. They’re grandfathered in.”
“Your grandparents won’t mind us barging in this late?”
“They’re in Bozeman for the weekend.”
“So, it’s empty?”
Before I can answer her question, I notice the truck acting up. I press harder on the gas pedal, but instead of accelerating, the engine sputters and dies a good two hundred yards from the cabin.
Shit.
“What happened?”
“Ran out of gas.” I suck in a breath to hold in my frustration.
I intended to gas up right after Tabby left with her mom.
But with Devin filling the cab of my truck with her intoxicating lavender scent and witty humor when I pulled out of the lodge’s parking lot, I completely forgot my tank was nearly empty before we headed back into the park.
“What does that mean?”
“That means we’re camping out in the cabin tonight.”
“Did you do this on purpose?” she asks, her tone hinting at tease. “Because I’m pretty sure I was the one who hit on you. It’s not like you’d have to try that hard to seduce me.”
“No, I did not plan this,” I snap, my tone grumpier than I intend on account of me being pissed at myself.
Nothing about this day has gone according to plan.
If it had, Devin would’ve shown up this morning with three or four other tourists.
Tabby would’ve stayed in her spot in the front seat instead of offering it up to the most distracting woman possible.
Devin wouldn’t have left her damn phone on a private park road that only I could bring her back to right at sunset.
Bella wouldn’t have tried to attack her, making my feelings about Devin Rollins crystal clear: I want her.
And not just for the length of her too-short vacation.
I want her to be a part of my future.
“Oh no, are you an under-cover park ranger who’s really an axe murderer?”
It takes a few seconds for me to process the ridiculous question, and when I finally do, a burst of laughter explodes from my throat.
I can’t decide if she’s partially serious or being over-the-top ridiculous to break up the tension.
Either way, it’s effective in calming me the fuck down so I can think rationally again.
“You should do that more often,” she says, flashing me a smile that wakes my cock right up.
“What?”
“Laugh. It makes that whole rugged look you have going on even sexier. Oh wait. You don’t want to be objectified by women. So maybe don’t laugh, like ever.”
“Is that so bad?” I ask, pulling my keys from the ignition.
“What?”
“Wanting something real with a woman instead of something meaningless?”
“I thought that’s what all men wanted.”
Leaning in, I lock my gaze with her as the cab light fades. There’s no center console to separate us, and now that seatbelts are undone, there’s no barrier to keep either one of us from sliding closer.
“Those aren’t men, baby. Those are boys.”
“And you’re a man?”
“I’m a man who knows exactly what he wants.”
I don’t know who moves first.
Only that we meet in the middle, lips first.
I fist my hand in her hair as I devour the mouth I’ve wanted to taste since this morning.
She latches onto my shirt, her tight grip threatening to rip buttons.
But I don’t fucking care. I demand entry beyond her lips so our tongues can join in the frenzy.
It’s a reckless, passionate kiss that promises to be more trouble than it’s worth, but I can’t seem to help myself. I fucking disappear into it.
When I move my mouth to her cheek, I taste earth.
“Oh,” she says, letting out a nervous giggle as I pull back. “There was that whole face-planting in the mud incident earlier…”
“After I get that ankle wrapped, I know just what you need.” I tuck her slightly mud-crusted hair behind her ear.
“What’s that?”
“A nice hot bath.”
“There’s running water in that cabin?”
“There’s even electricity.”
“Color me intrigued.”
She bites down on her bottom lip, her gaze firmly locked on my mouth. Tempting me to capture those lips again. But the headlights flicker off, warning me we better head to the cabin before the wildlife gets too comfortable and comes closer. I’m not in the mood to fight off a pack of wolves tonight.
Devin tries to limp her way to the front of the truck, but I block her path before she gets too far. “I’m carrying you.”
“My ankle’s not broken.”
“So let’s keep it that way,” I insist. “I know this path better than you do.”
She glances around me, no doubt noting the dimly lit driveway full of ruts. “Fine. But for the record, I’m not some damsel in distress. I could get to the cabin on my own if I had to.”
“By what?” I scoop her into my arms, delighting in her intoxicating lavender scent as she slings an arm around the back of my neck. “Combat crawling?”
“You think I can’t?”
“I think you could do anything you set your mind to, baby.”
“You don’t really know me.”
She’s right. We met hardly more than twelve hours ago. She’s been pretty tight-lipped about her life. Anytime I’ve gotten close to learning something real about her, she finds a way to deflect or change the subject.
But after Bella nearly trampled her, I’m done pretending like this isn’t something.
I’m drawn to her, like a moth to a flame.
And if I had any doubts about her being drawn to me, that kiss erased them all.
She’s the one I’ve been waiting for.
And even if it means playing a little dirty, I’m determined to make her see that this spark between us isn’t just some short-term chemistry that’ll fizzle out when her vacation is over. It’s a spark potent enough to create a strong, blazing fire—for the rest of our lives.