6. Ronan #3
But the mate bond hummed between them like a live wire, and he caught the shift in Sloane's scent that indicated she was fighting the same attraction. Her arousal mingled with his own in the confined space, creating an atmosphere so charged it was almost tangible.
Sloane seemed to recognize the danger as clearly as he did. "Let me handle this," she said quickly, reaching for his toolbox with movements that spoke of deliberate distraction.
I love a woman who takes charge. The thought sent approval surging through him, his wolf growling with satisfaction at their mate's competence and confidence.
She knelt beside the vanity and opened the cabinet doors beneath the sink, revealing the maze of pipes and connections that controlled the water flow. The position put her at his feet with her long brown hair falling forward as she examined the plumbing with practiced eyes.
"Can you hand me the adjustable wrench?" she asked, her voice slightly muffled as she crawled further under the sink and positioned herself on her back.
Ronan crouched down beside the toolbox, locating the requested tool among the organized collection.
But as he leaned forward to pass it to her, the confined space forced him to nearly straddle her position.
The heat of her body radiated against his chest, and her scent filled his lungs.
His arousal pressed insistently against his jeans, demanding acknowledgment he couldn't afford to give.
The urge to stay exactly where he was, to let his hands settle on her hips, nearly overwhelmed his control.
Mine.
He placed the wrench in her outstretched hand and immediately straightened, stepping back until his shoulders hit the bathroom wall. The distance felt both necessary and insufficient—necessary to maintain his sanity, insufficient to calm his racing pulse.
Minutes passed with the sound of metal on metal as Sloane worked beneath the sink, her movements efficient and sure.
Ronan forced himself to focus on the small window above the toilet, on the mountain view beyond, on anything except the way her jeans pulled taut across her curves as she maneuvered in the tight space.
"Can you check if it's still dripping?" she called out.
Ronan moved to the sink and turned the handle, watching carefully for any signs of leakage. "Looks perfect. You fixed it."
Sloane began climbing out of the cabinet space, and instinctively Ronan stepped forward to help her stand. Their hands connected as he pulled her upright, and suddenly they were inches apart, her face tilted up toward his and her lips slightly parted.
The mate bond sang between them, electric and undeniable. Her hazel eyes darkened with the same hunger that clawed at his restraint, and he found himself leaning down as she rose up on her toes, drawn together by forces neither of them could resist.
Just one kiss, his wolf pleaded. Just one taste of our mate.
Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open with cheerful enthusiasm.
"Oh!" Judy's voice carried delighted surprise. "I'm so sorry, we didn't realize anyone was—Ronan! How wonderful to see you."
Ronan jerked backward so quickly he nearly lost his balance, putting several feet of distance between himself and Sloane in the span of a heartbeat.
Professional composure slammed into place like armor, even as his wolf snarled in frustrated protest at the interruption.
Sloane moved with equal speed, gathering the scattered tools and closing the toolbox with movements that appeared casual despite the tension radiating from her shoulders.
"Your sink is all fixed," Ronan managed.
Todd appeared behind his wife, his face lighting with recognition. "Ronan! You're such a hands-on manager. We always tell people that's what makes Hale Lodge special."
Judy clasped her hands together, practically glowing with enthusiasm. "Oh yes, we've been coming here for ten years now. This was actually our honeymoon destination, wasn't it, dear?"
"Best decision we ever made," Todd agreed, wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulders. "That first visit was magical. We knew we'd found our special place."
Sloane watched the exchange with something unreadable flickering in her expression—not quite longing, but something close to it.
"I need to go wash up," she said suddenly, her voice carrying a note of urgency.
Before Ronan could respond, she was moving past him, her exit swift and decisive.
"Is everything alright?" Judy asked with genuine concern.
"Yes," Ronan replied automatically, even as his mind raced to understand what had triggered Sloane's abrupt departure. "Just let us know if you need anything else."
He stepped into the hallway, but Sloane was nowhere to be seen, having vanished as completely as if she'd never been there at all.
The corridor stretched empty in both directions, offering no clues about which way she'd gone or what had caused her sudden retreat.
Something about witnessing Judy and Todd's obvious happiness had affected her, but he couldn't piece together exactly what.
I need to find out exactly what brought her here, he thought grimly.