Page 21 of Liberated By the Logger

“No,” Brose says with a sulk, regret heavy in his tone. “But I wish I had. Fucker has it coming. You can credit the diseased tree—it was a down limb. Fell right on his noggin.”

“Damn,” I mutter bitterly. “I hope it hurt.”

Suppressing a laugh, Brose continues. “He’s fine. I had a few of my men take him to the hospital. Had the rest go home because of the storm.”

Ambrose looks at me, his eyes softening. “And then I went looking for you.”

“You came searching for me in a lightning storm, not knowing if I was there, and put yourself at risk for a stranger?”

His eyes lazily trail over my face. “Worth it.”

A stranger values my life more than my boyfriend—ex boyfriend. Unbelievable!

I already had a low opinion of Gary for chaining me to a tree without my consent. But not mentioning me to Brose or his crew while a storm was rolling in is too much.

Hot tears spring to my eyes. “In all that time Gary argued with you, he never mentioned me once? That…that…UGH! What a dickhead!”

“Forget him, darlin’. He’s not worth your tears,” Brose says in a soothing tone. He catches a tear running down my cheek with his thumb, bringing it to his mouth.

I’m too stunned to speak as I watch his movements.

He didn’t do that, did he? Why would he do that?

If we were lovers, maybe I could see it. But I’m nothing to this man other than some woman he rescued from the storm. It’s too sensual for strangers, and unexpected.

Brose sucks his thumb into his mouth, closing his eyes and humming a sound of content low in his throat.

Fuck, that’s hot.

It takes all of my self control to not moan out loud. The thought of this man getting off on the taste of me has me squeezing my thighs tighter together, afraid I’d spread them open in front of him and beg him to eat his fill.

He pulls his thumb from his mouth with a wet pop, smirking at me like he knows exactly what he doing to me. “Delicious.”

Holy smokes. Is it hot in here or is it me?

“You should eat, Aspen.”

“Eat?” Eat what? Him? I mean, I’m not saying no if he’s on the menu.

Brose turns in his seat, picking up his spoon, and diving into his bowl of chili.

The way he has my emotions jumping all over is equivalent to whiplash. One moment I think he’s hitting on me and the next he’s acting completely aloof.

Discombobulated, I turn toward my bowl, shaking my head to clear it. But there’s no shaking the visceral feelings this mountain man is stirring inside of me.

CHAPTER EIGHT

ASPEN

As soon as the food hits my tongue, I lose all control. The chili is to die for, and the fresh sourdough is the perfect side to this hearty meal.

I must be eating like a pig with how fast I finished my bowl. I’m licking my spoon clean when I noticed Brose intently watching me, his mouth slack. He looks…is he turned on?

No, can’t be. Appalled would make more sense, considering I engulfed my meal in minutes.

Self conscious, I bite my lip. “Sorry for my table manners. It was too good to eat slowly.”

He swallows loudly. “Do you want more?”