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When I swim back to the bank, I wring out my hair, telling myself I am strong enough to handle this. Sure, my job as a magazine editor didn’t prepare me for life in the wild, but Dad took me on camping trips when I was little. I can do this. I know crying every ten seconds is only going to upset Rock, and while I think he should be a little more sensitive, I need him to protect me. And that’s not going to happen if I drive him crazy.
I pull on his graphic tee, and it lands midthigh. It’s better than the wetsuit, and I look down at the line of trees across the front of it, the words Chestnut Grove in cursive underneath.
When I turn toward the firepit, my eyes widen. “There’s so much blood!” I cover my mouth, shocked.
“It’s okay, I’m just cleaning it up. We’ll have steaks soon.”
When he said soon, he meant hours. At first I am mesmerized by his focus and skill, sharpening his knife and getting down to work. But eventually I fall asleep curled up under the A-frame. The day’s events took the wind out of me.
I wake with a start to the smell of roasting meat.
When I open my eyes, it’s dark. As I crawl out of the A-frame out, I see the blood has been washed away and on a wooden stick rack there hangs the gorgeous pelt from the tiger that nearly took my life.
The carcass is gone. “Where did it go?”
“I took it into the jungle, didn’t want to draw animals to the camp.”
“You left me here? Alone?”
“I wasn’t far away and nothing comes close this time of day, I promise.”
I wrap my arms around myself. With the sun set, it’s chilly deep in the jungle. I want a blanket, but it seems rude to ask. This isn’t my home, my things.
“Are you crying again, woman?”
“No, I’m just… cold.”
He grunts. “You watch the fire, I’ll get a pelt.”
He returns a moment later, draping the heavy animal hide on my shoulders.
“What was this?” I ask, sitting on a log next to the fire where tiger steaks are cooking over a large, smooth grey stone, running my hand over the fur.
“A bear.”
“A bear in Mexico?”
“Right? Fucking crazy out here.”
“That’s why you shouldn’t have left me,” I say as he cuts off a hunk of meat from his grill. He skewers it with a wooden fork, setting it on a large green leaf before handing it to me.
“That mean you wanted me to lie down next to you while you took a nap? Because darling, I would have.”
I take a bite of the juicy meat, his words hitting home. I’d be lying if the idea didn’t tempt me at least a little. Maybe a lot. I don’t want to be out here by myself. I would much rather his big arms wrap around me, keeping me safe… and warm.
The wood smoke seems to be heightening my senses, the insects buzzing around us and the soft whispers of the trees swaying making what should be a miserable night a mesmerizing one. The reality of the situation sets in the longer I look at Rock, realizing without him, I’d be in so much trouble right now.
“You’re smiling, this feels like cause for celebration,” Rock says. “What made you happy? The meat?”
“Maybe. Honestly, it’s not bad. But I was thinking this place is pretty surreal. Pretty magical, all things considered.”
“I’d say it’s pretty magical all right.” His eyes are on mine.
I shake my head. “Are you coming on to me again?”
“It’s all I want to do.”
I roll my eyes, eating the meat. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Hs eyes stay locked on mine. “Oh, Rosalie, I’m starved.”
4
Rock
I want to kiss her here and now, but an owl hoots, breaking our gaze, and hell, it’s probably too much to hope for anyways. A woman like her wanting a beast like me.
“Where is Chestnut Grove?” she asks.
“What?” I shake my head, trying to focus, but I can’t tear my eyes away from her pink pouty lips.
“The shirt, Chestnut Grove?” she points to the words on the tee shirt of mine.
“Ah, yeah, haven’t thought of that place in a long time. It was where I built a cabin, was going to settle down there after my mission.”
“You don’t seem like the settling down type.”
“First impressions can be misleading.”
“Fair enough. So tell me about yourself.”
“I was raised by my grandma. Went into the military at eighteen. Spent a decade busting my ass on assignment. Was ready to move on after this mission. Was ready to get married, make my grandma proud. Have a half dozen kids and live in the woods.”
Rosalie shakes her head. “Wow, you had a whole plan and everything. Did you have a woman picked out too?”
I laugh, eating another bite of tiger. “Nah, hadn’t met you yet.”
