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“That would be great.”
He closes the door behind him, shutting us in together, and immediately my heart starts to flutter like a giant butterfly beating its wings against my ribcage. I’m alone at night with the cowboy of my dreams in a cozy mountain cabin while my brother is hours away in Denver. It’s exciting…and painfully tempting.
Jackson makes himself at home on the couch by the fire, clearly used to visiting here. He sets his hat aside but doesn’t relax against the cushions; he looks on edge, like he’s trying to hold himself back from something.
“I’ll just go and make the cocoa,” I tell him, my voice coming out like a squeak.
“I can help,” Jackson says, half-rising out of his seat.
I don’t argue. I let Jackson follow me into the kitchen where he grabs a couple of mugs and some cocoa powder. The air between us is thick with tension, and I can’t bring myself to speak. It’s a small kitchen, and we keep brushing past each other as we busy ourselves making the drinks. My whole body feels like a taut rubber band, seconds from snapping. The heat is rising between my legs, desire rushing through my veins, hot and urgent.
We’re just making cocoa, I remind myself. Nothing more.
But my logical thoughts aren’t enough to conquer the tension surging through my body as I watch this sexy cowboy move around the kitchen. He looks so damn good. Tall and broad and intensely masculine. I’ve never felt this way before. It’s like Jackson has lit a fire between my thighs, and suddenly all I can think about is how much I want him. I try to imagine how he must look under those jeans…his muscular legs, his perfect ass, his thick cock…
Oh my God, what is happening to me?
By the time we finish making the cocoa, my fantasies have left me breathless. I sit on the couch and cross my legs tight, sipping my cocoa as Jackson sits beside me.
“This is good cocoa,” he says, focusing intensely on his mug. “Thanks.”
I nod, wishing I could think of something to say. But I’m too busy trying to quell the aching between my legs.
“Sorry that I haven’t been around more lately,” Jackson continues. “To show you around and help you settle in.”
“It’s okay.” I smile at him weakly. “I think Cade was getting a little concerned though.”
“Yeah, that figures. I’ve just been really busy on the ranch lately.” Jackson frowns and sets down his cocoa with a sigh, forcing himself to look at me. “Sorry, that was bullshit.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “What?”
Jackson runs a hand over his beard as he says, “What I just said. It’s bullshit. I’m always busy on the ranch. That’s not why I haven’t been around lately. It’s just an excuse.”
My breath catches. “Oh. I…I see. So there’s a…a reason? Another reason?”
Those bright blue eyes lock onto mine.
“Yes, Maeve. There is.”
7
Jackson
I tried. I tried so fucking hard. All week I forced myself to stay away from Maeve. I took cold showers. I threw myself into my work on the ranch, even though I still thought about her all the time. I stopped myself from going to Cade’s cabin or approaching Maeve on her morning walks. Every day was harder than the last, and finally, tonight, I cracked. I grabbed one of the tools Cade lent me and decided to take it back to his cabin. It was just an excuse, any excuse to get a glimpse of Maeve. She’s like a fucking drug to me, everything from her thick curves to her glittering green eyes.
I never expected to find her all alone. A better man would have handed over Cade’s axe, turned right back around, and gone home. But I’m only human. So when that beautiful angel opened the door and asked me to stay for cocoa, I couldn’t resist. And now that we’re finally alone again, close enough to touch, I can’t keep my thoughts in any longer. I need her to know how she makes me feel.
“The reason I’ve been avoiding you,” I begin, my heart pounding, “is because I…fuck, I’m not good with words. I…I can’t stop thinking about you.” Maeve’s lips open in surprise, but I keep talking. “I know you’re a lot younger than me, and I know you’re my best friend’s sister. I know all the reasons I shouldn’t be saying this to you. But you’ve been driving me crazy since the second I laid eyes on you.”
There’s a pause as Maeve absorbs what I’m saying, her eyes wide. “I don’t understand,” she says. “If that’s how you feel about me, then why have you been avoiding me?”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I told myself you were too young for me. I wanted to do the honorable thing, and I tried. But it didn’t work. Avoiding you only made me want you more.” Maeve is breathing hard, her cheeks pinkening as she listens to me talk. I have no idea what she’s thinking, so I add, “If you want me to leave and never talk to you again, I’ll respect that. I just really needed to tell you how I feel.”
“No!” Maeve says quickly. “No, please don’t leave. Stay.”
The simple word makes hope stir in my chest, and I keep quiet, waiting for her to say more. She takes her time, almost making me groan as she nibbles nervously at her bottom lip.
This girl has no idea how damn sexy she is.
