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Gunner seems to wrestle with himself before finally asking, “What made you want to move here in the first place?”
I open my mouth to respond, but I can’t think of what to say. My mind flashes to my parents, but the words won’t come, and Gunner shakes his head.
“Sorry,” he says, frowning. “I used to hate people asking me that question. It’s none of my business.” He looks suddenly serious. “You should be careful though, living out here all by yourself, walking in the forest…it can be dangerous.”
Am I imagining it, or does he look worried about me?
“You’re right,” I tell him, my heart fluttering slightly at the intensity of his gaze. “Next time I walk in the woods, I’ll be more careful…make sure I’ve got all the right equipment in case I get lost and stuff. I was dumb to just go striding off like that.”
Gunner waves off my words. “You weren’t dumb. It’s just something you have to get used to. The forests around here are wild, they’re not always safe.”
I nod. “Thanks for the warning.”
Gunner looks at me for a moment longer before taking a step toward the door. “I’ll stop lecturing you now and leave you in peace.”
I chuckle. “I don’t mind being lectured. Anything to stop me ending up ass-first in a creek again.”
Gunner’s green eyes twinkle at me. He looks unbearably handsome: broad and strong and sexy as heck with that intense gaze bearing into me, making my whole body tingle. As he reaches out to open the door, I feel my chest squeeze uncomfortably. I don’t want him to go. Something about this handsome mountain man is intoxicating—he feels so safe, like he could protect me from anything. I want to be near him, but I can’t think of any excuse to make him stay. I can’t even offer himdinner since I haven’t been grocery shopping yet—all I’ve got is the cookies left by the owner and the leftover candy I bought for the drive here.
“See you later, Scarlett,” Gunner says, my name sounding more like a sexy growl in his voice.
“Bye, Gunner,” I say reluctantly. “Thank you for everything.”
We stare at each other for a moment, eyes locked, the air between us sizzling with tension that seems to fill the tiny cabin, stealing my breath away. But all too soon, the moment is gone, and Gunner turns away from me, letting himself out of the front door. I spring up from the couch, ignoring the twinge in my foot as I peer out of the window, watching Gunner’s broad, retreating figure as he vanishes into the forest once more. When he’s gone, I feel oddly sad and empty. I pace around the cabin, restless, before I finally grab my car keys and head back outside, ready to head for the grocery store to grab something for dinner.
And maybe a pint of cookie dough ice cream to make me feel better,I think to myself as I begin the drive down the mountain, my eyes peeled for any sign of the burly mountain man who’s already taking over my thoughts.
4
Gunner
I roll onto my side with a grunt of frustration, but no matter how hard I try, sleep just won’t come. After I carried Scarlett back to her cabin, I came straight home and spent the evening feeling restless, unable to focus. In the end, I said fuck it and decided to go to bed early. That was three hours ago. Now it’s after midnight, and still, all I can think about is Scarlett all alone in her cabin. My heart is pounding as I think about her gorgeous curves, her sweet voice, her pretty face…fuck, it’s driving me crazy. But there’s also fear gnawing at my chest. It’s one thing for a big giant of a guy like me to live alone out here, but Scarlett is a young woman, barely into her twenties, and I can’t stop thinking about all the things that could go wrong.
What if she has an accident and can’t call for help?
What if someone breaks into her cabin?
What if a crazy murderer shows up?
My thoughts are spiraling, getting gradually more and more paranoid, the scenarios more dramatic and dangerous. I jump out of bed, running a hand through my hair as I kick my nightstand in frustration. I can’t relax. Not when I know Scarlett is sleeping all alone out here in the middle of nowhere. I know I’m being illogical, hell, I’m being downright nuts. But I need to check on her. I need to know that she’s safe. From the sounds ofit, I’m the only person she knows out here, and I have to be the one to look out for her.
“Fuck,” I mutter to myself as I start pulling on some clothes. “I’m definitely losing my mind.”
Once I’m dressed, I grab a flashlight and head out into the woods. Scarlett’s cabin is a twenty-minute walk away, but my strides are long and I’m hurrying, so I make it there in fifteen. When her cabin is in sight, I turn off my flashlight, letting the moonlight guide me through the trees until I’m standing in her front yard. My heart races as I look at the cabin, adrenaline rushing through me.
She’s in there right now.
She’s so close.
I circle the cabin, looking for any sign of danger, my ears pricked for intruders. But there’s nothing. As I come back around to the front, I notice there’s a faint blue light coming from the living room window, and I hardly dare to breathe as I crouch down, peering into the room.
Scarlett is sitting on the couch, a tub of cookie dough ice cream in her hands as she watches a show that I vaguely recognize as Law & Order. My mouth goes dry as I stare at her. This is so wrong. So fucked up. But I can’t tear myself away from the gorgeous angel on the other side of the window. She looks so fucking beautiful in her sweats with her hair tied back in a messy bun, and I watch as her mouth falls open at something she just saw on TV.
Fuck she’s so adorable.
I’m so transfixed, that I barely notice the time pass. It could be a few minutes or a few hours since I started watching Scarlett, but eventually, she turns off the TV and gets up off the couch, heading into the bedroom and out of sight. It’s like a spell has been broken. I take a stumbling step backward, rubbing my hands over my face.
Shit, what the hell am I thinking?
