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He snarled at the thought of his brother not believing he didn’t embezzle from his casino. Bradford had no need to. He had his own money.
“Damn it.”
A snuffling to the back of his neck had him lunging forward and wincing in pain. The large dog stood there, watching him. His eyes blended in with his coat but they were aware and wise.
“Is this where you rip my throat out for thinking about your owner and what I’d like to do to her?”
Two steps brought the canine nearer.
“I don’t want to kill her,” he said, not moving as the dog maneuvered around him so they were face to face. “Fuck her? Hell yes. Have you seen that body? All those curves, tits that would overflow my hands and, Christ, her lips? What I wouldn’t give to see them stretched over my cock or parted as she screams my name.”
A solemn blink before the dog walked back to the door, stretched up and used his muzzle to move the handle down and let himself out.
“This isn’t going to be easy.”
Chapter Three
Iris sucked her finger into her mouth as she tried not to scream in pain. That man she’d rescued, currently by the warm fire, had distracted her thoughts as she was putting up wood to try to keep out more snow. So she’d nailed her finger.
“Serves me right, I should be focused on the task ahead of me. Not distracted.”
She shook her hand and tugged her glove back on, immediately grateful for the warmth’s return, which increased when her mitten went on as well. Spinning the hammer, she’d turned to grab the next sheet of plywood when a scream eeked out of her. Without thought, she chucked the hammer toward the man standing in the room.
“Holy shit, woman!”
He dodged out of the way and it thudded to the ground.
“You scared me.” She slapped a hand on her leg as she slowed her breathing.
Bradford picked up the hammer and strode toward her. “Who the fuck did you think I was?”
His face was a mask of danger and irritation. Perhaps a bit of anger. The chiseled lines obvious even with the facial hair.
“I didn’t. Last I knew you were in the other room.”
“And you thought someone else was out in this weather and they wanted to attack you?”
“I’m a single woman in a place I don’t know well. I took precautions.”
His lips quirked up and damn it, how come he looked so sexy doing that?
“How much of a precaution if I’m holding the hammer?”
She snapped her teeth at him. “What are you doing here?”
“Thought you could use some help.” Bradford gave a smooth shrug.
He moved closer, and she took her time dragging her gaze over his features. Sharp jawline, his beard getting thick. Dark brown lashes, and she swore they were tipped in red when he blinked. But it was his eyes, dove gray but not soft—no, she wouldn’t ever use that term—they were intense and saw far more than she wanted them to.
“You should be by the fire. You were in a plane accident.” She’d been distracted by thoughts of him. Having him at her side was going to be worse.
“And you shouldn’t have to do all this by yourself.” He offered the hammer. “I’m not completely helpless. I’ve put up wood before.”
Iris took it and sighed before stripping off her mittens and giving them to him. “Don’t argue, put them on. My gloves won’t fit you but you need to have some sort of protection.”
“I generally do.”
Her amused snort couldn’t be contained. He smiled in response and damn it, there went her belly. He was truly gorgeous when he smiled.
“Is that why you were on the flight?” She edged back so he could lift the plywood over the window and she quickly hammered in some nails. “To get some holiday sex?”
“No. I was running away.”
She ducked beneath his arm and nailed some in on the other side, fully aware of the large man behind her. Having always been larger than societal norms, she was often overlooked by men, but this one definitely made her feel smaller and more feminine.
Not thoughts for the moment, Iris. Focus on getting this up and moving on.
“Gonna ask from what?” His question rumbled into her ear as his breath fanned along her skin.
Was it winter? Was she seriously trying to keep out the snow and wind whipping through these Rocky Mountains? Because right now, her body was on fire. Like she was in Dante’s Inferno. Seventh circle? Hmm, perhaps the ninth. Nope, most likely the second, as that one was lust.
Yep, firmly rooted there.
“Hadn’t planned on it, no,” she lied, like she wasn’t champing at the bit to know more about this mysterious survivor. “Figured it was for pussy you were on a plane. Reckon you could be running because of it as well.”
