Page 4 of The Gruff Loner’s Bargain

She opens her mouth to speak, then closes it.

I walk towards the house, ignoring the havoc she’s wreaking on my body. Having her this close, all her soft curves against my chest, the scent of her fancy-smelling shampoo infiltrates my senses. I inhale, doing my best not to be so obvious about it that she knows I’m breathing her in.

“I don’t like you,” she says.

“Awww, darlin, you wound me. What’s your name, anyways? Might as well introduce ourselves since I’m gonna have to follow you around and keep you from injuring yourself.”

“Oymygod, you’re so annoying.”

I chuckle. “That’s what my brother always says.”

“Smart man.”

“I’m Landry, and you are…”

She stares up at me.

“See, this is the part when you introduce yourself.”

I can see her brain working, trying to give her either a biting come-back or an excuse. But then she resigns herself to the fact that we’re about to step into her sister’s house with her in my arms. She sighs. “Brooklyn, but everyone calls me Brook.”

“Because you prefer Brook?”

She shrugs.

“You know Natalie never told us her sister was so cranky.”

“I’m not cranky. You just annoy me.”

“Is it the constant coming to your rescue that is on your nerves? Or just how damn sexy I am?”

I kick at the cabin’s front door until someone comes and opens it. It’s Linc. His eyes drop from my face to the woman in my arms.

“This belong to you?” I ask, breaching the doorway. “Found her outside. She was rolling around in your yard.”

“I was not,” she hisses.

“What happened?” Linc asks.

“I just tripped,” Brook says. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Can you grab an ice pack?” I ask my buddy, then I carry her straight to the large sectional sofa that eats up most of the living room.

I set her down, then get a pillow and prop up her ankle. I feel around on it looking for swelling, but don’t find any. It’s definitely tender to the touch though, judging from the way she sucks in a breath.

“I think you might have just twisted it. Probably need to keep it elevated, iced and stay off to it for at least a day.”

“What are you a doctor now?” she asks.

“Nah, darlin, I’m just copping a feel.” Then I stand to my full height and walk away.

I grin as she sputters behind me, mad as a wet cat.

I am so screwed.

chapter

three