Grayson felt something inside him relax. “So yeah, I’ve been traveling with my construction company, and now I’m between jobs so I’m helping some of the locals here,” he said, finishing his own story for her.
She gulped down the carrot, semi-tanned skin looking a little redder than before. Maybe sunburn from the day’s hike.
“I guess that makes sense. You’re nothing like the locals I’ve met here. Not that they’re not nice. You’re just something else completely.”
Grayson laughed a little at that. “So you’re saying I’m not nice? Accurate.” He swished the water in his cup in a little circle as he spoke.
“No, I mean… You know what I mean. You’re different than everyone else here. In a good way.” She folded her arms in pretend sternness, causing the cleavage beneath her flannel shirt to bulge slightly and making Grayson’s throat go dry.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that,” he admitted, feeling a little pleased by that.
There was a pause, and the air seemed to get warmer with every passing second. Then suddenly, April’s phone warbled, and she shook her head in shock before pulling it out of her pocket and looking at it.
“Ah, that’s my neighbor. They hold my mail for me when I’m out of town. It’s probably just a quick question. Mind if I get this?” she asked.
Grayson nodded, and she stood and took the phone outside before answering it as Grayson watched her through the front windows. A waiter passed, and he ordered something for dessert for both of them.
A second later, his own phone dinged, and he looked down in dismay to see Hunter’s number.
Hey, how’s it going, dog meat?
Grayson rolled his eyes. Of all the times the cougar was going to text, of course it was going to be when he was out with April.
Just picking up the slack here at Fort Wolfington for you, just in case you were worried about me. Damn, wolves suck at HVAC. And everything in general.
Grayson couldn’t deny that Hunter was right. Outside, April walked back and forth a bit, making him smile with the little circles she made.
You better be making progress over there, or I’m going to revoke your man card.
He was about to text back something angry when the front door dinged and April came back inside. So Grayson silenced his phone, knowing he’d have more to say to the annoyingly nosy cougar later.
“Sorry about that. Everything’s fine,” she exclaimed, plopping back into her booth.
“Good to know.” It was odd to think that April had a life that existed outside of her brief work here in Silver Lake. Everything seemed different ever since she’d shown up in his life, but maybe that was just because of all the drama with the wolf pack.
Just then dessert showed up, a giant brownie with several heapings of ice cream and toppings to spare.
“Oh, dessert. You didn’t have to,” she exclaimed.
“I wanted to.” He pushed the plate in her direction. When she hesitated, he picked up a fork and handed it to her insistently. Finally, she relented and grabbed a bite, moaning slightly. Grayson’s senses perked up more instantly than if he’d heard something rustling in a nearby brush, his entire body focused on her.
How did she have that effect on him?
As they polished off dessert, they chatted about tomorrow’s plans to set up video and audio recording equipment in a few spots April had selected during the day’s hike. Grayson worried slightly that she might discover some idiot wolf from the pack wandering around if they didn’t listen to their direct orders, but it was hard to focus on anything except April as she thoroughly enjoyed each sumptuous bite.
Maybe he’d have to set up some hidden cameras of his own, to keep an eye on April. Granted, reconnaissance had never really been his thing, but he could probably figure something out.
“You want the last bite?” April offered.
“No. You have it.” His interest was fairly focused on a hint of chocolate syrup at the corner of her mouth. He wanted to kiss it off, taste her everywhere more than he’d ever craved any food.
She munched it thoughtfully, Grayson trying not to stare while he grabbed the check, leaving a generous tip for their waiter who certainly needed the money more than he did right now. By the time they left, the chocolate on her lips was gone, but it didn’t change the fact that Grayson couldn’t stop focusing on her mouth as they got into the truck and headed out.
Cool evening air smelling of freshness and pine wafted over them through the open windows as he drove them back to April’s camp, the indigo sky above them heralding the last few minutes of dusk. They talked music, talked about the area, but he still couldn’t shake a growing urge within him that drew him toward April.
They finally arrived, and this time he helped April down from the truck, the uneven terrain and dead leaves at her campsite risky business for a tiny human like her.
“Thanks. And thank you for dinner.” April’s green eyes were bright jade in the LED headlamps of his truck.
“You’re welcome. I enjoyed it.” His heart was starting to pound in his chest. What was this feeling?
“I guess I’ll turn in, then. Big day tomorrow.” April rocked back on her heels then forward, hands in her pockets, her gaze wandering for a moment. He just stared, not sure how to proceed.
It wasn’t until she started to turn, heading in the direction of her tent trailer, that Grayson’s body moved of its own free will. He caught her arm with his hand, and just as she looked up at him with surprise, lips parted just slightly, he covered her mouth with his.
For a moment, the forest seemed to slow to a standstill as he kissed her, soft lips tasting of lingering chocolate and fruity chapstick. At first April stood there, shocked. Then gradually, she relaxed into it, body going slightly limp as he reached an arm around to support her from behind.
Her mouth opened for him, and he slowly thrust inside with his tongue, swiping within her, making April moan. For several delicious seconds, he explored, taking in her fresh, sweet scent as she pressed her soft body against him.
Afraid he might not be able to stop at just a kiss, Grayson finally separated from her, watching as she opened her eyes up at him, green gaze glossy and dazed.
“Sleep well.” Reluctantly, he pulled away his hand on the small of her back, stepping back a pace as she just gaped at him.
“I… uh… You, too.” She sounded the way he felt inside. Hungry for so much more but unsure what to do about it.
“Call me if you need anything,” he said, heading back to his truck. Inside, the wolf within snarled angrily at him, demanding he go back and finish the job.
But with so much on the line, he couldn’t just let his attraction run amok, even if he was wildly, inescapably drawn to her in ways he couldn’t fathom.
April mustered a weak, “I will,” as she waved back at him, still standing there like a deer in his headlights.
He’d see her again tomorrow.
Hopefully by then, his libido would calm the fuck down.
Chapter 7
April was still thinking about the kiss the next day as she got ready to head out of camp.
Why had he kissed her? One moment, they’d been enjoying dessert together, just a pair of friends. The next, tension had exploded and he’d given her the shortest but best kiss of her life.
It was all so confusing.
And not what she was supposed to be focusing on at all.
So she would try and get the kiss with Grayson out of her head and focus on what she was supposed to be doing.
Finding wolves.
But just as she was packed up and ready to head out, she heard the familiar drone of a truck engine and looked up to see Grayson’s truck headed up the road toward her campsite.
She ran a hand through her hair warily, wondering at his amazing timing. He couldn’t have been a better distraction if he was actually trying.
When he parked, he stepped out of the truck and grabbed a backpack like it was nothing, slinging it over
his shoulder.
Based on the baseball cap he was wearing and the long-sleeved flannel shirt that emphasized his muscles while providing sun protection, he obviously was planning to come with her wherever she went.
And given that he was such good company and such a good guide, she couldn’t really refuse him.
Even if her lady parts were starting to become a little more insistent about getting to know him.
She let out a sigh while he was still far away enough not to hear her, just at the sheer deliciousness of watching him walk.
He had this inner confidence that gave him almost a swagger, and his hard jaw and steely eyes made it impossible to look away from him.
Alpha male.
The thought had never really occurred to her outside of wolf lore, but it occurred to her now as she watched him confidently stride over.
When he reached her, he situated his weight and put out a hand for her backpack, clearly meaning to carry both. “We heading out?”
She stared at him, mouth open for a second before she snapped it shut. “I was, but… Don’t you have a job or something?”
“I pick my own hours. Right now I’d rather be with you.”
She frowned as he took her backpack but was a little glad she wouldn’t have to carry the extra weight. It should make it that much easier to focus on watching the forest around her, as long as she could stop herself from thinking about the sexy man walking behind her on the path.
“Fine,” she said. “Let’s head out.”
So she did, feeling awkward and heated despite the cool morning air as they traversed to the first place she wanted to set up cameras.
As she worked, Grayson hovered protectively, wanting to see everything that was going on. When a stand or piece of equipment was giving her trouble, he was weirdly good at fixing it.
Just another thing that made her lady bits oddly warm.
Capable. That was the word for him as he turned one of her crappy electronics in his hand and studied it with those astonishing silver eyes.
When the camera powered on, he handed it to her.
“Don’t you have any drones, stuff like that?” He planted his hands on his hips, looking around at her makeshift surveillance site. “Then you wouldn’t have to hike in and set up like this.”
“Ha, only established, well-funded researchers can afford stuff like that.”
He frowned, pacing around the clearing and looking at the trees around them. “I’m not sure about this. That’s all.”
The sun was coming out behind the clouds, and the morning light was becoming an afternoon burn. Where had the time gone?
April rolled up her sleeves and grabbed the remaining cameras she still wanted to place near a watering hole of some kind. “Come on. We better head out before we both burn here.”
Grayson nodded, catching up to her to take the bag away, throwing it over his shoulder with the rest of his cargo.
He wore all of it, plus whatever he’d brought in his bag, like it was nothing. There was something so attractive about a man that was… strong like that.
They followed a worn trail to a footpath that led to a small opening in the trees, at the center of which was a natural spring, probably only ten feet across.
She scented the air deeply, wishing she had the ability to smell the way wolves did. But all she smelled was warm grass, rustling pines, and wet foliage.
The spring was dark blue, sparkling, and so inviting under the summer sun.
A sudden image came to her mind, unbidden, of her and Grayson tangled together in the spring. Instantly wet, she tried to think of other things. Like how many wolves probably came down to visit the spring and how many she’d catch on the cameras she’d mount on the trees surrounding it.
She gestured for Grayson to come join her, and he seemed to be as taken aback by the spring as she was, staring at it for a moment while she rummaged through her bag.
“Here, give me a hand up,” she said, standing by the tree where she meant to mount her camera.
Grayson glared at her. “There’s no way you’re getting up there.”
“Yes, I am,” she said, gesturing for him to come over. “Put me up on your shoulders.”
Grayson shook his head as he got on one knee obediently, and she awkwardly climbed onto his shoulders, putting a thigh on either side of his head the way she would have done as a kid in a pool when playing team wars.
But as he stood easily, hefting her weight, his warm hands over her thighs, she instantly realized her mistake.
His head was right there between her legs, and she could feel his strong shoulders beneath her thighs. If she just turned around, his face would…
Oh God, April. Focus.
She took a deep breath as she grabbed the first camera from him and began to install it in the tree with straps that would keep it secure and out of sight.
He shifted slightly but made no movement that said her weight was too much for him, even though she knew she wasn’t the most petite girl.
She wondered if his heart was pounding as hard as hers was. He could probably feel her racing heart in her thigh that was pressed against his neck.
Why had she done this?
She hurried to finish the camera and then tapped his shoulder, signaling for him to let her down. At this point, she wasn’t sure she could breathe anymore, let alone talk.
He set her down, and she was close-lipped as she went to the next camera, getting it out and pausing to wipe the sweat from her brow, panting slightly.
“Such a hot day,” she said weakly, looking up at him and hoping he bought her excuse.
Grayson just cocked his head, then began removing his shirt.
Dear God, was he a mind reader? She wasn’t going to make it at this rate as gleaming, sweaty muscles and arms covered in tats were exposed to the afternoon sun.
But then he was striding over to the stream, soaking his shirt in it, and then wringing it out tightly, sending water droplets everywhere.
When he got back to her, he handed the shirt over her shoulders, and she had to admit it felt nice and cool.
Then he stood back, admiring his handiwork.
His body was gleaming, all tanned, taut skin and hard muscle, like something from a male revue where he was playing the dangerous bad boy.
But this wasn’t a fantasy. This was very real, very raw, and Grayson clearly had no idea she was utterly perving on him.
Was she that good at hiding how she felt?
Dammit, a woman couldn’t be expected to work under these conditions with all that man around, doing nice things and looking so good and—
She flinched as he crouched in front of her, pulling a calloused palm to her forehead.
“Are you okay? You still look overheated. Maybe we should get you back.”
She swallowed, and her voice came out more like a croak. “No, I’m fine.” She handed his shirt back. “I… Just hot outside.”
He felt her forehead again and then sighed. “You don’t seem like you’re breathing right, but you don’t feel too overheated. I noticed your legs were shaking when you were on my shoulders, which is odd since it shouldn’t have been much exertion.”
Her eyes met his as an utterly embarrassed blush moved over her cheeks. “I… I’m not used to this. That’s all.”
Misunderstanding her, he gave a quick nod. “You might understand wolves, but that doesn’t make you a nature guide. Clearly, the sun is getting to you, and I know just the way to cool you down.”
Her eyes widened as his arms went under her knees and scooped her effortlessly into the air. She let out a squeak of surprise as he began to carry her to the spring, walking briskly.
“Wait, no, you don’t understand.” She held on for dear life, realizing what he was planning to do.
“This is the quickest way to cool you. Might not be pleasant, but—” He stopped at the edge of the pool.
“I can’t swim—”
But she didn’t get the chance
to finish before he gently tossed her in.
Her whole body went into shock the second she touched the water, and she began to thrash around, knowing it was stupid for an adult to be so unable to swim.
But after a nasty boat accident as a kid, she hadn’t wanted to learn.
Just as she thought she was going to sink beneath the surface, she heard a splash and then felt Grayson’s steady arms around her, holding her close.
She grabbed onto him like he was a particularly sturdy rock she was climbing and didn’t stop until her legs were wrapped around his waist and her arms were around his head.
Then she took deep, reassuring breaths, trying not to think about the fact that she was once again pressed against him.
She was supposed to be researching wolves, not living out some kind of romance novel.
“What were you thinking?” She gasped once she could talk.
“I’m sorry,” he said, looking genuinely taken aback as he moved her to the side of the pool, setting her on the edge. “You’re so capable in the outdoors that I didn’t think to ask. That was wrong of me. But I was worried about you. You were acting weird and clearly overheated.”
She took a deep breath, trying not to think about the rivulets pouring down and around his hard, handsome features and smooth muscles. Did he even know the picture he presented with that much man waist deep in sparkling blue water?
Little droplets sparkled on his long lashes as he came closer, peering into her eyes.
“I’m sorry I scared you, but I’d never let anything happen to you. You have to know that by now.”
She tucked her wet hair behind one ear. “Yes, but why? I mean, you came out of nowhere. When we met, you didn’t even like me.”
“I like you now.” Gray eyes twinkled.
“But I…”
“I’m drawn to you. I like spending time with you,” Grayson said. “Is that a problem?”
She grabbed the rest of her hair and wrung it, trying to get some of the water out so it would stop streaming over her shirt. Speaking of which, it was soaked through, and she realized in embarrassment that he could probably see her bra.
Mine Furever Page 5
