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Leaving the animals felt a little like walking away from friends without saying goodbye, but she headed in the direction she came from, in search of food for a picnic and the only man she wanted to share it with—Dylan.

* * * * *

“Hold up, Sloane! You’re walking so fast. What’s the hurry?” Dylan walked a pace behind her down the path leading to parts of the ranch that weren’t as developed as the others yet.

Not that he minded the view of her sweet backside in a pair of jeans that accentuated each perfect globe.

He could see how she landed a job as a butt model—it was damn perfect.

She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Are you staring at my ass?”

“Yup.”

She giggled. “I thought you were a boob guy.”

He lunged forward, closing the gap between them and yanking her to a stop. Before she could wiggle out of his grasp, he brought his body flush against her, grinding his cock that never went down in her presence into that perfect ass.

Palming her breasts, he felt her nipples harden under his touch.

She almost dropped the picnic basket she insisted on carrying, and the blanket hanging over her arm slipped. Letting out a gasp, she twisted her head to look at him. “Dylan…”

“Mmhmm?”

“We’re almost to the spot.”

“I’ve already found two of them.” He pinched her nipples, making her cry out and grind her ass against his stiff cock.

“A little…farther.”

He placed his mouth at her ear. “I can hardly wait.”

When he released her, she didn’t immediately start walking but stood there as though gaining her wits. He grinned at how easy it was to shift her off course even while he loved how she’d taken control by organizing a picnic.

The stone trail faded to a footpath that was far less traveled. He moved up beside her and took the basket out of her hand.

He grunted. “Why didn’t you tell me this was so heavy? You should have let me be a gentleman and carry it for you.”

She tossed him a smile. “I’m used to carting a toddler around. Remember?”

Curiosity flooded in. He wanted to ask so many questions—about her, the child, Shaw and what made him flee to Alaska. But he held his tongue.

His job wasn’t to solve those problems, only make her feel good now.

Her stay won’t be long enough.

The thought slammed into his brain. His step faltered and his next stride had to be longer in order to keep up with her.

He knew his heart would feel the effects of spending time with Sloane, and Dylan didn’t do feelings.

She was too gorgeous, and not only on the surface. He admired so much about her, from her decision to come to The Boot Knockers Ranch to take care of herself to the fact that she’d once put up with Shaw.

Shaw. He let out a sigh.

The man was personable enough—when he chose to be, that was. Which wasn’t all the time.

He often stuck to himself. Was deemed a loner by most of the guys. They’d all assumed his world crumbled when he could no longer play professional hockey. Now Dylan had to wonder just how much his choices about his past weighed on him.

Part of him wanted to enfold Sloane in his protective embrace and whisper that she was good enough, desirable and pretty much perfect, as far as he could see.