Page 3 of Demolishing with the Mountain Man (Heroes of Apple Falls #6)

CHAPTER THREE

Zale

I couldn’t not fix her gutter. It was hanging there, ready to snap off at a moment’s notice.

I could see from my truck before pulling into my own, the white metal piece flapping in the wind.

I didn’t want to disturb her, so I parked in my driveway, grabbed some tools from the back, walked down the street, and through her front yard until I reached the hanging piece.

From what I could tell, the entire piece needs to be replaced but for now, I’d jimmy rig it. Something temporary, at least.

Just as I got the piece secured in place, the air shifted and somehow, I knew she was close. I turned to find Taelyn storming towards me, her anger evident on her face and her rigid body language. “What are you doing?” She asked.

“Looks to me like I’m fixing your gutter.” I smiled. She may have not been happy to see me, but I sure was happy to see her. “How are you, Taelyn? I missed seeing your pretty face around these past few days.”

“You know, I’m not your charity case. I don’t need you to come rescue me. I’ve lived perfectly fine on my own without a man for years.”

I blinked, unsure where the hostility was coming from. I stepped towards her, the smell of sweet baked goods wafting off her. Was she baking right now? I held my hands up in surrender. “Lady, simmer down. It’s no charge. But you can give me one of whatever you’re baking in there.”

A smile peaked at the corner of her sexy, plump lips. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that. I guess I’m not used to such neighborly friendliness.”

“Well, get used to it, sweet thing. It’s a common occurrence around this town.”

“Follow me. The least I can do is give you one tart I made.”

“A tart? Say no more.”

I watched her ass sway as I followed her into her house, the sweet smell even stronger now. My mouth watered. I had a weakness for sweets.

She led me into the kitchen and over to the pan on the counter, fruit tarts lined up and shining underneath the kitchen lights.

“Wow. Those look delicious.” Just like you do.

Taelyn smiled as she handed me one. I didn’t wait to bite into the sweet treat, the fruit bursting with flavor and mixing with the vanilla cream and sweet cookie like dough.

“Oh, my God,” I said around a mouthful of tart.

Filling dripped down my chin and onto my beard and I didn’t stop to wipe it, only caring about getting more and more tart in my mouth.

Taelyn watched me intensely and if I wasn’t mistaken, her eyes darkened as she licked her lips.

“Wow. That was fucking amazing.” I said after swallowing my last bite.

She laughed as she handed me a napkin. “You got a little something on your chin.” She bit her bottom lip and my cock jerked inside my pants, reminding me it was there. Like I could forget.

I wiped my chin and beard, a tad embarrassed. “Sorry, I guess I got a tad bit carried away. But can you blame me? That was the best damn fruit tart I’ve ever had.”

“I’m glad you liked them so much. Do you want another?”

“Gladly.” I held out my hand, and she placed one in my palm. Her fingertips brushed against the back of hand and a shiver ran up my arm.

I pinned my gaze on hers as I slowly ate the tart this time, wanting to savor the flavor.

As I licked my lips and overly enjoyed the tart, Taelyn gripped the side of the counter, her breath picking up in speed.

Offering her a bite, she shook her head no but leaned forward anyway while her tongue peeked out from between her lips. She bit a small piece, getting a taste of the fruit, cream, and shell. Her eyes closed as she savored her bite, and when they reopened, they blazed with heat.

I bit off another bite of the tart and dipped my finger into the sweet cream, spreading it on her lips. She didn’t hesitate to stick her tongue out and lick the cream off after which her tongue wrapped around the top of my finger as she sucked the rest of the cream off.

My cock hardened in my pants. Sexual tension popped between us and all I could think about was kissing her.

“Zale…I don’t think…”

Before she could say another word and fight whatever it was growing between us, I took her face between my hands and pressed my lips to hers, sweeping us into a passionate kiss.

Taelyn hesitated for a second, what felt like the longest second of my life, and then she met me with the same amount of passion back that I put into her. Her hands found my forearms, gripping tightly as I deepened our kiss, getting lost in each other.

It was the kiss to write off all other kisses, the desire between us exploding like fireworks.

I kissed her again and again, soft, then hard, heated, then on fire, a rollercoaster ride of epic proportion.

I didn’t know a kiss could feel that way, and I knew then it would become an obsession, an addiction.

Addicted to the most beautiful woman in Apple Falls.

When I broke the kiss for air, I pressed my forehead against hers, our breaths coming in quick, hot spurts. “Shit.” I muttered.

“Shit is right.” Taelyn said. “That was…that was…wow.” She brought a hand up to her swollen lips, tracing over them with one fingertip. “My lips are tingling.”

I chuckled. “I think that’s a good thing.”

“I think so, too.”

“Go on a date with me, Taelyn. And never stop baking me those delicious tarts.”

She slid her arms around my neck. “There’s lots of things I could bake for you. But a date sounds like a good place to start.”

And then this time, she kissed me.