Page 7 of Her Mountain Boss (Honey Ridge #3)

Sophia rolls her eyes. “I’m perfectly safe. Besides, I thought Blackwood Lodge was all about the great outdoors and communing with nature.” She gestures at the lake and mountains behind her. “Look. Nature.”

“Blackwood’s safe. But that doesn’t mean you should be out here alone at night.”

She smirks, and her eyes twinkle. “Are you worried about me, Uncle Ford?” she asks, the sassiness dripping from her voice.

“Afraid I’ll get eaten…” She bites her lip and pauses before continuing.

“…by a bear?” Pure delight shines out at me from those gorgeous eyes. She’s winding me up, and she knows it.

I can’t stop the growl from pushing up out of me. “I’m not your uncle, and I’m worried about a lot of things when it comes to you, Sophia.”

She bites her bottom lip again, her eyes searching mine. “Really? Like what?”

I lean down, my hands gripping the edge of the hot tub.

Our faces are inches apart, her breath mingling with mine.

I can’t kiss her. If I kiss her, it’s over.

I won’t stop. I know I won’t. “Like the fact that you’re driving me crazy,” I say, my voice low and hoarse.

“Like the fact that I can’t stop thinking about you.

Like the fact that I want to—“ I cut myself off, jaw clenching.

Her eyes widen, lips parting in surprise. “You want to what?”

I straighten and take a big step back from the hot tub. Christ, that was close. This bratty side of her is going to kill me. I swallow and take a breath, fighting for control. “I want to make sure you’re safe. That’s all.”

She smiles, her eyes sparkling like stars. Very naughty stars. “I think you want more than that.” Her gaze drifts down to where the outline of my impossibly hard dick is visible against my jeans. “In fact, I think you want—”

I cut her off, my voice gruff. I can’t take another second of this bratty teasing. “That’s enough. You should get out of the hot tub and go back to your cabin.”

She gives me a slightly exaggerated pout, her bottom lip jutting out. “But I’m not ready to go back yet. And besides, I’m having fun talking to you.” Her voice falters a little on the word talking , because we both know there’s a hell of a lot more than that going on here.

I cross my arms, eyes narrowing. “And I’m not having fun worrying about you.

So get out of the hot tub and go back to your cabin.

Now.” The words come out far harsher than I intend, all growly undertone.

But fuck, I can’t have her parading around like this.

Not where anyone could see her. Not where anyone could even think about looking at her the way I am.

Her eyes widen again. “But I just got here.” Her voice is quiet, but I don’t miss the hint of defiance in it.

She’s not making this easy on me, and I think she’s doing it on purpose.

I think she’s pushing my buttons, teasing me, seeing what I’ll do.

Not because she wants me to snap, but because she wants me to take charge.

As if I needed another reason to fall in love with my perfect little step-niece.

Fuck. In love? Fuck. Fuck.

And then I’m back in her space, my hands once again gripping the edge of the hot tub, knuckles white. “Sophia, so help me god, I’m not asking. Get out of the hot tub.” My voice is low and firm, a command that brooks no argument.

Or, at least, it’s supposed to be.

But my sweet little brat just bites her lip as she stares up at me. I’m so hard it hurts. So hard I could probably come in my pants. “Why, Ford? What’s the big deal?”

I step away from the hot tub again. I’m like a yo-yo, pulling away only to be drawn right back in.

My muscles are vibrating with tension, with the possessiveness that’s been simmering just below the surface from the moment I first laid eyes on her.

“The big deal is that you’re out here, practically naked, where anyone can see you. ”

She looks around, gesturing to the empty pool deck. “There’s no one here. It’s just us.”

“That’s not the point,” I snap. “You shouldn’t be out here like this.

It’s not…” I trail off, unable to find the right words.

It’s not safe. It’s not appropriate. Because you’re mine .

The last one sears through my brain, leaving a trail of wreckage in its wake.

And I know it’s true. She’s supposed to be mine.

She tilts her head, that bratty gleam in her eyes making me want to fuck the sassiness right out of her. “It’s not what?”

I rub the back of my neck, feeling like I’m coming undone. Like I’m unspooling, bit by bit. “It’s not right. You shouldn’t be out here, dressed like that.”

“Dressed like what?” she asks. “I’m wearing a bikini, which is perfectly acceptable hot tub attire. It’s not like I’m naked.” She adjusts the cups of her bikini, and I swear I can see the brownish pink edge of one of her nipples.

“Might as well be,” I growl.

Her eyebrows shoot up, and she sits up straighter, making her tits jiggle.

I’m leaking into my boxer briefs. I tear my gaze away, forcing myself to look her in the eyes.

“Are you saying you don’t like what you see?

” she asks, coyly adjusting one of her bikini straps.

“Because I think we both know that’s a lie. ”

And then I’m gripping the edge of the hot tub again. “I’m saying I like it too much, Sophia. And I don’t want anyone else seeing what’s…” Mine. I stop myself just in time. “What’s not meant for their eyes.”

She licks her lips, gazing up at me. “I’m not getting out.”

“Don’t be a brat,” I growl before I can restrain myself.

“A brat, huh?” she asks, tilting her head, her chest rising and falling faster.

“Forget I said that.” I’m walking a dangerous line here, and I know it. I’m not her fucking Daddy, and I sure as hell shouldn’t be thinking about what I’d do if she were my brat. She has no idea what kind of game she’s playing with me, and that’s not her fault. She’s innocent. Inexperienced.

But Sophia, she’s not letting this go. She shakes her head, a cascade of auburn curls bouncing with the movement.

She leans over the edge of the hot tub and adjusts her top, her tits threatening to spill out of that fucking bikini.

“If I were a brat,” she asks, her voice casual, like we’re discussing the fucking weather, “what would you do about it?”

Well, fuck.

I let a small smile tug at my lips. Fine. If she wants to play, we’ll play. But we’ll play by my rules, not hers.

“I know how you want me to answer that question, but that’s not how this works, Sophia.”

Her eyes go wide, her lips parted. She shifts in the hot tub, the water sloshing gently around her.

“What do you mean?” she asks, her voice quieter, less sure.

The bravado she had a moment ago has evaporated just like the steam coming off the water, and she blinks at me slowly.

Her pulse flutters wildly at the base of her throat.

“You want my attention? You’ve got it, kitten.

” The endearment slips out, as natural as breathing.

Her eyes go warm and soft and she exhales shakily.

She looks like she’s about to melt, making me start to suspect that we’re not so mismatched after all.

My restraint feels like a rope, shredding more and more with every moment of this conversation.

She looks away, her cheeks bright pink. “I wasn’t…I didn’t mean…” She trails off, but I notice the way she adjusts her bikini top to give her slightly more coverage.

I meet her eyes. “You weren’t what? Trying to get my attention by being a brat? Because you did. You have it. All of it.” I reach out, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. Her skin is warm and so fucking soft beneath my fingers.

“I’m…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…to be a brat. I just wanted…” She swallows, her gaze dropping to my mouth. It’s very clear what she wants. What we both want.

And I’m starting to forget why it’s a bad idea. I’m starting to forget why it felt so important to stay away from her. There’s no room for any of that when I know how soft she goes when I call her kitten, when I call out her bratty behaviour.

“What did you want?” I ask gently. I can see the struggle in her eyes as she weighs just how honest to be.

She bites her lower lip, her eyes big and earnest. “I wanted you to see me. Really see me. Because I see you, Ford. I see you and look at you all the time.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, but it might as well be a shout for the way it echoes through me.

My world has just tilted on its axis.

“I see you, kitten,” I say, my thumb tracing the curve of her jaw. “I see you, and I want you. But bratting, teasing, it’s not going to get you what you want. Not with me.”

She leans into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed for just a moment. “What will?” she asks, a tinge of desperation in her voice.

Time to test the waters.

“Being a good girl. Being such a good girl for me that I have no choice but to reward you.” Her breathing stutters and she’s staring at me with hungry eyes.

My instincts were right. She’s not a brat.

Not deep down. She’s a good girl who needs attention from Daddy, and just needs some direction on how to go about getting it the right way.

“Would you like another chance to be a good girl?”

She nods, her face flushed, her breathing shaky. “Yes. Please.”

“Get out of the hot tub.”

This time, she doesn’t hesitate, and something in my heart swells at the way she obeys so sweetly.

She stands, water cascading down her gorgeous curves, and steps out.

I’m right there, towel in hand, ready to take care of her.

Standing behind her, I wrap it around her and slowly rub my hands over her shoulders, her arms, her back.

I don’t touch her anywhere I shouldn’t, but she’s still trembling.