Page 6 of Mountain Man Bodyguard (Mountain Men of Pineville #4)

SIX

CHASSIE

"Those are some pretty wicked scars." I hadn't planned to corner Kane as he stepped out of the bathroom. It just worked out that way. Lucky me . As my gaze traveled from below the hem of his towel upward, it was hard to miss the growing bulge.

His expression didn’t give away his feelings. But when I tore my gaze from his crotch, where his erection threatened to escape its binding, I watched fascinated as his features morphed from surprise to desire.

"They aren't the only things wicked about me." His eyes narrowed as he spoke, darkening with need matching the wickedness he spoke of.

Then, just as quickly, his face exploded into a grin equally wicked and so full of promise, for a moment I forgot he'd spent the last decade living in Hollywood, surrounded by spray-tanned, toned, tucked and pampered perfect women.

Not a woman who was unapologetically plump, cellulite-riddled and was as of a couple of years ago, without a couple inner lady parts.

Whenever I was nervous, or happy or sad, or pretty much anytime I was awake, I fell back on humor.

It had worked wonders for me and entertained my co-workers in the stressful environment of the hospital trauma room and whenever I felt less than around men who would normally never give me a second glance.

Normally I didn’t give a flip. Much. But, let’s face it, I’m human and I have insecurities just like the next woman.

And yet, there was something in Kane's gaze. Flashbacks of junior high and high school, when the popular guy accidentally looked my way. The butterflies were in full flight.

And there was something beyond his stereotypical male morning wood.

And it made me think: maybe.

Maybe he really was into me.

Maybe I should go for it?

"You been holding onto that zinger for a while, have you?"

"Chas, I may be a trained stuntman, but I write my own material." With a quick wink, his grin turned into a boyish smile. It was the only boyish thing about Kane London.

Sweeping out his arm, he said," It's all yours, beautiful." Then sauntered off. Yes sauntered.

Lordy, I might just have met my match. And where had “Chas” come from? And why did I suddenly want him to call me his?

The morning unfolded without further banter. After a breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and bacon he’d cooked on an enormous grill on his deck, we both fueled up with enough caffeine to knock out an elephant.

A loud bang on the cabin’s front door echoed throughout the nearly empty cabin. A sharp squeak exploded from me, and I spilled the rest of my coffee onto my hand. Kane swore, grabbed a kitchen towel and then covered my red flesh.

“Need ice?” He whispered the question even as he placed his massive bulk between me and the door and ordered me onto the floor, but I shook off his concern. “Down now!”

Out of nowhere, a gun had appeared in his left hand. He was lefty? How had I missed that detail? And where had he hidden the gun? His outfit today had been just as form-fitting and nearly identical to the one from yesterday. Black jeans, a dark t-shirt, well-worn combat boots.

“Stay down until I say otherwise. If I tell you to run, you do it. Through the bedroom, to the slider. There’s a rope ladder to the immediate left, just under the deck. You get down and run to the lodge. Don’t look back. No stopping. Got it?”

Shaking, all I could do was nod as I crouched below him on my hands and knees.

The position made me feel vulnerable, and not only because of what or who was on the other side of the front door.

It had everything to do with Kane towering above me.

Bodyguard mode was in full effect, and it was damn hot.

And it felt not that different from the dream I had about him last night. He’d growled his need for me while stripping me and taking me from behind on that monster of a bed, thrusting into me, over and over again until I was delirious with the need to come and he?—

“Chassie!”

“Yeah, I got it. You say run, I run.” I breathed out. I was damn lucky he couldn’t see my face; otherwise, he’d know exactly by my inflamed cheeks exactly how lost in my sexual fantasy I’d become.

Mumbling something about stubborn-ass females, I held my breath as Kane made his way to the front door. I’d give anything to be able to watch him in action, but I didn’t want to be barked at again. Well, unless he was up for a little role-playing, then I’d be all in. But I stayed down and waited.

And waited.

What was he doing? And whoever was harassing me really been able to find me—here? I wanted to believe it was unlikely. I’d never once posted about my family, or my ties to the Triple R. In fact, this was my first trip out here.

Why was this happening? Just when my life and my health were finally improving. Just when I’d met a man who made me want to throw all my insecurities to the curb, along with my brother’s silent warnings, and offer up a no-strings short-term sex feast.

The absurdity of the situation, along with my one-track mind of getting into Kane’s pants, collided and I let out a very loud and very unladylike snort. Slapping my hand over my mouth to keep myself from shouting out an apology, I waited. But instead of a reprimand, Kane shouted, “Fucking Baz!”

Loud stomping ensued as two sets of heavy footfalls vibrated across the planked flooring. Like an obedient protectee , uh, protected person that I was, I remained in the uncomfortable position behind Kane’s kitchen island until the tops of four beat-up boots appeared in my peripheral vision.

“Jesus, you can get up now, Chassie. This is Baz. False alarm. Sorry.” Kane held out a hand and lifted me up. The quick movement messed with my balance, and I ended up face first against his chest.

Low rumbling and scorching heat. My nose was squashed against Kane’s shirt, and there was no stopping the long sniff of man I took in.

Pine scented musk. Nothing artificial. But it was a combination that, if bottled, would become an instant bestseller.

If not by men, then by women buying for the men in their life or, better yet, to spritz on their pillow.

A scent guaranteed to transport you into a nighttime fantasyland. Oh, boy, I had it bad.

“You okay?” Kane’s voice had dropped a couple of octaves, adding to the embarrassingly intimate situation being witnessed by the man standing next to Kane.

Decked out in much the same attire, except for a well-worn black leather jacket, this man was a good two, maybe three inches taller than Kane.

He had a full, silver-grey beard, which made him look slightly Santa Claus-ish.

A dangerous but sexy Santa. But his scowl and absence of fat ended any further resemblance to jolly ol’ St. Nick.

“I’m fine. Slightly embarrassed and in definite need of picking up yoga again, but yes, I’m good. So, not my stalker.” I nodded to Mr. Grumpy and waited for an introduction.

“No, just the mountain’s unofficial grumpy mountain man.

This is Sebastian Johansson. He lives about a mile up the mountain.

He was in our unit for a couple of years but was the first to retire since he’s so much older than the rest of us.

” Kane sidestepped Baz’ as he tried to smack Kane in the back of the head.

Brushing imaginary dust off my knees, I scanned Kane and noticed that his gun had mysteriously disappeared as fast as it had appeared, leaving me wondering again where he’d hidden it. Huh, Johansson? “Are you related to Kelee and Slade? I went to high school with them.”

“Cousins.” One word, that’s all the answer I got. Kinda fit the vibe he was giving off.

“Well, small world. Or small-town life, huh?” This time, nothing. One more try. “Anyway, she’s great. Living in Cedar Ridge now, right?”

“So I hear.”

Well, at least I tried. Kane shrugged his shoulders and then focused his attention back on me. And once again, my blood pressure took a hit. Would I ever get used to having Kane’s striking coal black gaze focused solely on me?

“And anyway, Baz, was up at the lodge when your brother received a call from the local PD and he volunteered to deliver the message, since you know no cell service.”

“Wait, what?” Yeah, the sarcasm had a mind of its own. But seriously, what kind of social media influencer would I be if I didn’t complain a little about not having access to the freaking internet while being “protected.”

“They may have a location narrowed down. Somewhere in the Middle East. But, and this is a big but, it could be a false IP, but it’s the first positive lead they’ve come up with. Meaning, at least this person isn’t local.”

Not local. Could I be that lucky? Did this mean I could go home?

“And no, you’re not going home. Not until we’re sure, and the authorities are sure, that the threat isn’t local and won’t be.

As long as this person doesn’t have any travel plans, once they narrow it down, we’ll know more.

” Kane had a “don’t argue with me” look in his eyes, which only made me want to argue and push his buttons.

God, I hated not having control of my life.

“But—”

“No.” Kane wouldn’t be swayed.

“How about?—”

“No.”

“You don’t know what I was going to say?” Hands on hips, I ignored Baz’ interested stare and stood as tall as I could make myself, which at five foot six, wasn’t near tall enough to look Kane in the eye.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“But you’re my bodyguard. You’d protect me wherever I go, right?”

“Right. But since you’re staying right here, where the danger level is zero to point zero—zero—two…” Kane paused and gave Baz the stink eye.

“Not my fault, man. You over-reacted. I made a ton of noise, giving you plenty of advance warning that I was ‘a friendly.’” Baz reached out again, and this time scored a head slap.

Before Kane could pay him back, Baz was halfway to the front door and tossed out, “Later.”

“Try much later. Like maybe next year.” Kane yelled back then sighed as the grumpy, Santa-ish looking man slammed the door behind him.

A crack of thunder and a flash of lightning lit up the darkening room. When had dusk fallen? This would be my first mountain storm, and I loved rainstorms. Well, at least this was something to look forward to. There was just something about the energy-filled air that boosted my mood.

A sudden quiet shrunk the space between us, and the rush of adrenaline I thought I’d tamed after the initial fear of being discovered, picked up again and turned from a wave of gratitude to anticipation.

We were locked in a charged stare-off that rivaled the electricity Mother Nature was providing. Who made the first move hung between unspoken and I almost jumped out of my skin when he started speaking.

“What are we doing here, Chas? Is this happening despite Finn or to spite him?” Kane’s tone held an edge I’d yet to hear from him.

And it felt as if we were at a point of no return after what, maybe, twenty-four hours of knowing each other.

He’d also kept shortening my name and made the s sound like a z, and I liked it. Really liked it.

“First, I’d never use another person to get back at my brother.

Second, I have no problem owning my feelings and my choices.

He may think because our father wasn’t much of a role model that he needed to step into that role, and I’m sure he may have warned you away from me.

But we’re adults, and unless you have a wife tucked away somewhere or you’re hiding up here because you have a stack of outstanding warrants, then it’s no one’s damn business what happens between us. ”

"How about a fire?" Kane cleared his throat and, without waiting for an answer, he stepped around me.

If this was his idea of foreplay, I think I'd need a peek into his script. Especially since he told me he writes his own.

"Um, yes, that uh sounds…cozy." Lame, oh so lame Chassie.

Playing along, I turned around to see what he was up to.

Standing next to the kitchen door, Kane had transformed.

His hair mussed from Baz's smack on the head, it looked now as if he’d run his fingers through the thick mane.

But his attempt to repair the damage his friend had done created a less put-together, but more relaxed look.

A sexier, and less Hollywood polish.

And that red flannel jacket hugging his broad shoulders and thick arms? Oh yeah, the mountain man vibe was totally doing it for me.

"I've got plenty of wood already chopped and dry in the wood box. If you want to grab, uh, anything and camp out on the couch, I'll be back shortly.

"I'll get a fire going, then we can watch the show."

"Show?" Did he want me to watch one of the movies he'd been in? Weird, but okay.

"Sure. Which movie were you thinking? Maybe one where you're beating up the bad guy. Oh, wait, did you butt double for a famous actor?"

Kane made a choking sound, and his cheeks turned pink.

"No." Nodding to the wall behind me, he lifted a hand and pointed.

"That show."

I spun around and, oh duh. Just as I turned, the wall of windows lit up, and Mother Nature's show filled the room.

Fading craggy streaks outlined the tree-tops and the dark gray sky was painted with storm clouds.

Another boom of thunder rang out as Kane mumbled, "Butt double my ass," and exited the kitchen.

Yeah, I'd pay good money to see his ass on the big screen. However, I had the live and in-person version. So, what was I waiting for? The setting was perfect. Now I just needed to come up with a way to convince him I wasn’t using him to prove anything to my brother.

This would be all about Kane and me and the undeniable connection between us.