Page 4 of Mountain Man’s Curvy Girl (Summer In The Pines #4)

Chloe

Ethan feels bigger than life, sitting only inches away from me, his broad shoulders nearly brushing mine in the cramped space of the truck. His presence is overwhelming in the quietness, as if he fills every corner of the cab just by breathing.

He shifts, adjusting his grip on the steering wheel, and the movement draws my eyes like a magnet.

His hands are huge—rough and calloused, the kind of hands that could bend steel and still be careful enough to hold something fragile.

My cheeks heat as I imagine those hands brushing against my skin, and I quickly look away, clutching the blanket tighter.

The truck rocks slightly in the wind, and Ethan lets out a low sigh, the sound deep and rumbly like distant thunder. “This storm’s not letting up anytime soon”.

“It’s fine,” I say quickly, though my heart is hammering in my chest. “I mean, I’m fine. I can—”

“Chloe.” His tone stops me short. He’s not even looking at me, but the way he says my name, low and steady, makes my breath hitch. “Stop trying to talk your way out of this. You’re staying put.”

His hand drops from the wheel to rest on his thigh, and I can’t help but notice the way his jeans stretch over thick, muscular legs. Everything about him is solid, and way too tempting. I force myself to look away, focusing instead on the frost that’s starting to cover the windshield.

* * *

Ethan

Chloe’s nervous. I can see it in the way her fingers clutch that damn blanket, how her beautiful eyes dart everywhere except at me. She’s been driving me fucking crazy from the second she stepped inside my truck.

I shouldn’t be looking at her like this—shouldn’t be noticing her plump lips, or the sliver of smooth, golden-brown skin at her collarbone. She’s so close I can smell the sweet scent of vanilla that always clings to her, and it’s taking everything in me to keep my hands to myself.

“You cold?” I ask.

Her breath hitches every time I move. She’s not cold—she’s nervous. And I’m making it worse.

“No, I’m okay,” she replies, but the way her voice shakes tells me otherwise.

I lean closer, and her eyes meet mine, wide and unsure. For a second, neither one of us speaks. The only sound is the wind howling outside and the low hum of the heater, but it’s not enough to drown out the thunder of my pulse in my ears. I stop the car.

“You don’t have to be scared of me,” I whisper.

She shakes her head. “I’m not scared.”

I reach out, my hand brushing against hers as I adjust the blanket. Her skin is so fucking soft. The contact sends a jolt straight to my cock. Chloe doesn’t pull away, and for a moment, I let my fingers linger, testing her reaction.

She swallows hard, her breath catching as her eyes dart to our hands. “Ethan…”

The way she says my name—soft and shaky—is my undoing.