Page 10 of Tempting Wyatt

“I’m renting the Lazy Bear cabin for the next two weeks,” I offer.

“TheLazy Bearcabin?” He chuckles darkly, as if I said something amusing.

Maybe he’s a worker here or something and doesn’t know the names of the cabins.

“Are you going to repeat everything I say?”

He has a good foot or more and probably a hundred and fifty pounds on me, but I hold my chin up and maintain eye contact.

I paid in full in advance, so if this is some scam and this guy plans to intimidate me into leaving, I’ve got some bad news for him. I dealt with lawyers for months when my screenplay forRandom Heartswas turned into a scripted series on multiple streaming platforms. I damn sure know my way around litigation. This place cost most of my savings, so I’m either staying or getting a full refund before I leave.

Unless he refuses to drop that axe. I can probably be persuaded to leave with a partial refund if he continues holding it.

Just as I’m about to have a full-blown panic attack, induced by his glare alone, the woman from the listing photo comes running out of the modern farmhouse beside us.

“You must be Ivy,” she greets me breathlessly, rushing to put herself between me and the angry mountain man.

“I am,” I say, uncertain as to what is happening. “I just arrived, and this”—I don’t know what to call him, definitely not a gentleman—“guy seems confused. Is this Triple Creek Ranch? Am I in the right place for the Lazy Bear cabin rental?”

“I’m so sorry,” she apologizes, as if she knows he was rude without having been present for our encounter. “I’m Laurel Logan,” she adds, shaking my hand firmly.

“Nice to meet you.” I smile, and the tension in my chest eases. Finally, someone with manners.

“I was inside, baking pies—one of which is to welcome you—and lost track of time.”

“It’s fine. I happen to love pie.” I cast a sideways glance at the man who hasn’t spoken or moved since Laurel appeared.

“I hope you like cherry. We’ve got a tree that’s out of control this year. I’ll be filling our freezer with them, if you’d like to take some home as well.”

I love this woman already.

“I’d be happy to purchase some from you. I don’t recall free pie being part of the rental agreement.”

She waves her hand between us. “You’d be doing me a favor, clearing out space in my freezer.”

Before I can respond, she turns to the still-frowning man staring at us. “Wyatt, be a dear and run Ivy and her things down to the larger guest cabin.”

He looks at her like she’s lost her mind. “You’re serious?”

She ignores him and turns her attention back to me. “Hopefully, you’ll find the cabin to your liking. I’ve stockedit with all the necessities. I’ll be down shortly with the pie, and I’ll check that you’re settling in.”

She turns to leave me alone with the still-axe-wielding wall of testosterone, and I almost beg her to stay.

Refusing to let this guy get to me because that’s my new policy—no more asshole guys getting to me—I inhale a chest-heaving breath and stare him directly in his deep brown, nearly coal-black eyes. They must match his soul.

“If you tell me the way, I’ll happily take myself to my cabin.”

“Yourcabin,” he mutters while shaking his head.

“The oneIrented for the next two weeks.”

His eyes narrow, and I shrink at least an inch.

“There’s no road for you to take yourself anywhere in that car.”

He sighs heavily, and for a moment, I almost feel sorry for him. He’s obviously exhausted, and here I am, adding more work to his day.

“I’m going to rinse off in the barn and put on a clean shirt. I’ll take you down on the ATV.”