Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

LUNA

M y hands shook; my body trembled from the aftershocks of opening my eyes to discover a man looming over the hot tub. And not just any man. He was huge. I had to blink to clear my vision because my initial thought was that he was some rugged mountain man.

He was tall and bulky, his face covered in more than a few days of scruff. The worn flannel stretched taut over his broad shoulders, his worn jeans showcasing powerful thighs and the most amazing ass as he walked away.

Now my blood was pumping for an entirely different reason.

I should have been afraid of him, but I oddly wasn't.

I should have called the police, but I didn't.

I'd blame it on my brain being mush from the surprise, but it wasn't just that. I was intensely attracted to him, and I was almost positive I saw desire in his eyes.

Something told me he wasn't a serial killer. But I couldn't be too careful. I was a woman staying in a cabin in the middle of nowhere.

I shivered, probably the result of jumping out of the hot tub. I turned on the hot water for my shower, letting it heat up before I stepped under the stream.

My heart was still racing, and I continued to shiver for a few seconds under the steady stream of water. When I was finally warm, I turned and tipped my head back to wet my hair.

There was something about the intensity of his stare. There was heat, and it had nothing to do with the water.

He wanted me. There was so much naked desire in his eyes. How long had he been staring at me before I realized he was there?

I should have been scared, but my body was thrumming with desire. I wanted to know what it would have felt like for him to join me in the hot tub and have his way with me.

His hands were large and probably calloused. I bet he was a man used to working with his hands. Did his job require physical labor?

He was strong. He could easily lift me and fuck me against the wall.

When I asked my ex if we could try that position, he'd laughed and said I was too heavy for him.

That had stung. But he was probably right. He was tall but lanky. He had none of the muscles this man had.

And his name was Axel. It was a bad-ass name to back up his physical appearance. For a few minutes, I'd allow the fantasy to take over, the one where I was capable of having a fling with the hot, grumpy neighbor.

The one where I could indulge in something physical without catching pesky emotions. I closed my eyes as my hand tweaked my nipple while the other drifted down my stomach. I widened my stance as I remembered the look of lust on Axel's face.

There was a twinge of guilt when I caught him admiring me, but I couldn't get past the sheer desire.

My dream mountain man didn't think I was heavy or too curvy. He wouldn't think twice about getting in the hot tub with me.

That was all I needed to slide my fingers between my folds, wishing they were Axel’s. His fingers would be larger and rough. He'd cover me with his body, his mouth by my ear where he'd say dirty things.

Like how much he wanted to fuck me with his big cock.

My hips moved in time with my fingers; my core ached. I needed more than some hot water and my fingers. I needed Axel's big, strong body surrounding me, his body heat transferring to mine.

His mouth covering my nipple. And I knew he'd be capable of lifting me against the tile and sliding his cock between my legs.

He'd fill me up so good. I moaned as the orgasm hit me, more powerful than anything I'd ever given myself. The aftershocks made it difficult to stand up straight. I slapped a hand against the wall to steady me, wishing Axel was here to bend me over.

I wasn't nearly satisfied. I felt empty despite the endorphin rush. I wanted more.

I shouldn't be lusting after my neighbor. I was here to regroup after catching my boyfriend, Rex, sleeping with another woman. Even worse, Alexis was petite and pretty and everything I wasn't.

On the island, everyone knew everything about everyone. We'd all grown up together and gone to the same school since kindergarten. There were no secrets. So Alexis knew that Rex was mine. When she saw me, she'd looked pleased. She'd meant to hurt me.

She was one of the popular mean girls, and I'd mostly flown under her radar. But this surpassed the usual pranks she'd pulled in school or the rumors she's spread around town. She'd slept with my boyfriend. When I asked him what he was doing, he'd said leveling up.

That hurt. He'd cheated because I was somehow less than. Not skinny enough or beautiful enough. Surely, not good enough for someone like him. Someone who didn't have a job but worked gigs at local bars. It made him popular with the tourists. I should have known he'd stray.

My brothers barely tolerated Rex. They thought I could do better. I didn't want them to find out because they'd tear into Rex. I didn't need them fighting my battles.

Most guys avoided me because my brothers' company was the main contracting business on the island. All the others came from off-island. If you wanted something done quickly and right, you called Kingston Construction. My brothers were over protective, and if you wanted construction work done, you didn't sleep with their sister. It made my options severely limited unless I wanted vacation flings with tourists. But I wasn't cut out for short-term.

I worked in the office, took calls, and drafted estimates. I yearned to do so much more. I’d love to learn the construction side of the business, but with six older brothers I wasn't needed. I didn't want to be dependent on my family for work. I wanted to do my own thing.

I really wanted to offer design services to the clients, but Dad had already shut me down. He didn't think they were necessary.

I quickly washed my hair, then my body before drying off. I slipped on soft flannel pajamas and cozy socks, knowing it would get cold tonight.

The phone on my nightstand buzzed. I'd thought about turning it off completely, but my brothers would come looking for me. I'd told them I'd come to Maryland to visit one of my friends, Violet. But when I'd gotten here, she was on the outs with her boyfriend. I thought we'd have a good opportunity to catch up, but within days he'd proposed to her, and that was that.

She was deliriously happy, and I had to get out of there. She needed her privacy with Ryder, and I needed to breathe. Her life was expanding in the best of ways. She had a new financé who had a daughter. I couldn't burden her with my issues.

So I'd rented the cabin for some peace and quiet. The rental manager had assured me that the owner wasn't renting the next-door cabin out anymore. Was Axel the owner? If so, owning his own property placed him well above Rex, who preferred to sleep on friends' couches or at my place, where I'd come home from work early to find him in our bed with Alexis.

There would be no way to avoid him.

The phone buzzed again. This time I reached for it. Violet. She was probably worried about me.

“Hi.” I twisted my fingers in the comforter, hoping she wouldn't ask where I was.

“I’m in Florida.”

Oh shit. She was going to know I wasn’t there.

“My mom said you never came home after your trip to Maryland. Where are you?”

I cleared my suddenly very dry throat. “I needed a change of scenery. You know I can work from anywhere.”

“Where are you then?” Violet asked.

“I rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere. It's quiet, and I can hike.” My heart pounded while I waited for her to ask for more details, ones I didn't want to give. I needed this time to myself.

“Are you going to tell me where you are?” The concern in Violet's voice ate at me.

But I couldn't tell her I was still in Maryland. She'd want to visit when she returned home, and I couldn't let her do that. She was happy with Ryder, and they needed this time together.

Besides, I didn't want to be a third wheel around the happy couple. That would defeat the purpose of rest and relaxation. “I need to be alone for a bit. But I promise I'm fine.”

“Is this about Rex?” Violet practically growled.

“Only partly. I wanted to reconnect with myself. I can't do that on the island.”

“I know how your brothers can be. Is that what this is? A chance to get away from them?”

“That's exactly it.” Only Violet got me. She wasn't from the island and hadn't grown up with us. That's why it was so easy to be her friend. She wasn't impressed by my last name, and she never asked about my brothers.

“I can't imagine what it's like to have six overprotective brothers.”

Violet had a perfect older sister who managed to soak up all their parents' praise.

“It's not fun.” Especially when everyone in town lusted after them. I swear women hired them to work on their kitchens, thinking they'd be able to turn a one-night stand into a relationship. My brothers were hot and wealthy. It was an attractive combination for single women and, from what I'd heard, not-so-single women.

Violet sighed. “I can't believe you came to visit, and I was such a bad host.”

“You couldn't have predicted you'd get engaged. I wanted to give you time with your new fiancé.” I hoped to move her attention to Ryder and away from me.

“I can't wait to marry Ryder. Even Faith is excited. I wasn't sure because she doesn't like her mom's new boyfriend.”

“That's because you're amazing, and you're going to be the best stepmama.”

Violet let out a breath. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

I couldn't believe that Violet would doubt herself in that department. She was kind and caring, and in the short time I observed her with Faith, I could see she adored her. “Have you set a date?”

“I think he'll want to wait, since he only recently finalized his divorce. I'm not in a hurry.”

“You think you'll have the ceremony in Florida or in Maryland?”

“I thought we’d hold it in Maryland since we live here but Ryder seemed interested in having it in Florida.”

“You don’t want to have it on the beach?”

“Yeah, but it's just my parents and Danielle. Ryder’s entire family is in Maryland, and I don't want to feel like I'm competing with Danielle's wedding. Hers will be big and perfect.”

I let out a disgusted breath. “Your mom shouldn't compare them.”

“She won't be able to help herself.”

“Wherever you decide, I'll be there.” I'd need to get myself together before then. I liked the cabin. I just wasn't sure I'd be able to spend Christmas by myself.

“I'm worried about you,” Violet said softly.

“I'll be fine. Rex wasn't the right guy for me.”

Violet snorted. “No kidding. I never knew what you saw in him.”

I felt a pang. It was hard to meet guys who weren't intimidated by my brothers. They scared all the good guys away.

If my brothers found out Rex cheated on me, they would lose it. One more reason to stay in Maryland where no one knew where I was.

Rex had texted and called a few times, but I didn't know what he wanted. Did he really expect me to come crawling back and forgive him for sleeping with Alexis?

Everyone would find out. Alexis would make sure of it, and then they'd pity me.

My brothers didn't understand it, but it was partly their fault. They meant well, but they were severely limiting my relationships.

Axel wouldn't be easily intimidated, and he wouldn't care what my brothers thought. It only made him more attractive.

“I didn't mean to say you shouldn't have dated him. You obviously knew him better and saw something in him no one else did.”

“Something like that.” He was the only one who overlooked my brothers' glares, who didn't have a job he was worried about being fired from due to my brothers' pressure. He was an idiot. “He wasn't worth my time.”

“But you're really okay?”

“I'm not broken up over him, if that's what you're asking.” It had more to do with me. Why did I keep picking these losers? Because at some point, it wasn't just my brothers' influence. I was the one choosing these guys.

It would be better to move somewhere else, see what it would be like to date without my brothers hovering over me. But I wouldn't want to be gone forever. I loved Sanibel and my family.

If I was attracted to the neighborhood mountain man, who could blame me? I wanted to get under him in the worst way. My hormones had literally sprung to life with just one heated look. I'd never felt like this when I was dating Rex. Sex with him was forgettable. Bland even.

I had a feeling Axel knew what he was doing. Despite his gruff nature, he'd make sure I felt good too. Or that was my overly optimistic personality coming through.

I wanted to see the best in everyone—even when there was nothing to see—and I caught on too late like I had with Rex.

My instincts weren't the best. I should stay away from Axel.

“Are you sure you're okay?”

I nodded even though she couldn't see me. It made me feel more confident. “I will be. How did your family take meeting Ryder?”

“I was scared they'd judge me or him?—”

“You need to set some boundaries with your parents. I've had lots of practice with my brothers. They like to meddle, but they know better than to get the information from me.”

“They didn’t though. They had questions for Ryder but I think they liked him, and they want to meet Faith.”

“ Now, you just need to transfer that same energy to yourself. They don't get to say things about your life choices either.”

“That's easier said than done.”

“You make the decisions, and it's none of their business.” I glanced around at the cabin, which was one pallet of brown. Wood floors, planked walls, and overhead beams. It was nice, but it could use some color. I ran through some design choices in my head, a hunter green or navy with white.

“I'll try.”

“Now you’ll have Ryder by your side.” I felt a pang just thinking about what that would be like.

“He's the best.” She sounded happy.

I had a feeling Ryder would stand up for Violet if necessary. He was a genuinely good guy. He pushed Violet away when he was having trouble with his ex, but he realized his mistake and made it right.

I wanted a piece of what she had. But this interest in my neighbor was purely physical. He wasn't my forever guy. I wanted him even if it was a bad idea. I could have some fun without losing my heart, couldn't I?

“I'll let you go so you can enjoy your vacation. You deserve it.”

“Thanks, Violet. I'm happy for you.”

Violet hesitated for a few seconds before she said, “It's okay to want the same for yourself.”

Had she read my mind? Did she realize how hard it was for me to be around her and Ryder? They were so happy, so in love. As much as I admired them, it hurt too.

I hadn't dated anyone who could be that guy for me. Maybe I needed to date guys who were divorced with kids. They knew what they wanted. They weren't pretending they were men in boys' bodies, telling everyone who would listen that they didn't want to get married or have kids.

I was so sick of that kind of guy. I thought it would be okay, but it wasn't. I wanted the whole package—the husband and the family. I just wasn't sure what it would look like yet.

Axel's face popped into my mind again. I rested back on the pillows. I heard pounding come from outside. I popped up to look out the window. The lights were on in the cabin next door, and I could see the outline of him working.

Was he planning to do some work on the cabin before he sold it to someone else? It was none of my business what he did while we were staying here. But I wasn't ready to let go of the fantasy of him.

I had a feeling he was going to get me through the next few weeks.