Chapter 4

4

CROW

A ll morning long, my lips are buzzing with the need to kiss Emma again. She’s so light and sparkly – such a perfect contrast to my supposed darkness. From her glittery mauve nails to the way she doesn’t realize that she’s tugging on that curl of hair near her ear, each little quirk is precious and I’m getting addicted to every single one.

My body aches to be closer to her. Not even a brutal early workout in my basement can take the edge off my hunger.

It’s torture, but I manage to wait until nine-thirty when the café isn’t too busy before walking in with my mug. Looking around, I don’t see her. My heart drops into my boots until a familiar auburn head pops up from behind the pastry display case.

“Hi!”

Her beauty strikes me in the center of my chest. Looking around, I note that the few customers aren’t paying any attention to the way I drink her in with my eyes. I walk closer to see the stool she’s been sitting on, with a sketchbook in front of her.

“I’m not used to standing all day long yet,” she says sheepishly. “Desire said I should take a few minutes off my feet every hour.”

My eye goes directly to her drawings. “See? I knew you were an artist.”

I set down my mug for her to fill, and as soon as she turns away, I pull the sketchbook closer. Her stuff is amazing. Scrolls and linework and intricate designs that I could easily see myself wrapping around someone’s bicep or forearm one day.

Emma reaches over and flips the book closed. “Not an artist. Just a doodler.”

My finger waves in front of her nose. “Same thing, sunshine.”

She rolls her eyes at me, then turns away to continue filling my mug, giving me an incredible view of that round peach of an ass. Hot damn, what is she going to look like when I get her out of those clothes? When I have her sprawled across my bed, moaning my name?

Ouch. These jeans are suddenly a bit snug in the front.

Before I can think of something else to say, a couple comes in the door, making the little bell on it tinkle. “Can I pick you up after work?” I ask. “I don’t care if you still smell like muffins. If your feet are that tired, you shouldn’t be walking home.”

“Oh! Sure. Thanks.”

I blow her a kiss, then bounce across the street to my shop.

Cedarville is too small for appointments to be steady, but I’m open Tuesday through Saturday so I look busy. That whole “project success until you find success” thing. Plus, I advertise in all the nearby towns. It’s much easier for someone to drive forty minutes when they want some ink rather than three hours to a larger city.

I putter around the shop, cleaning and organizing, then working on my drawings to make sure there’s always fresh art displayed in the window. Although I have several inquiry emails, and a couple of people dropping in to browse, I don’t have any appointments today. If it weren’t for the incredible deal I have on the rent for the place, I’d be sunk.

At six o’clock, Emma walks out of the café. She’s coming right toward me when I call out, “Stop right there!” and rush to meet her.

She stares inquisitively at the helmet in my hand. I place it on her head, tightening the strap under her chin, then scoop her into my arms to cross the street to my bike.

Her laughter is muffled. “My feet aren’t that bad!”

“I’m not taking chances. Going to get you out into the fresh air, since that’s healing.”

“I don’t think?—”

“Trust me on this. I sleep in a tent in the back yard when I feel worn down, so I can get fresh forest air all night.” Setting her down, I kiss my finger, then place it on her lips. “Please let me baby you.” Her adorable grin tells me that she enjoys being pampered.

I pull on my own helmet, then we hop on the bike and drive slowly out of town.

I love that her hands slip under my jacket and around my waist to hang on. We can’t talk for a few minutes, but I try to communicate with body language. Reaching down to stroke her outer thigh for a second. Squeezing her knee. Leaning back against her to do a bit of a shimmy until I hear her laughing over the sound of the engine. Damn, I love the way this girl laughs, and not just because I can feel it’s shaking her luscious breasts slightly – although that is certainly getting my motor running even more than the bike’s.

Our slow cruising speed is extremely safe, especially since I stick to back roads with little traffic. Emma doesn’t seem nervous at all. Eventually we reach a secluded lookout spot with a beautiful view of the mountain and the two lakes below. We park and remove the helmets, then I take her hand, walking her out to the bench that’s been here forever.

I pull Emma to sit close beside me, keeping an arm around her. “All of this fresh, crisp air is perfect for people new to the mountain,” I state. “We have to get all of that old city air out of your lungs.”

She turns to me with a curious smile. “I’m beginning to think you hate the city or something.”

“No, not at all. I loved living in different cities for a few years each time. But it’s not where I want to make my home.”

“What’s your home like here?” she asks softly. “Do you have an apartment?”

“No, I have a house on the west side – not even two minutes outside of town.”

Her tongue darts across her bottom lip as she stares out across the rolling hills. “Wow, you already have a house.” Her soft voice is quieter. “I guess that makes sense. You’re quite a bit older than I am.”

“I’m only thirty-two. Is that so ancient?”

Emma shrugs. “I’m twenty. I still have no clue what’s going on with my life. Meanwhile you’re…” She hesitates, a slight furrow forming between her brows. “At that stage where you’re getting settled, I guess.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. My shop’s been open less than a year. And that’s only because my uncle retired and closed his shoe store that was in the same space and was able to talk the landlord into giving me the same deal he signed ten years ago. I only have the house because my parents sold it to me cheap when they decided to retire early to South Carolina.” Caressing her shoulder, I lean closer. “I’ve been extremely lucky.”

“But you also work really hard.” Her eyes seem lighter blue compared to the bright cyan sky. “I looked up your shop online. Unbelievable reviews. And your artwork is just incredible.”

“So’s yours, Sparky.”

Her giggle is adorable. “You can’t call me that!”

She shivers as I breathe into her ear. “If you don’t like Sparky, can I just call you mine, then?”

Her breasts lift and lower as her breathing becomes heavier. It’s very distracting. “I don’t… Are you joking? You wouldn’t tease me about stuff like that, right?”

“No way.” I lift her into my lap, cuddling her tight against me. “I think you’re breathtaking. I know it’s crazily soon to start thinking long term, but I’d like to know that there’s at least a possibility.”

Her chin tips up and down. “I guess anything is…possible.”

I grin until her eyes light up. “So can I call you mine, Sparky?”

After a deep breath, she reaches out to play with my collar, then lets her fingers wander along the back of my neck. “Yeah. If you like.”

“Good.” We lean in at the same time, leading to a delicate, romantic kiss that quickly becomes heated. Her lips are so soft, and from her uneven breath I’d guess she’s excited.

It hits me like a ton of bricks: Emma’s never been with a man before. I’m going to be her first…everything. Which means I have to be extra careful about how fast we go.

We both moan contentedly as the kiss deepens, taking over our entire bodies. Her legs rub against mine, her fingers spear through the back of my hair. I untuck her shirt so my fingers can caress her side, then the base of her spine. Damn, the way this girl moves drives me wild.

The need to slip my hand into her pants becomes almost overwhelming, so I break off the kiss to pull myself together.

There’s a sharp chatter, and we both look back to the bike to see a perky chipmunk running around the tires.

“Hey – I just wondered. Do you drive the motorcycle in your firefighter gear?” Emma asks.

“No. If I’m answering a call, I’ll take my truck, which has some equipment in it.” My chest puffs out. “Us burly mountain men have to have a truck out here. It’s in the rules. And if you’re a volunteer fighter, that goes double.”

She laughs. “Sounds expensive.”

“All of our gear is provided. Depending on what kind of call it is, someone will either grab a water truck, or an equipment van, or both. There are thirteen vehicles spread across the three-town zone, so someone will always get there quickly.”

Her eyes widen. “Wow. Okay, that sounds really expensive.”

“We’re very well-funded.” I glance shiftily from side to side, as if checking for eavesdroppers. “Don’t tell anyone, but there’s an anonymous donor who buys the volunteers all the gear we need and pays for our training – two weeks a year in the summer, together with a couple of long weekends in the spring and fall. Plus we’re given a generous honorarium every year. The Fire Marshall and admin assistant are paid. It’s not how most volunteer firefighter teams are set up, but it works for us out here in the mountainous sticks.”

“Do you have any idea who the donor is?”

I chuckle. “Nope. On a completely unrelated topic, what’s the name of this mountain again?”

She taps the side of her nose. “Aha. Gotcha.”

We chat for a while about Wolfe Mountain, how Emma’s Aunt Tish and Uncle Boyle have lived here for ages, and before that her uncle’s family, including her dad. When she tells me about her two older sisters, her eyes narrow so slightly I don’t think she even realizes she’s doing it, but there’s definitely some tension there.

The wind picks up, so I drive her back to town, taking the slow, scenic route. Just before we get there, I feel my phone vibrate. Pulling over, I check the text.

Dammit.

“It’s a call. I’ll drop you at your place, then go straight there on the bike. Trucks are already enroute.” I look at her carefully. “I won’t speed, but I’m going to have to drive a bit faster. Is that okay?”

She nods. “Sure. Whatever you have to do.”

“Great. Hang on, Sparky.”

We get to her house in no time. Then I check my phone again. “Oh my god, they canceled the call,” I chuckle.

“The fire’s already out?”

“Yeah. Sometimes people panic and call before they realize they can take care of it themselves.” I respond to the text that I’ve got the message, then turn to Emma. “It’s fine. We’d much rather respond to a false alarm than have someone lose their house because they didn’t want to bother us.”

“Make sense.”

I take the helmet from her hand, then sling my arm around her. “Do you know what time you get lunch tomorrow?”

“One-thirty, after the midday rush. But I only get half an hour. Why?”

“Would you like to check out my shop? I can totally feed you in half an hour.”

Her eyes light up.

“Really? I’d love to see more of your art in person.”

Man, this girl is unnaturally pretty. I’m going to eventually freak her out from staring at her precious face all the time. My hand gravitates to her hip, squeezing gently. “It’s a date.”

Just as I start to lean in to kiss her, Emma stiffens and steps back a bit. Her eyes flick to the house, and she shakes her head slightly.

“They’re watching?” She nods imperceptibly. “Fine.” Keeping a polite distance, I smile. “Remember how I was kissing you up at the lookout?” Her cheeks stain faintly pink. “Now imagine if I had picked you up and backed you up against a tree, cradling the back of your head with one hand while the other roamed all over every inch of your body as I kissed you so hard you felt it down to your toenails.”

Her bottom lip wobbles, those blue eyes hazy. “You’re a tease.”

“That’s me. See you tomorrow, Sparky.”