Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

H ome .

That’s where Jake had been insisting she’d needed to be for almost a year. Josh too. Jonah had been the lone holdout because he thought she’d needed more time.

Well, her time was up.

This just wasn’t how he’d imagined it happening. Hell, of all the scenarios he’d tried to play out in his head on exactly how they would get her for their own, this was nowhere close. He just prayed she would come with them. Although…

Where else would she go?

He eyed the deep furrows filling with snow and broken branches where her car had gone off the side of the mountain, and he shuddered.

Minutes.

That’s all they’d had.

If they hadn’t followed her.

Or if they hadn’t seen…

He shook his head, clearing those thoughts from his mind as he wrapped his arms around her, needing the comfort for himself.

Needing…

Just Alyssa.

And not all the what ifs.

"Okay," she finally whispered out, then turned her frowning gaze toward where her car had gone over as well. She let out a small sigh. "All my things were in there. My purse, the keys to my house, my laptop, my…" She grimaced. "Great, my phone was in there." Panicked, widening eyes lifted and bounced to him and his brothers. "Becca.

Their woman pulled herself from their arms and stumbled away, then took off at a run that wasn’t as fast it might have been because of the snow and headed straight for their truck. The three of them glanced at each other, with Josh shrugging, before they went after her.

"Hurry," she threw over her shoulder right as they easily caught up with her. "We’ve got to find her. She could be." A low sob left her as she came to a wobbly stop in the middle of the road, her shoulders shaking and hands wringing when they enclosed themselves around her. "What if…"

Pooling eyes lifted—first to Josh, then to Jonah, then finally to him, her red cheeks wet with tears. "Jake, what if…"

"Come here," he muttered, dragging her into his arms. His brothers didn’t add their arms to the hug, though they probably wanted to. Hell, he knew they wanted to. But, like him, they could feel her sense of being overwhelmed at the moment. So, he closed his eyes and soaked in the way she leaned into him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face against his chest.

"Baby," Jonah said, close. "Let us get you out of the cold."

"Yeah," Josh added in. "Come on, Lyssa. Let’s get you warm."

"Lyssa?" she said, sniffling, her head turning toward him, though still pressed to Jake’s chest.

His brother moved in close and kissed her cheek, whispering, "Is that okay to call you that?"

"Mmm-hmm. It’s what my family calls me." She sniffled again. "Lyssa."

"Then, let’s go, Lyssa ," Josh said, as Jake tucked her against his side and Jonah flanked her other. Josh went in front of them as they trudged through the deepening snow.

"But what about Becca?" she asked where they’d stopped at the still-running truck and Jonah lifted his hand to the handle. Jake met Jonah’s gaze over her head, then glanced at Josh who shook his head.

She was not going to like what they were about to say. Specifically, Jonah, who scanned the area and let out a huff that clouded the air.

"Baby," he said, finally putting all his attention on her and leaning into her face. "The snow is far too deep for even my truck to make it all the way to the top of Parson’s Ridge." His brother’s I know what’s best look he gave her shouldn’t have brooked an argument. But from the tight press of her lips, one wasn’t far behind. "Just going the five miles to get us home is going to be questionable."

Her brows raised, before her eyes slowly narrowed.

" My home is about fifteen miles…" She threw her arm out down the road. "That way."

"You’re coming home with us," Jake said, hoping his excitement at the prospect wasn’t too obvious. And it needed to be soon. Not just so they could be alone with her. Alyssa hadn’t been wrong about them lying in the snow. His wet jeans weren’t drying, and he had a real concern his balls were about to freeze off.

"Meaning," Jonah added, pointing up the road. " That way."

"How can I go home with you?"

"Easy," Jonah said, a slight smirk hovering over his mouth. His brother was not making this any easier. Especially with his, "We just get your pretty self inside my truck…" He opened the front passenger door where heat flooded out. "And we go."

"I—"

"I’m sorry Lyssa," Josh said, cutting her off. "But can we argue about this in the truck. Because if no one else has noticed…" His brother hunched further into his jacket—none of them had on coats suitable for this weather—his grimacing features taking in their surroundings. "The snow is coming down harder, and the longer we wait, the more the chance none of us are going to anyone’s home."

"Josh is right." Jake wasn’t one to worry. But glancing back the way they’d come, he couldn’t make out where they’d traveled to the truck. Meaning getting stuck here was a real possibility if they didn’t get going. " Alyssa ," he said low, taking her by the shoulders and turning her completely his way, then crouched in front of her. Green eyes filled with irritation, defiance, and, yes, a little fear, stared back at him. God, he hoped the fear wasn’t of them. "We almost lost you. And I’ll be damned if I’ll put you at risk. We won’t allow it. No matter how mad that might make you."

"But—"

"No buts," he said, trying to keep his features straight at the way she pressed her lips together and stomped her foot. It was just so cute. He searched her face—her beautiful, obstinate face—then groaned as he pulled her against him. "Only this."

This was what he’d needed. Alyssa’s mouth under his and her needy whimpers filling his ears as his hands went to her ass and he pressed her into the warm inside of the open truck door. He had to. He closed his eyes, needing every sense focused on all that was Alyssa.

Her body straining against his.

Her moans of need as she clutched at his arms and pulled on him.

Her taste.

God, her taste .

It wasn’t anything like he’d imagined it would be. It was so much more. Sweet, yes, but hot and seductive as her lips parted and tongue met his.

He pulled her hips tighter to his, his body on fire. A fire raging so hot, not even the snow hitting his face, head, and back of his neck could douse it.

"Jake," Jonah murmured. "Brother, we have to go."

Jake reluctantly pulled back from Alyssa’s soft lips and nodded, then opened his eyes and stared down into hers.

"You’re coming home," he whispered, watching as her pupils dilated and the flush filling her cheeks deepened. "With us."

The quiet, confident determination he’d said that with might have carried more weight coming from Jonah. That shouldn’t imply he didn’t mean it. It also didn’t make it any less a fact. And Jake probably wouldn’t admit to it later, but he held his breath. What she would say next was that important to him.

To them.

The distinct, crisp echo of pelting snow filled the silence. That and the blood pounding in his ears, as Alyssa’s steady stare held his. Those green depths told him nothing, until…

His heart sank as she flicked her eyes past him toward his brothers. Because there it was. The thing he’d dreaded.

Indecision.

It crossed her lovely face lifting toward the sky, her eyes blinking fast at the heavy flakes landing on her lashes and cheeks.

She was going to say…

"Yes."