by J. H. Croix
Fuck. This time, I kept my profanity to myself. I was sitting here, covered in mud, with the hottest man in town staring down at me. I felt my cheeks heating and was relieved I had mud on my face because perhaps it would obscure my blush.
“I was mad at the puddle, not you,” I replied, only half-lying. I was mad at the puddle, but I was also horrified to be in this state in his presence.
With a shake of my head, I moved to scramble to my feet. I managed to get halfway up and then my foot slid out from under me again. Because it was that kind of day.
Remy held a hand out, and I bit my lip with a sigh. Reaching up, his strong grip curled around my hand as he pulled me up easily. Once I was upright, he stepped back, making sure I was fully out of the puddle and on firmer ground before he released me.
His eyes coasted over me. “Are you okay?”
Embarrassed, flustered, and annoyed as hell at my body’s swift reaction to Remy’s presence, I managed to nod. “I’m fine, just a little dirty. Thanks for helping me up,” I said with a wry smile, gesturing at the mud streaks on my legs.
Remy’s mouth kicked up at one corner in a half-grin. Sweet hell, his grins should be illegal. My lower belly clenched and heat radiated outward.
“Anytime, darlin’,” he replied, his grin stretching to the other side of his mouth. “I presume that was your dog who just ran past me?” One of his brows hitched up.
I had completely forgotten about Henry. That just went to show how easily Remy rattled me. “Yes, oh God, I need to catch up to him.”
As I started to turn, Remy put his hand on my elbow. Before I could say a word, he spoke. “Wait.”
The word was low, and somehow authoritative. But then, everything about Remy was powerful and authoritative. Oh, and sexy as hell. Did I mention that yet?
The man practically dripped sex with his southern drawl, his fit, muscled body, and his dangerously heated gaze. To top it all off—nature really had been too generous with him—he had chiseled features, high cheekbones, and full lips. The man could’ve been a model. Yet, he seemed oblivious to his effect on women. He was always gracious and polite.
I had two conflicting impulses whenever I was near Remy. I wanted to throw myself at him. And, I wanted to curl up in his arms and be held, to have his strength wrapped around me. Remy was that kind of man, the kind you knew would save you if you needed saving.
Before I even had a chance to ask why Remy wanted me to wait, Henry appeared, dashing toward us and stopping right in front of Remy. Looking down at him, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course you come when I’m not even calling.”
Henry wagged his entire body, practically vibrating when Remy dropped his hand from my elbow and knelt down to pet him. Remy didn’t seem to care one bit that Henry was covered head to toe in mud and was licking his face all over. Even my dog liked Remy.
When Remy straightened, Henry circled around my legs, and I reached down to pet him. It didn’t matter if he got mud on me because I was already covered in it. I looked over at Remy. “Thanks again for helping me up.”
Remy smiled, his gorgeous green eyes crinkling at the corners. “Anytime, darlin’.” He was quiet for a beat, his gaze considering. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. Just in serious need of a shower.” Leaning down, I clipped Henry’s leash on his collar. He didn’t usually dash off, but I preferred to keep him close until we were back in my car. “Thanks again,” I said with a wave as I started to walk. When I took a step, sharp pain shot from my knee. A gasp hissed through my teeth when I paused.
Remy was back at my side in a flash. “I’ll walk you back.”
“Oh my God, I can walk, Remy. I banged my knee when I fell. It’s no biggie,” I insisted.
He ignored me and stepped to the side where Henry was, taking the leash from me and sliding his other hand into the crook of my elbow. “I can’t let you walk back alone. The last thing I want is for you to slip and fall again.”
I wanted to argue, but I sensed Remy was going to walk with me, whether I argued the point or not. “Fine,” I muttered.
We didn’t have far to go. Within a few minutes, we reached the parking lot at the base of the trail. I let Henry into the back of my car, and he immediately started lapping up water from his travel bowl.
Remy grinned. “Smart,” he said, gesturing to the towels layered on the carpet in the back of my small SUV.
“Oh, I’m always prepared for Henry to get dirty.” I closed the back of the SUV when Henry curled up and rested his chin on his paws, checking to make sure the windows in the back were cracked open.
Turning to look at Remy, I caught him taking a nice, long look at my ass. Heat rushed to my cheeks, yet somehow, I didn’t mind. Seeing as I considered him eye candy, I guessed it was fair play for him to check me out. I couldn’t resist commenting though.
“Were you just staring at my ass?”
Remy
Rachel Garrett was all kinds of trouble. She might as well have had the word tattooed on her forehead as far as I was concerned. Although, a more appropriate place for the tattoo in question would be on the swell of her breasts. Precisely where I tended to have trouble with my wandering eyes.
With her dark brown hair, flashing blue eyes, and curves for days, Rachel was downright sexy. Her sharp attitude only made her more appealing. In short, she was my kind of woman. This was certainly not the first time I had noticed her. I’d been living in Willow Brook for close to a year now, having moved to town after taking a position as a hotshot firefighter on a crew here.
I crossed paths with Rachel every so often through the connections of shared friends. Yet, I’d never been alone with her before. Just now, she had mud splattered on her face, all over her legs, on her arms, and smudging her shirt and shorts. All I could think was that mud wrestling with Rachel would be more than fun.
I was a gentleman though. I was also legitimately concerned she hurt herself when she almost collided with me and slipped in the mud.
“Were you just staring at my ass?” she asked.
Caught red-handed. I had, in fact, been staring at Rachel’s ass. I didn’t care to try to hide it and let my eyes linger just a bit longer. She had a plump, luscious bottom. With her shorts wet and molded to her body, her curves were outlined perfectly for me.
I was no misogynistic jerk. I didn’t really think they were outlined for me, but my body sure thought so. I drank in the sight of her, my gaze coasting over the luscious curve of her ass, then to her breasts, where her nipples were visible through the fabric of her damp T-shirt and bra.
When my eyes finally reached her face, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were flashing.
“Yes, I was,” I drawled.
Despite the mud on her cheeks, I could still see her flush deepen. The air around us felt electric as Rachel stared at me. I didn’t doubt for one second just how fiery Rachel would be tangled up with me.
I hadn’t been interested in a woman in too damn long. I was no monk, but I could’ve been confused for one the last few years of my life. I shook my thoughts away from that path.
Rachel’s mouth dropped open and then she snapped it shut before putting a hand on her hip and glaring at me. Little did she know that seeing her angry only sent a hot jolt of lust through me.
“Well, that was rude,” she sputtered, lifting her arm and wiping the back of her hand across the mud on her cheek, an entirely pointless attempt to clean her face, especially considering her hand was covered in mud too.
A low chuckle escaped from me, and her eyes flashed again. Stepping closer, she actually wagged her finger in my face. “That’s not funny.”
“Darlin’, you’re covered in mud and you’re gorgeous. I shouldn’t have laughed though, so my apologies.”
Yet again, her mouth opened and snapped shut.
“How’s your knee?” I added.
She flexed it and shrugged. “It’s fine.” Then, she put her palm on my chest and gave me a little shove.
Damn, the feel of her palm against my chest was like a hot brand right through my shirt. I didn’t even think, I covered her hand with mine and stepped closer. Nothing was funny now.
I wanted to kiss her. Sweet hell, did I want to kiss her. But I wouldn’t. Not now. “Let’s just be honest. I want you. I’ll let you think on that.”
At that, I released her hand and stepped back. Henry, her goofy dog, stuck his nose to the crack in the window at that moment, giving out a low woof. Rachel looked at Henry and then back at me, her blue eyes darkening. “I have to go,” she said abruptly.
“You do that, sweetheart.”
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Copyright © 2019 J.H. Croix; All rights reserved.
Coming March 2019 - available on pre-order now!
Crash & Burn
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If you love steamy, small town romance, take a visit to Diamond Creek, Alaska in my Last Frontier Lodge Series. A sexy, alpha SEAL meets his match with a brainy heroine in Take Me Home. It’s FREE on all retailers! Don’t miss Gage & Marley’s story!
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Into The Fire Series
Burn For Me
Slow Burn
Burn So Bad
Hot Mess
Burn So Good
Sweet Fire
Play With Fire
Melt With You
Burn For You
Brit Boys Sports Romance
The Play
Big Win
Out Of Bounds
Play Me
Naughty Wish
Diamond Creek Alaska Novels
When Love Comes
Follow Love
Love Unbroken
Love Untamed
Tumble Into Love
Christmas Nights
Last Frontier Lodge Novels
Take Me Home
Love at Last
Just This Once
Falling Fast
Stay With Me
When We Fall
Hold Me Close
Crazy For You
Catamount Lion Shifters
Protected Mate
Chosen Mate
Fated Mate
Destined Mate
A Catamount Christmas
Ghost Cat Shifters
The Lion Within
Lion Lost & Found
Acknowledgments
I will never run out of gratitude to you, my readers. Thank you (again & again & again) for cheering on my books, for your kind and funny notes, and so much more.
Many thanks to Jenn Wood for helping me make Holly & Nate’s story the best it could be. Gracious thanks to Terri D. for proofreading above and beyond.
To my proofreading angels - Janine, Beth P., Terri E., Heather H., & Carolyne B. Yoly Cortez worked her magic once again, giving a new look to the entire series. I love it!
My friends and family. DBC for making me laugh and for being there no matter what. My dogs for love, joy, and sweetness.
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xoxo
J.H. Croix
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with sassy women and alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!
Places you can find me:
jhcroixauthor.com
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