Page 7 of Mountain Reclaiming

“Whatever, it’s not like I’m going to be here for long anyway, and I’m here to help you while I am. Not moon over some guy. Will you just help me so I don’t have flies hanging around me anymore?” I plead as we enter the bathroom.

“Fine, but please think about it,” she requests as she helps me peel off my clothes.

Unfortunately, I do think about it now that she’s planted the idea in my head. Could she be right? Cash did kiss me in high school, even if it was right before he left. I don’t know how he looked at me on Saturday because I did my best to avoid his gaze since I was so embarrassed.

He did stay with me and has been texting me since — after making sure we had each other’s numbers when he dropped me off. Apparently, making sure Paisley had his number too. Though I’m not sure why he did that.

Maybe Paisley’s right, but I’ll be leaving, and he’s taking care of his mom . It doesn’t seem like an ideal situation, but I shouldn’t let that keep me from being open-minded if he does show interest. Highly doubtful he will, but if he does, there’s no way I’d be able to say no to him. Just like when we were in high school.

“Holy hell. How did your sister manage on her own with those two? I can see why she called me for reinforcements,” Cash whispers as we shuffle down the hall after tucking the two said monsters in.

My mouth tips up in one corner. “They are a handful, but they’re so freaking cute you can’t help but love ’em.”

“I don’t know about that. It must be a biology thing, you being related to them and all. I guess they could grow on me though.”

A snort breaks free as we get to the couch. “Uh huh, right. Because you were having a terrible time on the floor building Legos with Barry, and you really protested when you were playing with Heidi and helping her marry her dolls together.”

Watching him with my niece and nephew had all sorts of visions running through my head. None of which I had any business contemplating. Cash with kids and babies that look like us has no place being there.

As if my ovaries weren’t already dancing from those thoughts, my heart joins in with a jig when he not only helps me onto the couch, propping my leg up on the coffee table with a pillow, but settles in next to me. Chills run rampant through my body when his arm wraps behind me, pulling me into his side as if we’ve always cuddled together like this.

He shrugs his other shoulder and winks, lips tipping up. “Well, it’s not like I could tell them no. I mean they are pretty cute. Besides, I forgot how much fun Legos were. What are we watching?”

“It doesn’t matter to me. What do you want to watch?”

“Already watching it.”

The TV’s only come on, and the guide is still on the screen. My brows pinch as I glance at him with a frown. “Huh?”

When my eyes meet his, I think I understand what my sister was talking about if this was how he was looking at me before. The heat and intensity has another round of chills rolling over me.

“Cash?” I whisper.

“Mmm?”

“What’s happening here?” Again, I whisper, afraid to break the moment we seem to be having but needing some clarity.

His hand reaches toward me, fingers curling to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear before trailing over my skin. My pulse races as his tongue swipes across his bottom lip, pulling the flesh into his mouth where he drags his teeth over it.

It has thoughts of him doing something similar to my own lip. My breath quickens with the idea, and my nostrils flare.

“What do you want to happen?” he finally asks.

Chapter Six

Cash

She shrugs her shoulder, glancing away at my question. I trail my hand up to cup her jaw, bringing her eyes back to mine.

“I’ll tell you what I want then. I want you more now than I ever did before. Which is saying a lot because I deserve a medal for resisting you in high school. Seeing you again has been like no time at all has passed, yet it has, and you’ve only become more enticing. The thing is, it seems we’re both in places where this can’t be more than temporary, like when we were younger. This time, though, we’re not kids. We’re adults with life experiences that can better handle what that might mean for our relationship. You so deserve more than something fleeting, but I don’t have the strength to walk away from you this time. I’m a big enough bastard to take what I’m craving if you’ll let me. It might not get to be forever, but I can damn well guarantee that you’ll never forget it. But you gotta tell me that’s what you want too.”

Her breathing, which had already deepened, becomes erratic at my words. I glance down to watch those luscious tits rise with each breath. My cock twitches against my zipper as I wait on pins and needles for her to give me the green light. Or what I hope will be the green light. I’ll respect and understand if she doesn’t want this, but I’m hoping with everything I am I’ll finally get to taste the woman who was once the girl I never forgot.

“You really wanted me in high school?” she whispers.

I frown. “Of course I did. I kissed you, didn’t I?”

She shrugs. “That wasn’t until right before you left. I thought maybe it was just your way of saying goodbye.”