“Wow,” I breathe, caught up in the moment as my heart threatens to beat out of my chest.
Blinking hard, Harlan shakes his head and takes a step back before clearing his throat. “We should get these trees over to the front before the rush.”
“If that’s what you want…” I let the words trail off and wait. Harlan’s pupils dilate and the muscle in his jaw tics, his fists clenching and unclenching at his side.
“We need to go.” His voice is hoarse, his body strung tight, and I know I’m not imagining the way that reaction is entirely for me.
“Lead the way, Mr. Frost.”
He growls, lifting the first tree and throwing it into the trailer. I do the same, rolling my lips inward to keep my look of victory modest instead of absolutely beaming. Icando subtle—I just don’t like it.
We work in tandem, and feeling brave, I stand close enough that my arm brushes against his. The connection feels like fireworks are exploding between us and I gasp. It’s barely audible but he hears it, his body moving to box me in against the trailer.
We’re pretty evenly matched in size, but the way he’s staring at me makes him large and imposing, sexy and gruff.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he rumbles, the smell of his soap making my knees go weak as his chest heaves.
We’re so close like this—all I’d have to do is lean forward and we’d be touchingeverywhere.
“Seeing how far I can push you.”
If he’s surprised by my answer he doesn’t show it.
“Why?”
“Because I hate pretending.”
“Pretending what?”
“That I don’t feel this wild pull when I’m near you.” He doesn’t move but his eyes are absolutely blazing, so I drop mine to his mouth and add, “That I don’t want to find out just howwildit would be.”
“Reid, I?—”
His plea is cut off by the crackle of the radio.
“Farm opens in fifteen minutes!” Winston announces, his voice cheery and completely destroying any and all progress I just made with Harlan.
Harlan opens his mouth, and I nod as I move around him to the front of the trailer. “I know—we gotta move the trees.”
7
HARLAN
Ialmost kissed him.
It was stupid and reckless, but dammit if my body isn’t still craving his lips on mine. I want to feel him everywhere. I want him naked and bent over, spread for me and begging for release. I want to watch him come apart in my hands—to submit to me as I drive him higher and higher before making him shatter.
And I can’t fucking have him.
Winston’s voice over the radio had been a much-needed wakeup call. As much as I want the man before me, I can’t risk this job—even if it’s temporary.
More importantly, I can’t risk my heart.
Not again.
And Reid’s the kind of guy you can easily fall for with his big doe eyes and boyish charm. He’s the softer side to all my hard edges—like a balm meant to soothe away all the hurt I still carry.
Because even if I enjoyed his company for just one night—and Idefinitelywould enjoy it—there’d be no way to make a clean break.
