Summer Love in the Forest (Summer Instalove)

“What is it that you’re working on?” he asked.

“I am a singer-songwriter. I’d like to start performing my own music on open stages and as an opening act someday, but I need more songs.”

His eyes lit up with excitement. “You’re a singer? That’s amazing. And you write your own songs?”

I nodded, then saw out of the corner of my eye that he had a CD rack that took up half of the living room wall. “I take it you like music,” I said.

“Absolutely,” he nodded. “I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but I admire people who can.”

“This is amazing, thank you,” I said, digging into my dinner.

“Glad you like it. I always cook a big batch of something when I’m out here alone, and eat it for days at a time, so it’s nice to have someone to share it with.”

“Um, are you always out here alone?” I asked. With a pang I realized I didn’t even know if he was marri

ed or something.

“My brother and I own this land, and he runs the cabin rentals for most of the year,” he said. “I give him a month off in the summer and take over so that he can do some traveling. The rest of the year, I live in the city and make furniture.”

“That’s where I live too,” I said, wondering whether I should ask him more personal questions or not.

We ate in silence for a while, dipping chunks of the rolls into the chili. Between that and the ginger tea, I was actually getting overheated. Ray must have noticed I was becoming flushed, as he went over to the wall and turned the heat down. Staring at his huge shoulders and tight, firm ass certainly didn’t turn down the heat inside me.

“Would you like some more?” he asked, eyeing my empty bowl.

“No, thank you. I had two bites too many.”

“Perfect, because I don’t really have any dessert to offer you,” he chuckled. “My grocery run is tomorrow.”

I jumped up and took the bowls to the sink, rinsing them as I looked around for the dish soap.

“Thanks, but I can’t have you cleaning up,” he chuckled.

“You saved my life. The least I can do is wash the dishes,” I smiled.

“Actually, I want you to rest.” He stood up and came right beside me, his arm sliding around my waist. “Kate, I know I should walk you to your cabin, but I don’t want you to be alone tonight, just in case you do have a bit of a concussion.”

Ray’s strong profile wore a strange expression that I couldn’t quite read. “I’m feeling strangely protective of you. Does that scare you?”

I shook my head.

“How can you trust me if you don’t even know me?” His slightly crooked smile was overwhelmingly charming.

I realized that I had already taken a half step closer to press against his side, my chin turning up to his. “When I threw myself at you in the shower, you were a gentleman about it.” I paused, feeling my cheeks flaming. “I’m really sorry about that.”

His hand drifted down to grip the side of my hip. “Kitten, I’ll be honest. Cutting things short in the shower was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life.”

“Really?” I blurted.

“I’ve never met such a beautiful, sweet girl as you, Kate,” he said softly, his other hand reaching up to graze his fingertips tenderly along my cheekbone as he tilted my chin up further.

“You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen, and far too gorgeous to be around me. So there’s no way I could possibly have taken advantage of you when you were half delirious.” His eyes closed for a moment. “In fact, I’m truly sorry I let it go as far as I did.”

“That was completely my fault,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”

His smile made his eyes glow. “Don’t be sorry, kitten. You were running on instinct. You have no idea what it does to me to know that part of you had those sorts of urges toward me.”

“Um, so… What do we do now?” I whispered. I needed him to hold me, and do...whatever came naturally. I was flooded with the urge to be naked while he showed me how he wanted me to touch every part of him. I needed to please him, and I’d never even imagined feeling something like that so deeply.