chapter 28

Nita’s stomach fluttered with butterflies, a sensation she hadn’t felt since high school, when Ky’s fleeting touches sent her heart racing. No man since had left her this sweaty and dazed just from conversation. Ky was charming, funny, and his face—God, that face—felt oddly familiar. Those hazel eyes, shifting from green to gold, were driving her wild, tugging at some distant memory she couldn’t place.

She opened her mouth to ask about his childhood when a man strode into the kitchen.

“Hey, Chief. I smell food,” he said, halting at the sight of Nita and Ky smiling over their empty plates.

“Liam, what are you doing here?” Ky asked, his tone more surprised than sharp.

Liam, a broad-shouldered man with short dark hair and a scruffy beard, rivaled Ky’s rugged appeal. But Ky’s golden spikes, dazzling smile, and those lips—Lord, she ached to kiss them—set him apart.

Liam’s surprise morphed into a sly grin. He crossed his arms over his black T-shirt and shrugged. “Jess called. She asked me to come over and see you. She didn’t elaborate. I took it to mean you were in the middle of piling up some firewood for your den and needed help.”

“I’m fine. I don’t need help,” Ky said, standing to gather the empty bowls and place them in the sink. The clink of spoons and glass broke the brief silence. “Liam, this is Nita. Nita, Liam.”

“Nita?” Liam’s eyes widened with surprise.

“Yes. Nice to meet you, Liam. But…” Nita grinned at Liam. “I think he needs to see a doctor to have that wound checked.”

Liam’s smile vanished. “Wound?”

“I’m fine,” Ky replied. “We’ll discuss it later.”

Liam’s brows furrowed, a low growl rumbling from him. “I understand.”

“I’m really sorry, Ky. I just think you should seek a professional medical opinion. You could have done some damage we’re not aware of. Head wounds are very dangerous,” Nita said.

Ky paused at the sink, turning to her with a grin, as if her concern amused him. “Thank you for your concern. It is incredibly humbling.”

His smile was pure fire, his eyes darkening to a deep forest green. Heat coiled in her belly, her breath catching. Her heart did somersaults, leaving her dizzy.

“I should go then,” Liam offered.

“No!” Nita blurted, startling herself. “Please, stay.”

She needed Liam to stick around, or she’d do something reckless. At her age, she needed a chaperone? This date was going *too* well. She cursed herself for not peeking under Ky’s towel when he was unconscious. Just a quick lift of the corner—would he have noticed? Ky’s familiarity nagged at her. If he weren’t so massive, she’d swear he reminded her of her high school friend, Ky. But this Ky was a mountain of muscle, with a sinful beard and a body she wanted to climb like a tree. Maybe hump like a dog, too. Liam had to stay, or she’d lose all control.

“Are you sure?” Liam asked, glancing at Ky.

“Yes,” she replied, turning to the kitchen window. “It’s late and the cabin I’m staying at isn’t far from here so I should go.”

“You don’t have to go,” Ky said quickly. “I have a guest cabin.”

Her chest warmed, a smile spreading at his eagerness. He wanted her to stay, and that felt like a step in the right direction. “I know. That’s where I’m staying. Did you forget that part too?”

Liam’s hearty chuckle filled the kitchen, and a flush crept over Ky’s pale cheeks. God, he was adorable—cute in a way that made her want to strip him bare and lick every inch of him. Her thoughts veered into dangerous territory. Too late. Her mind conjured Ky naked, that sexy smile his only accessory, prowling toward her. Then kissing her senseless.

“I really think I should go,” Liam said, clearing his throat and stepping back.

“Nonsense. I’m going to need some sleep soon. I’ll just head over to that cabin Mrs. Wilder mentioned. She gave me directions—” Nita said.

“I’ll take you,” Ky cut in. “Liam, stay here. We’ll talk when I return.”

Nita rose from the table, her body flushed and taut with desire. If she got any more turned on, she’d jump Ky in the woods. *Ravish*? Since when did she use that word? Tally’s influence was rubbing off.

“I need to grab my overnight bag and we are good to go,” she told Ky, then offered her hand to Liam. “It was nice meeting you.”

“The pleasure was all mine,” Liam said with a flirty wink that probably dropped panties left and right. “Trust me.”

His tone hinted at something, but Nita couldn’t pin it down. Maybe he was teasing her for ratting out Ky’s injury.

With her bag retrieved from the car, Ky led her down a path beside his cabin, the moonlit creek sparkling nearby. “That’s gorgeous,” she said, mesmerized by the water’s reflection. “You must love living here.”

Leaves crunched underfoot, the sound mingling with the butterflies swarming her chest. “I do love living here,” Ky said, taking her hand to guide her over uneven ground.