When we stepped through the side door into my home, Susannah tugged her hand free of mine, much to my chagrin. What I had in mind didn’t involve social niceties.

Oblivious to my urge to throw her over my shoulder and cart her to bed, Susannah spun in a circle as she glanced around the downstairs of my home. It was a single level, timber frame ranch style home with a tall ceiling that rose up to a point in the center of the living room and windows across the entire front wall. It was still light out. The days could feel like forever here once winter had passed. Even though it was only spring, the sun wasn’t setting until after nine in the evening.

The side door came from a deck into the kitchen, which had soft green tiles and a curved counter that arched off the wall and served as a divider between the kitchen and dining room. Rich, cherry wood cabinets were mounted on the walls with stainless steel appliances. The tile met hardwood flooring beyond the counter. A dining area that phased into the living room was just beyond that. A small round table and chairs furnished the dining area with the back of a sectional couch creating a natural divider for the living room.

One part of the couch faced the wall where a television was mounted and the other side of the couch faced the windows, looking out over the view. A propane fireplace occupied the far corner of the living room. The space was bright and airy. Even though there were three bedrooms, it didn’t feel too large for just me.

Although I didn’t know if I’d be here beyond the two years for my contract, the price was good, the property was gorgeous, and I figured I could sell if I didn’t decide to stay longer.

Susannah spun back to me as she walked backwards into the living room. “This is lovely. You bought this?”

I slid my hands into my pockets, if anything to calm the restless urge to snatch her to me and devour her. “I did.”

She nodded as she turned away, walking towards the windows. Resting one hand on her hip, she looked out. The view faced a sloping hill with a cluster of cottonwood trees to one side and a rocky hillside to the other. A valley beyond was barely visible in the fading light. The sky was streaked with orange and red, the lingering burst from the setting sun.

“Beautiful view,” she commented. “My friends built this home, but I never got to see the inside after it was finished.”

Turning back, she walked toward where I had stopped beside the couch, resting a hip against the back of it.

“Oh?”

“Have you met Amelia? Cade’s wife?” she asked.

“Think so. She’s tall, right?”

Susannah’s lips quirked. “Yeah, she’s tall. She owns and runs Kick Ass Construction with Lucy. They’re good friends of mine. Anyway, they run one of the best construction companies in town. They built this house only a few years ago if I remember right. I can’t believe the owners sold it so quickly, but they were out-of-towners anyway.”

I chuckled. “This is definitely a small town if you know who used to own this place.”

Her eyes flicked to mine and she nodded. “Well, yeah. But I probably wouldn’t have known who had this place if Amelia and Lucy hadn’t built it.”

She had stopped a few feet away from me. The urge to touch her was too powerful to resist anymore. I reached out, catching her hand in mine and reeling her to me. Snagging her bottom lip in her teeth, her cheeks pinkened as she looked up at me. Fuck me. The sight of her teeth denting her plump lip sent blood shooting to my groin.

I leaned my hips against the back of the sofa, pulling her between my knees. Her breath hissed through her teeth when her hips bumped into the ridge of my cock. I didn’t bother to hide my arousal. There was no point to it. I’d been hanging onto my control by a thread all evening.

Her brow furrowed as she held my gaze. I could tell she was thinking. I wasn’t in denial. I knew we had plenty to talk about. I just didn’t feel like talking right now. I’d rather lose myself in her for a bit.

As if she could read my mind, she asked, “Shouldn’t we talk?”

I shrugged, letting my hand slide around her hips to cup her bottom. Damn. She had a sweet ass. “Maybe,” I replied, as I slid my other hand under the hem of her shirt, almost groaning at the feel of her silky soft skin.

I hadn’t thought about it much, but something about how she was such a tomboy on the outside and so feminine on the inside drove me crazy. I respected the hell out of her. I knew she could hold her own with any man out in the field. Word amongst the crew here was she was fearless, and it wasn’t as if I hadn’t known that. I’d seen her in action when we trained together. I loved her strength and her reckless edge. It was impossible to do the job we did without it. Our job required a tolerance for danger, for pushing past the point where most would turn back.

Her breath hitched, distracting me. My eyes wandered down over the swell of her breasts. She wore jeans and a T-shirt. There was nothing whatsoever remarkable about her outfit. Yet, she was sexy as hell. She had a penchant for lace and silk, something I’d discovered in our two nights together. Her nipples pressed against the cotton of her T-shirt, her breasts stretching the fabric tight.

I dipped my head, nipping through her T-shirt over a nipple, savoring the sharp gasp from her and the instant rock of her hips into mine.

“Ward,” she murmured when I pinched her other nipple between my thumb and forefinger.

Lifting my head, I canted my eyes up to meet hers, level with mine since I was halfway seated. “Yes?” I managed.

“You didn’t answer me.”

For a flash, I wasn’t catching her meaning, then I recalled her question. “I don’t think we have to talk now, do we?”

Her breast rose into my palm as she took a shuddering breath. “Well, I don’t know.”

Little furrows appeared between her brows, her teeth catching her lip again. I doubted she meant for that to be a turn on, but it was sexy as all hell. Her mouth alone could bring me to my knees. Those plump pink lips, the fair skin of her face and her wide blue eyes. I remembered those lips wrapped around my cock and couldn’t wait to see it again.

I realized she was going to be stuck in this place if I didn’t give her a chance to talk. I had to force myself to focus. The need roaring through me was like a river rushing down a mountain. I could hardly hear over it as it pushed everything else out of the way.

“Look, I get it. I know we need to talk. You’re pregnant. I’m shocked about it, but I don’t know that we’re going to solve anything tonight. I need a little time to get used to the idea, and I don’t know what you want to do. Do you?”

She held my gaze, shifting on her feet. “Obviously, I didn’t plan on this. I wasn’t sure if I wanted a baby, but I can’t imagine anything else. But…” She paused and took a slow breath. “I think you’re right. I think we need a little time to absorb it.”

I stared at her—hard. I was still too startled by the news to know what to say. But I did know one thing. I wanted her. Now.