1
Linc felt like a creeper.
But he couldn’t help but be drawn to the giggles drifting out of the open window from Charlie and Clint’s living room. He stood in the shadows on the porch, staring in as they danced around.
Yep, definite stalker vibes.
Sadness filled him. He was happy so many of the men on Sanctuary Ranch had found their other half, but he couldn’t help but feel lonely.
As Ari moved away from the couch, he spotted a woman with gleaming dark hair pulled up into a high ponytail kneeling by Charlie. Who was she? She moved her head, smiling up at Charlie.
Dear Lord, she was beautiful. His heart started beating faster.
Easy, man. You don’t even know her.
Something told him, though, that this girl was special. He watched as she gracefully stood. She was petite but with an abundance of curves he longed to run his hands over. Her gaze dipped down as Ari gave her some money.
Shy?
He watched as she walked out of the room, her arms precariously filled with two large containers. Well now, that wouldn’t do. Tiny thing like her shouldn’t be carrying around anything heavy.
She could hurt herself.
Walking around the porch, he headed to the front door, making it there just in time to see her heading towards the steps. The tubs in her arms covered her face and he watched as she stumbled, misjudging the step. The containers went flying through the air and he leapt forward to catch her as she cried out.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, he set her down on the porch. Her scent drifted towards him. Cinnamon and apples. Yum. Made him wonder how she would taste.
Not wanting to let go, he held her a bit longer than was appropriate before he stepped away. Hopefully, she’d just think he was making certain she was steady on her feet. Damn though, he wished he had the right to sweep her up into his arms. To feel all that softness pressed against him.
Easy, man.
She was staring up at him, her lips parted slightly.
“You all right, sweetheart?” he asked.
“Oh…oh yes. I’m fine.” Her voice was slightly husky. Fuck. Him. How could someone so sweet looking have such a sexy-sounding voice?
“What are you doing carrying around all that stuff? You should have asked someone to help you,” he scolded her gently.
“That’s okay, I’m used to carrying it on my own. I just misjudged where the step was. It’s not the first time it’s happened. You saved me from another skinned knee, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. But I don’t like the idea of you hurting yourself. Next time, you get someone to help you, okay? Little bit like you doesn’t need to be carrying such heavy stuff.”
“It’s not that heavy.” Her gaze went down, her shoulders curving in.
Fuck. What had he said? Was he pushing too hard?
Ease up.
“Hey, everything okay?” he asked.
“Oh yes.” She laughed nervously. “I better pick everything up. I hope nothing’s broken.”
She turned away from him and he had to fight his instincts to pull her back, to press her against him. To admonish her that she shouldn’t be walking down steps without holding his hand.
Yeah, that would go over well. She’d likely run a mile, trying to get away from the crazy dude. He followed her down the steps.
“I’m Linc by the way. What’s your name?”
“Marisol.”
Marisol. Pretty.
“Nice to meet you, Marisol.” He stacked the containers on top of one another before she could do it. “Now, where am I taking these?”
“Oh, you don’t have to carry them for me.”
He was silent. Did sh
e seriously think he was going to just stand here and let her carry them? What kind of men was she used to? His nana would have whipped his ass for letting a woman carry something when he had two able arms.
Eventually, she caved. “Uh, if you could carry them over to my car for me, that would be great. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You, uhh, you work here?” she asked.
She sounded so uncertain and he could have kicked himself. Here she was, alone in the dark with a strange man who hadn’t even bothered to introduce himself properly.