The chest disappeared then there was
the sound of a thud as someone hit the ground.
Lydia blinked.
“Damn,” she said, looking down at the most gorgeous hunk of
man she had ever seen.
He looked up at her with eyes as black
as night, and a grin with dimples that could break her
heart. “Got one helluva shove there.”
Lydia reached out
her hand. “Sorry. You spooked me.” He grabbed her hand and
she pulled.
Once he was on his feet, she had to
look up to find his eyes again. “I thought I was the only
person out here in these woods.” She took a step back toward
the fire. She shoved her hands in the back pockets of her
jeans. Her heart fluttered for a moment, then settled. She
wasn’t sure, but it felt like a mixture of fear and lust.
She should be a bit scared of the guy, but good grief, she
had never seen someone that damned good-looking before. Dark
haired, lumberjack type—just like she had wished for
earlier.
The man brushed at the butt of his
jeans. “I live just over at a summer camp,” he said with a
smile. He brushed his right hand on the leg of his jeans
then offered it to her. “I’m Eric Raven.”
Lydia took his hand.
He had a firm handshake, a warm hand. A very warm hand.
“Glad to meet you. I’m Lydia Cross.” She released his hand
before hers started to sweat from the contact. A shimmering
thrill ran up her spine. Eric Raven was absolutely a keeper.
“Um, you actually live around here?” She asked, moving
toward the fire. She’d better put some distance between
them. Not only was she really attracted to him, she didn’t
know him, and meeting someone out here in the middle of
nowhere was odd. She squatted down and picked up a stick,
poking at the hot ashes. “I thought Maine Paper Land was a
‘Wildlife Only’ zone.”
He moved to her side, and squatted
next to her. “There are us loggers, too. By the way,” he
said, looking at her out of the corner of his eye, “you
don’t look much like a logger.”
Lydia let out a
laugh. “Thank goodness.” Then she almost choked. “Oh, not
that loggers aren’t good-looking,” she backpedaled.
“Especially if they look like you. Um, geez, I’m making a
complete fool of myself here, aren’t I?” She could feel heat
filtering into her cheeks. Oh, good grief. Now I’m
blushing.
“Hey, I’ll take any compliment I can
get.” Then he smiled.
Lydia cocked her
head. There was something about his smile. He turned his
head, looking toward the fire. No, not his smile.
His teeth.
“You’re not scared,” he said, “being
out here by yourself?”
“Should I be?” She watched his face.
Firelight flickered across his cheekbones, played in the
darkness of his eyes.