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Delilah stands in front of me barefooted, her hair messy from sleeping, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to restrain myself any longer.

I let my gaze rake over her kissable lips, drinking her in with my eyes because I can’t use my hands or mouth.

She takes a deep breath. “Hawk, please don’t go. I had an amazing time with you today.”

I give her a curt nod. “I did too. You’re a talented artist, Delilah.”

She smiles softly. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”

She takes a step closer. “You can’t deny that we have a connection. I know you feel it too.”

I swallow. I hoped I’d imagined she was referring to me when she said she was distracted by someone earlier and cut her finger. Hoping that questioning look she gave me in the kitchen wasn’t about us but something else.

Not that I don’t want her. Fuck, I do, but… her dad… he’s my best friend. It’s fucking wrong.

I shake my head. Can I keep using Keith as an excuse not to give in to my all-consuming feelings for her?

“Aren’t you going to say something?” Delilah asks, her voice breaking.

The look on her face hurts me deep in my core. She’s clearly afraid I’ll turn her down. How can I do that to her? How can I say no to the first woman who’s ever made me feel this good? This alive?

“Delilah, we can’t,” I say between gritted teeth.

She steals a glance at the house before taking my hand in hers. Her skin is soft, the contact electrifying. Jesus Christ, why does she have to go and do that to me? There’s no way I can resist her now.

She stands on her tiptoes, her mouth waiting for mine. All I have to do is tilt my head down. I’m torn between my loyalty to Keith and my feelings for Delilah.

In the end, true love wins, as it always does.

I cup her face. She licks her lips, her breath trembling as she softly moans. I press my mouth against hers in a claiming gesture. Jesus, she feels even better than I fantasized. Warm and soft and wet. She pushes my lips apart with her tongue and presses her hips against mine while she deepens our kiss. She must feel my erection, but I can’t stop my cock from growing hard, not when this angel of a girl is kissing me like her life depends on it.

A small growl escapes from the back of my throat. I gently bite her tongue before sucking it like I long to suck her clit. Then, I remember that Keith would see us if he happens to glance out the window.

It pains me to do so, but I break our kiss. “We can’t do this here. Not in your dad’s driveway.”

“Let’s go somewhere together,” Delilah pants.

I let out a laugh. “Your dad will be happy to hear I’m taking his daughter on my Harley with me at ten in the evening.”

“I’ll take my car and tell Dad I’m meeting an old friend for drinks. He doesn’t need to know. Please,” she pleads.

I can’t say no to her. This woman could make me do anything she wanted, no questions asked. She’s ruined me for good. “Okay.”

“The Grizzly Grove. Do you know it?”

She nods. “The bar downtown. I’ll meet you there.”

I get on my bike and ride off, careful not to hit her with the gravel flying from under my wheels. What am I doing? Fuck. Why do I have to fall for my best friend’s daughter? I never liked complicated, yet here I am, caught up in a hot mess.

But I don’t have a choice, do I? No other woman will ever come remotely close to Delilah.

I park at the front of The Grizzly Grove and head inside, scouring the place for an empty seat. To my relief, I spot an unoccupied table at the back. It’s not visible from the entrance, and the dim lights above the table won’t attract any attention. The last thing I need is for someone to start gossiping about Delilah and me. You can never play it too safe in a town as small and connected as Bearclaw Ridge.

I’m about to text Delilah where she can find me when I realize I don’t even have her number. How well do we even know each other?

Sloane, who runs the bar with her brother, Benson, comes over to take my order. “Hey, Hawk. What can I get you? Same as usual?”

The corner of her mouth tugs up. “On a date?”

“No, I’m meeting Keith’s daughter. She’s doing an internship at Bearclaw Ink and had some questions. This is pure business, Sloane.”

She holds her hands up. “It was only a question.”

Fuck. Why did I have to go and over-explain? That will definitely raise suspicions.

“Keep this to yourself, will you?”

She smiles at me. “Of course, Hawk. You know I’m not a tattletale.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“No worries. Two Dalmore whiskeys coming right up. No ice, right?”

I give her a nod. She walks away as Delilah enters the bar. I get up and wave her over, hoping no one sees us. God, I feel like a criminal about to meet an informant and do some illegal business.

Delilah takes a seat at the table and smiles at me. “Thanks for meeting me here.”

“I hope you like whiskey because I ordered you one.”

She laughs. “Sure, why not? That’s two things to cross off my list of firsts in one day.”

“I’m glad to be of service,” I say with a grin.

Sloane puts our drinks on the table and quietly leaves. She’s good like that. A real pro.

Delilah takes a small sip and coughs, her eyes watering. “Wow, that’s stronger than I expected.”

“So, why did you want to meet at ten thirty in the evening?” I ask, cutting right to the chase.

“I thought we should talk some more.”

I lean in closer and lower my voice. “About the connection we share?”

She sucks in a small gasp of air. “I knew I wasn’t imagining it.”

“Of course not. Girl, that kiss we shared earlier sent shivers down my spine. It meant something, a lot, but that doesn’t mean we should do anything about it.”

“We should, Hawk. A connection like this doesn’t happen to everyone. It’s rare, and it’s the perfect reason to get to know each other better,” she says, taking another sip from her whiskey.

“Why tonight? Why not give it some time?”

Even in the dim light, I can see her cheeks color pink. She bites her lip and averts her gaze, her fingers fiddling with a napkin. When she finally looks up at me, she says: “This kind of instant love is not something I’m familiar with. I know it’s real. I know that I only want you. Ever. But I also need the reassurance that you’re not going to feel like a stranger when you take my virginity.”

When. Not if. Blood rushes straight to my cock. She wants me to be her first? Holy fuck. No matter how eager I am to say yes, my answer to her question will have a huge impact, so I take my time to choose wisely instead of going for it like a horny teenager.