Too Hot to Bear: A small town shifter romance by Harmony Raines

Author:Harmony Raines [Raines, Harmony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harmony Raines
Published: 2024-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven – Samantha

As they drove away from the ranch, the air in the car seemed to crackle with an electric tension, making it hard to breathe. She risked a glance at Henry, his broad shoulders filling the passenger seat, and quickly snapped her eyes back to the ranch track ahead.

“The kids are going to have a great time,” Henry said, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

“They warmed to your mom straight away,” Samantha managed, her own voice sounding strained to her ears. “And they love baking cookies.”

Since they got back in the car after dropping off the children, the atmosphere inside the car seemed strained. Heavy. As if there was too much being left unsaid.

But what was there to say?

Hey, I find you irresistibly attractive. Want to make out?

Samantha groaned inwardly. What was she doing? This attraction to Henry was dangerous, a betrayal of Donald’s memory. Yet she couldn’t deny the aching longing that spread through her whenever Henry was nearby.

As they approached the gate leading from the ranch to the road, Henry shifted in his seat and reached for the door. “I’ll open it.”

Samantha nodded, not trusting herself to speak. As Henry’s warmth left the car, she rolled down the window, gulping in the crisp mountain air and attempting to clear her head.

But her eyes were drawn to Henry’s muscular form as he easily swung the heavy gate open. His strength and agility must make him such an asset to the fire department. But she could not deny he seemed equally at home on the ranch.

She sighed. Surely a man like Henry would have a woman to warm his bed.

A twinge of undeniable jealousy at that thought stabbed her heart.

Did he have a woman? Perhaps he truly was just being kind to her, and she was reading the signals all wrong. After all, she was completely out of practice when it came to romance.

Yet, as she drove through the gate, Henry’s eyes met hers and there was no mistaking the longing. Was there?

He smiled and her stomach flipped. Could something that felt so right be so wrong?

But then there was Donald. Her husband. She’d always felt like being with another man, even wanting another man was a betrayal of the love, the lives they had together. When she’d said her vows, she had never imagined breaking them. And even though Donald was gone, in many ways those vows still felt binding.

“All set,” Henry said as closed the gate and climbed back in the car.

“Thanks,” Samantha murmured, her guilt warring with the longing that threatened to overwhelm her.

As they continued down the mountain, Samantha’s thoughts turned to Donald. What would he think of her now, feeling this way about another man? The ring she wore on a chain around her neck was suddenly heavy, a reminder of promises made, and a life cut short.

“Are you okay?” Henry’s gentle question broke through her reverie.

Samantha forced a smile. “Just thinking about the kids. I hope they’re not giving Mary too much trouble with those cookies.

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