Bent Not Broken (A Cedar Creek #1) by Julia Goda Page B

Shit. He was dressed in another pair of really nice jeans, brown boots, a thermal and a plaid shirt that emphasized his nice hard chest.
    Instead of getting turned on, I decided to go from being in a snit straight into bitch mode. Hey, a girl can only take so much. Getting a surprise visit from a hot guy early on a Saturday morning when everyone knows you’re not supposed to get dressed and showered before nine o’clock—that’s what Saturdays (and Sundays by the way) are for, everyone knows that— was just too much to take. Acting like a teenage girl in front of said hot guy twice, and then being stalked for a week; being completely confused and irritated by your own reaction that for whatever stupid reason you are unable to control; all that was enough to deal with. Him showing up at my own little piece of heaven, disturbing my peace and quiet on a Saturday morning was too much. And again. I haven’t even had my coffee yet!
    I uncrossed my arms to put my hands on my hips, threw a leg out to the side, and started tapping my foot. Woman code for “Oh, fuck no!” Cal’s head tipped down, taking in my stance, and came back up to my face. His lips were twitching. Twitching! The nerve! I narrowed my eyes, took a deep breath, ready to give him the what for, and said,
    “What—”
    That’s all that came out of my mouth, seeing as Cal had now reached me, but didn't stop. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me roughly into his body. I was so stunned that all I could do was uncross my arms and put my hands on his chest to catch myself. Speechless, I stared up at him. Who acts like that?
    He tipped his head down to me and looked into my eyes.
    “Mornin’,” he rumbled.
    Then his eyes started roaming over my face, up to my hair, then back to my eyes. What I saw in his eyes then made me stop breathing and go completely still. H-o-l-y hell.
    His eyes were not warm. They were hot.
    Hotter than hot.
    They were scorching.
    And wanting.
    I felt a tingle between my legs and a shiver run through my body. Cal felt my shiver and his lips turned into a grin. Seriously! If I wouldn’t look like a complete idiot, I’d stomp my foot and growl. Instead, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath through my nose, trying to get control.
    “Ivey,” Cal prompted.
    I opened my eyes and tried to take a step back, but he tightened his arms around me, communicating his intention to keep me close. I tried again, but he just tightened his grip on me further.
    This, thank God, was making me mad again. How dare he! I didn't even know the guy, and he just came up to my house, grabbed me, and wouldn’t let me go? And that after a whole week of following me around, touching and hugging me, and giving me soft kisses for everyone in town to see? To hell with that!
    “Cal—” I started snapping at him, only to be interrupted.
    “Take you to dinner.”
    Huh? Dinner? So wrapped up in my snit, it took a second for that to sink in. The confusion must have showed on my face, since he again started grinning down at me.
    “Tonight.”
    Oh no. He was asking me out! Again! No, not asking. Telling me he was taking me out! No way. Not happening, Mr.!
    “I don’t date!” I snapped at his face.
    “You do now,” he arrogantly responded.
    “No, I do not,” I kept snapping, while also trying to push him away.
    I succeeded to get an inch of room between us until he yanked me back into his body. He moved one of his hands up to hold me at the back of my head, fingers in my hair. His head was coming down to mine, and for a split second I thought he was going to kiss me. And damn it all to hell I wanted him to. Badly. Just short of his mouth making contact, he stopped with his nose touching mine. My heartbeat was speeding up and I again stopped breathing.
    Then he gave it to me.
    “Know you don’t take men that live in town. I will be the only exception to that rule. Been patient this last week. I’m telling you now my patience has run out. I’m