Pace grins the sort of crooked, dimpled, devastating smile that for sure ruins panties, as mine are wrecked. I was right about him earlier. I flush as he moves closer, grabbing my wrists as I try to cover my face in shyness. Why do I say the things I say?
“My type? Am I a mountain man because I live on one or because I look the part? As long as you’re looking at me sweetheart, I don’t care what you call me. I can be your mountain man.”
Did I know this level of embarrassment before? I had no idea it could exist. I have hidden behind Bettie Buttons for so long, I’ve never had to have these sorts of outlandish conversations with a beautiful man. Not to mention a mountain man I was swooning over earlier. Whichhe sawme do. I thought I was going to write Bettie a meet cute, but this is anything but.
“I uh...thank you. I need to go home. I don’t need a mountain man. In fact, I do not need any man at all.”
“Who will save you the next time a bunny comes for you, sweetheart?”
Something about the teasing in his tone stings. Maybe because in the last half hour I have spent with him, I let myself believe this could by my own meet cute. I wouldn’t have to create one for Bettie if I could have one for myself. But it is clear he is making fun of me, laughing at me, and I do not like it. I might not be brave or bold, but I will not let someone belittle me.
“I did not ask you to save me,mountain man. I just...I needed a minute to handle the situation on my own. I’ve beendoing things on my own for a long time now. My apologies for getting in the way of your night of flannel and wood chopping or whatever you type do up here. Thank you for saving me from the tree.”
Sliding off the counter again, I brush past him to head for the door again. This time, he lets me go. I do not take the time to consider if that hurts me. It obviously should not. I stomp out the door, letting it slam behind me. Then I am faced with the wide world of wilderness that is this mountain.
“Why did you come up here, Pipes?” I mutter to myself.
Truth be told that beautiful, boorish mountain man is why I came up here. I was curious about these grumpy, growly mountain men. I came up here to do some research for my storyline. To see if they stick to the uniform of beards, plaid, and bad attitudes. I guess I got my answer.
Mountain men might be beautiful but they’re brutes.
It’s starting to get dark out so wandering off is a bad idea. It does not stop me, of course. I am nothing if not stubborn. I moved to a town I had never heard of, on my own, to try to break free of a safe, snug, bore of a life. I was seeking excitement, something to challenge me, to make me feel alive.
At this moment I feel anything but alive. I am scared. I am upset. And I feel foolish.Why would I say those things to him?Tell him how pretty he is, admit how I had been watching him earlier. He must think I am a stalker or something. Coming up on his mountain to play the damsel in distress as if it were some sort of set-up. God, I am so terrible atpeople-ing.
“Piper. Piper, slow down, sweetheart. You’re not leaving this mountain tonight.”
“Oh, I am though. See me leaving this mountain, literally as we speak?”
“Piper it will be dark soon. Just come back to the cabin. Iwill take you home tomorrow.”
Whirling to face him, I have a good argument on the tip of my tongue. I swear it is there. Until I get another look at him. He was beautiful in the twilight but now, as the skies slowly darken, he is even more so. I have never seen someone this beautiful up close. Not this kind of beautiful at least. There is just something about him that…I cannot get my fill of.
My gaze eats him up the way a drunk must take shots. A lustful glance at his thick arms, his flannel shirt rolled up to showcase muscular, tattooed forearms. A hungry look at his broad shoulders with powerful traps I bet I could sink my fingers into while he was…oh, no. Oh, yes, my gaze goestheretoo, taking a long, greedy peep of the bulge behind his zipper. Was that…was I right earlier when I thought he was…oh, no, nope, do not think about that, Pipes.
“You won’t be driving me anywhere, as a matter of fact. Thanks for fixing me up, doc,” I wave a hand at my wounded leg. “I appreciate it. I do not appreciate being talked to as if I’m some daft damsel in distress.”
“I did no such thing. I think it was adorable you were so afraid of a rabbit, Piper. I mean, the easter bunnyterrifiedme as a child. I get it.”
Gasping, I recoil as if his words hurt me. In a way they do. I am not sure why I am so bothered by this stranger teasing me. I consider myself a little sarcastic myself. Yet his words sting as he chuckles at me. It is as if I hate that this brooding man is laughing at me. I definitelydo notlove it.
“Do you tease all damsels in distress, mountain man?”
“I thought you were not a damsel, sweetheart? And that would be a no. I have never teased any other damsels in distress.Just you, Piper. Now, come back to the cabin with me, please.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because....” Just as he begins to explain, I get an answer.
Rain pours down on us out of nowhere. Lighting crackles across the darkening skies. I jump in surprise. Somehow, I wind up wrapped up in his arms, nestled against his firm chest. A crack of thunder startles me again and I burrow even deeper into his huge body.
“Thatis why, sweetheart. We’ve got a storm coming,” his voice is low, rumbling from his chest as his words warm my ear.
Tilting my head back, I stare at him through damp lashes. His words ricochet inside my head. A storm is coming, he said. He could not be more right. Because standing with Pace, cradled against his hard body as rain pours down on us proves something to us both.
A stormiscoming—in the form the storm brewing between us.
Chapter Five
