Happy Birthday, beautiful.
I hit send before I could think twice and was just about ready to move on, really believing that she wouldn’t respond. I was fully surprised when my phone pinged with a notice.
Thank you.
I’m Christian.
Once more, I quickly responded, not thinking. Instead, just letting my feelings handle the lead on this one for once.
Nice to meet you, I’m Janelle. What’s a man like you doing on Mountain Mates?
Now, that was a loaded question, but I sure couldn’t tell her that. So, I really thought about it because there was something, as crazy as it sounded, that felt nice and real about this woman. I didn’t want to lie but I didn’t want to scare her. I did the only thing I could think of; I told the truth.
I’m looking for a bride to fill my lonely cabin and my lonely heart.
You live alone in that beautiful cabin?
I do. I was just watching the sunset, thinking I wanted someone here.
I quickly took a picture, trying my best to capture the feeling and sent it to her.
Wow, that’s breathtaking. And peaceful.
I was about to respond when a picture came in from her.
My view…and I didn’t want people here.
A birthday alone, Janelle, is never any fun. Besides, someone as beautiful as you should be spending it out with lots of people.
Eh, I’m not a hermit, but I am a homebody.
I smiled at that, having to agree.
Can I be honest, Christian?
[’d like that.
I think I much rather spend my birthday on your porch taking in that view with you, than be here.
Chapter 2
I stared at my phone then glanced at the calendar. It had been two days since we last talked and I was debating if I would look desperate if I reached out. Then again, it was a dating site for mail order brides, it was desperate anyway, right?
With a sigh, I sat back on my couch, taking the phone with me and pressed the call button on the text thread. We had moved to texting the other day and only had one brief exchange to say good night.
And let me tell you, when I say that’s a voice that I would love to hear over and over, for it commanded me, I mean it.
Just hearing him saying ‘beautiful’ and ‘goodnight’ with that deep, husky tone almost made me come. And I didn’t think he’d want that so early on.
“Well, hello beautiful.”
Ugh, see what I mean? He had that whole panty melting voice and it wasn’t fair.
“Hello. What are you up to? I wasn’t bothering you, was I?”
“Are you kidding? I was just sitting outside again. I soak up every ounce of sun I can because when the snow and cold hit, sitting outside is almost impossible.”
“Oh, I can bet. And being that far up, I’m sure you run into a lot of cold spells. But I’m also sure it’s lonely.”
