“My shoulder took the brunt. The tree pinned it to the ground. Crushed it. I couldn’t move.”
I don’t remember the pain. Guess my brain blocked the memory out. But I remember screaming. Really screaming. Sounds I didn’t know my body was capable of. Sounds I was arrogant enough to think I’d never make.
“I was trapped right beside the creek,” I continue, my gaze dropping to the water rushing past us. “I could see it swelling up fast, about to burst its banks. And I knew I was gonna drown. There was no way I could get myself out from under that tree. I tried anyway. Tried to pull my shoulder out. But I kept blacking out from the pain.”
Everly’s hands are still now. I can tell she’s listening intently, her breathing shallow. “What happened?”
“I got lucky. Really fucking lucky. Like I said, I was right by my neighbor’s cabin when the tree fell. A guy called Hawk. He looked out his window and saw me just in time. Came out and pulled the tree off me. Then risked his neck to drive me to the hospital in the middle of a storm.”
Hawk saved my life that day, risking his own in the process, all because of my arrogance. My stupidity. Hell, I’ve lived on Cherry Mountain all my life. Pride myself on knowing this place like the back of my hand. Yet I still let myself forget how fierce the wilderness can be. How unforgiving. I was foolish enough to think I could compete, and I paid the price for it. I’m just lucky I got a second chance. The mountain doesn’t always give them.
Everly lets go of my shoulder and moves to sit beside me, her eyes brimming with sympathy.
“That must have been so terrifying, Gunnar,” she says. “I can’t even imagine…”
I nod. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the feeling of being trapped under that tree, waiting to drown and knowing it was all my own damn fault. But it taught me a lesson, that’s for sure, and it’s a lesson I try to remind all my hiking groups.
Never underestimate the mountains.
“What did the doctor say about your shoulder?” Everly asks gently. “Will it ever recover fully?”
“I hope so.” My hand goes instinctively to my shoulder, fingers tracing the jagged scar where the tree cut into my skin. “There are no guarantees, but my doctor tells me to be patient. Be consistent with my physio. Still, it could be years before I can swing an axe again. Might never happen.”
“I’m sorry, Gunnar.” Her voice is so damn sweet, so earnest, and my heart pulls tight as she reaches for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Don’t be. I deserve it for being an idiot.”
“That’s not fair.” Everly frowns at me. “You made a mistake, that’s all.”
“Mistakes have consequences.”
“Well, yes…sometimes,” she concedes, “but you learned from it. That’s all that matters.” Her eyes spark with defiance, staring me down. “You don’t deserve to be in pain forever because of one bad call.”
I don’t know what to say to that. Hell, I don’t think I could speak even if I wanted to. I’m too fucking mesmerized by the woman sitting next to me. She’s still looking at me with those fierce blue eyes, cheeks flushed with conviction, like she’s daring me to argue with her.
I’ve spent over a year hating myself for what happened that day. Replaying it. Punishing myself with every physio session and telling myself I deserve the pain. But Everly is looking at melike I deserve better, and it cracks something in my chest wide open.
I reach out before I can stop myself, my rough fingers brushing her cheek. I feel her breath catch. Her whole body goes still at my touch, and I tilt her chin up, my gaze dropping to those plump lips, stained red from cherry pie. She doesn’t pull away. Doesn’t flinch. Instead, she leans into my touch, her breath coming fast.
It’s all I need.
Desire bubbles to the surface, hot and fast. It pulses through my veins, making my cock strain against my boxers as I inch toward Everly. Her breath is warm against my mouth, her lips parting slightly, and with a groan of need, I close the gap between us.
Our mouths crush together in a desperate kiss that sucks the air from my lungs. I can hear my heartbeat in my ears as I thread my fingers through Everly’s damp hair, pulling her closer, opening her up to me. She tastes like cherry pie and something else—something raw and animal that drives me fucking crazy.
Holy shit, this is really happening.
Her hands wrap around my neck, gripping tight like she needs something to hold on to, and the soft moan that escapes her throat unravels whatever’s left of my self-control. My whole body is roaring with a need so fierce it almost scares me. Four decades of wanting nothing, not needing anybody, and now this woman has blown it all wide open.
Mine. She’s mine.
I kiss her like I’m trying to make up for lost time. Like I’m staking a claim. Like if I stop, she might disappear into the trees again and never come back. But I won’t let that happen. Not now. Not ever.
I’ve lived forty-four years without this angel.
I’m not losing another damn second.
9
