Page 4 of Her Grumpy Mountain Man

I leave it on, needing that small bit of comfort. For a while, I watch the ceiling. His breathing remains steady. He has not moved to the very edge, but there is plenty of space between us. He is giving me exactly what he promised.

I turn onto my side and find him watching me. Neither of us looks away. “I'm glad Kat brought me here.”

His gaze softens, and he rests his hand on the empty mattress between us, palm open. I slide mine toward his, and our fingers meet in the middle.

The contact is simple, but it still makes my heart ache. I have been brave all day, or at least brave enough to keep moving. I close my eyes as his thumb moves over my knuckles in slow, soft circles. “Goodnight, Ava.”

For the first time since the envelope arrived, I stop listening for a car outside. Instead, I drift off to sleep, holding the hand of a man I just met—a man I never want to let go of.

three

Maddox

Something warm brushes my jaw. I turn toward it before I’m fully awake, following the faint scent of Ava’s shampoo. My hand glides over satin and settles at her back. I open my eyes to find Ava lying on top of me.

For a few seconds, I stare at the cabin ceiling as my brain catches up with the rest of me. Her cheek rests against my chest. Her legs lie on either side of my hips, and the blanket she fell asleep under has somehow ended up on the floor.

We started the night under separate covers—I remember making sure of that. Apparently, neither of us respects boundaries while sleeping.

The hem of her pink nightgown has ridden up over one hip. I keep my eyes on the ceiling, but I’ve already seen enough to know that moving her will require considerably more self-control.

Outside, the wind scrapes a branch against the cabin wall. The sound usually wakes me and prompts me to check my tablet for security breaches. This morning, I can barely remember what a tablet is.

Her fingers curl against my chest. I should wake her, but instead I lie still, my palm spread between her shoulder blades, and let myself have a few seconds of something I have no business wanting.

Last night comes back with uncomfortable clarity—the bathroom door opening to reveal Ava standing in an impossibly short pink satin nightgown, her hair loose as she tugged at the hem, drawing my gaze to the exact place I was trying not to look. And now she’s here, draped across me as if this is where she belongs.

Ava shifts, her knee presses into the mattress, and she lifts her head. Sleep leaves her slowly. I watch her look at my face, then my shoulder, then the hand resting at her back.

“Oh.” Her voice is rough with sleep.

“Morning.”

She looks down between us. I wait for her to scramble away. I even loosen my grip to make it easier, but she stays put. “I’m on you.”

“I noticed.”

“Sorry.” She plants a hand beside my shoulder, but she doesn’t push herself up yet. “I must have gotten cold.”

“There’s a blanket on the floor.”

She glances toward it, then back at me. “That explains a few things.” Her hair slips forward, and I lift my hand to tuck it behind her ear. “Maddox.” She barely speaks above a whisper.

My thumb glides once along her cheek as her gaze drops to my mouth, then back to my eyes. Ava leans closer, her hand tightening on my shoulder—her nose brushes mine. One more inch. I want that inch so badly that I close my eyes, then turn my face and pull back abruptly at the last second, not wanting to push her too fast.

Her hand goes still, and for a moment neither of us moves. My pulse pounds beneath the spot where she’s touching me.

“I’m sorry.” I lower my hand from her cheek.

She sits up, pulling her nightgown down over her thighs. The loss of her warmth is immediate. “For what?” she says, looking directly at me.

I rub a hand over my face. “For starting something before we’ve talked about it.”

Her shoulders ease a little. “You could talk to me now.”

“I want to kiss you. I’ve wanted to since before last night.”

Ava’s fingers settle over mine. “Then we definitely have something to discuss.”