Page 4 of His Rescued Mate

“You sound as if you didn’t know that,” she teased.

“It’s not that. I think sometimes I just get used to living here and kind of forget it. Then when someone says something, it’s like they lifted a veil, and I can see it anew.” He shook his head, almost seeming embarrassed. “Did that sound as soppy to you as it did to me?”

“It sounded like an artist talking about the beauty with which he’s surrounded himself that inspires his art.”

“I can see now why you’re the writer,” Max chuckled, getting out of the truck and taking her bag.

Alexa stepped out of the truck and took a deep breath, savoring the fresh, invigorating air. Until she was away from the cities and resorts, she often forgot what air was really supposed to smell like.

She followed Max up the stairs and across the wide porch to the inside of his cabin. There was a rustic charm to the place which immediately put her at ease. The walls were adorned with antlers of various animals. There were also intricately carved shelves holding smaller sculptures and mountaineering equipment stained and painted in gorgeous colors with beautiful carvings and wood burnings.

Alexa wanted more time to examine the things he had chosen to display in his own home—what he kept versus what he chose to sell. She wondered if they would offer a glimpse behind the curtain he seemed determined to keep drawn.

The cabin was simple yet comfortable, with a stone fireplace, wooden furniture, and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. She felt a sense of peace here, a welcome contrast to the chaotic pace of her usual life.

"Make yourself at home," Max said, showing her to a cozy guest room and placing her bag on a chest at the end of the bed. "I'll be outside if you need anything."

"Thanks," Alexa replied, thinking perhaps her original host breaking his leg might not turn out to be a bad thing.

She set her purse down on the bed and opened her bag, putting her clothes away. A long time ago she had found that settling herself in whatever room she was staying went a long way to making her feel at home so she could start to get a sense of the place. After unpacking, Alexa took a few moments to familiarize herself with the cabin and where things were. She headed outside to find Max. He wasn’t immediately visible, but the sound of an axe chopping wood led her to the side of the cabin.

Alexa rounded the corner and watched him for a moment, admiring the easy grace with which he worked. Despite his rugged exterior, there was an air of quiet harmony with his surroundings that she found intriguing. She stood watching as he chopped the wood in perfect rhythm—swing the axe, bring it down and split the log, stack the split wood, grab a new piece to be split. He made it look easy, but then if the muscles rippling under the flannel shirt were any indication, it probably was. For him, at least.

"Can I help?" she asked, stepping forward.

Max looked up, a faint smile touching his lips. "There’s no need for you to get your hands dirty.”

“I like getting my hands dirty.”

“In that case, there's another axe by the shed."

Alexa retrieved the axe and joined him, finding the damn thing far heavier than she thought it would be. While she relished the idea of the physical exertion after her long flight and the trip from the airport, she wasn’t sure if she was about to make a fool of herself. The first swing was a disaster—it didn’t go as easily aloft as he made it look and then it caught her off balance and she had to stumble back to keep from falling on her ass.

Max, however, was the perfect gentleman. If he found it amusing, he was keeping it to himself. She wasn’t as coordinated as Max and it usually took more than one swing, but she was making progress, had yet to cut off her own leg, and felt like she was offsetting some of the inconvenience and interruption to his routine that had been thrust upon him by agreeing to let her stay out here with him.

“I could stay in the city if you like…”

“If this is too rustic for you…”

“No. Not at all. I much prefer small private places to stay as opposed to hotels. And your place seems to be right in the heart of the wilderness.”

Max nodded. “It is. I like it that way.”

They continued to work in companionable silence for a while, the rhythmic sound of chopping and the scent of freshly split wood filling the air. It was a simple, satisfying task, and Alexa found herself enjoying the camaraderie they shared. She couldn’t help sneaking glances over at Max. He was every romantic hero from every romance novel set in Alaska rolled into one.

They managed to split all the dried wood just as the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape.

Max shook his head. “Some kind of host I turned out to be. I’ve got you out here working and didn’t even think to see if you needed a break.”

“No worries. I enjoyed it.”

“Well, why don’t I grab us a couple of beers, and we can light a fire down by the lake and watch the sun set. I can throw some potatoes in the oven, and we can grill some steaks in a bit.”

“That sounds delicious, but don’t go to any trouble on my account.”

“I have to eat and I’m kind of a meat and potatoes kind of guy.”

Alexa had no trouble believing that. Max took her axe and placed it beside his before reaching into a barrel of ice and grabbed a couple of bottles of what appeared to be some kind of home brew and led her down to a clearing by the lake. There was a permanent fire ring set up with seating arranged in a half-moon shape overlooking the fire and then the lake beyond. It wasn’t so much that they were chairs as they were fallen trees fashioned into a comfortable place to sit. Taking a seat beside her, Max handed her a beer, and they watched the colors of the sky shift and change.

---