Page 7 of My Guarded Valentine

“I would like that very much!” I said as I walked towards the door where my jacket was hanging.

Buck recoiled as I touched it. “Is that all you brought to wear that jacket?” he asked with a concerned expression on his face.

“Of course. Why would I bring anything thicker? I don’t try to stay outside much in the winter. I didn't know I’d be 20° colder, or I’d be stuck in the mountains for more than a drive in a warm car. I don’t really keep big heavy coats around. They take up too much space. I usually wear hoodies and jackets like this, and I keep an extra blanket in my car, just in case.”

Buck shook his head before turning around and grabbing something out of a closet. “Wear this. I think it should fit you.”

I grabbed the coat from him and winced. “I don’t know if skinny boy clothing can fit me. You’re really fit.”

“Try it on before you say no. It’s actually one of my friends. They left it when they came up here hunting a while back. It will fit you.”

Huffing, I shrugged it on, and surprisingly, it fit me. Although it was a little short at the hips; I tried to tuck it, tug it over my wide hips. It didn’t really help much, but it did fit over my breasts, which was saying a lot. I inhaled deeply and surprisingly, even though it had been in a closet for quite a while, it smelled nice. Reminded me of the time when Buck got close to me. “It smells nice for being in a closet.”

“Well, that’s because I wore it a while back. I layered it when we had a bad snow.”

I blinked as I tried to figure out what I needed to say next. Buck was devastatingly handsome, with a bushy, black beard, kind blue eyes, and I could see hints of muscles from hard work underneath his shirt. Even though he worked in the office in his house, I wondered if he did other things? My eyes flickeredto the fireplace. A stack of wood laid beside it. My eyes trailed back to Buck’s muscles straining against his flannel shirt. Maybe he chopped wood sometimes? I bit my bottom lip as I quickly fantasized about him topless chopping wood like I’ve seen in the thirst traps.

Buck grabbed my hand as he led me out the door. “I’m rather glad that you’re not gonna freeze your butt off now.”

I giggled as he shoved me inside his truck. “Hey, be gentle with the goods. You might hurt my bottom.”

Buck’s arm pressed against the top of the truck as he paused with my comment. It was like he was warring with himself as his eyes traced my face. His jaw clenched before he pulled away. He chuckled as he walked away and got into his side of the truck. He put his keys in the ignition and drove down the road. This was the first time I was able to see Hope Peak, since it was dark by the time I came through here. I didn’t realize how far off I got as we drove. I pointed down to a fork in the road.

“I think I actually was lost when my car broke down because I was at this fork and I took the wrong road, I think.”

“I figured you might also be lost, but I wasn’t sure and I didn’t want to accuse you of being lost because I didn’t want to sound misogynistic. But these roads are easy to get lost in.”

I laughed lightly and nodded. “I’m really grateful you didn’t mention it last night. I would’ve probably flipped out on you. You wouldn’t have deserved it, but frustrated with the strange man situation. I wouldn’t be able to help it. Now I can see it.”

On the way down the mountain, I pondered what I found this morning. Why did he have Lance O’Brien’s picture on his fireplace? Did he know the O’Brien’s? That one picture was the only personal effect I saw of Buck’s. I couldn’t figure it out. Maybe it would have been easier if I had deep dived into Lance. Maybe he was a friend or a partner? I glanced at Buck and back out the window. In the afternoon light, I could see a few wisps ofgray at Buck’s temples. How old was he? There was something going on and I wasn’t sure what yet.

Chapter 6

Mitzi

Once we got to the diner, he let me inside and we walked, sat down at a booth right away. I looked around, trying to get a feel for the place. It looked like it hadn’t been renovated for the last 15 years. With plastic booths and tables that were little scratched up on most of the table tops. Gleaming silver napkin holders sat on every table and pictures of idyllic farm life were on all the walls. The thick plastic coated menu felt heavy in my hand as I looked at the menu. I looked at Buck and he smiled.

“I’ll pay it, by the way,” he said.

“Now I think you’re just gonna take pity on me every moment I turn.“

“I have an abundance of money. I have no one to spend on and if I wanna spend on you, then I will.”

I couldn’t help the blush that crept up on my cheeks with his words. Unfortunately, at that time, an older woman wearing a frilly apron walked to the table and clapped her hands together. “Fuck, did you finally find a lady friend? I have been trying to convince you to find a girlfriend for years.”

My eyes widened as I realized the woman was misinterpreting me being his girlfriend. My mouth fell openright as Buck figured out what she was talking about. His skin darkened and he laughed as he shook his head with an eye roll.

“I can’t believe you’re embarrassing my new friend, Ms. Dolly.”

“Are you telling me she’s not not your new girlfriend? But she’s so cute and I think she would do you so much good. You’ve been grieving for so many years, you need to stop punishing yourself. It was an accident.”

My head tilted as I watched Buck’s reaction and tried to figure out what she was talking about. Was there something else going on with Buck? Before I could think about it, Ms. Dolly started to prattle again about dating. I needed to think about this later. Now, I was focusing on his reaction to Ms. Dolly. Did he really not date anybody since he moved up here? The look of excitement on her face was obvious as she saw me with Buck. Did I just break her heart because, once again, Buck was still single? Then again, a lot of older women once see men and women hooked up. So is she doing it from a place of concern or a place where everyone must date somebody?

“Mitzi and I are not dating. She had car trouble, and I saved her.”

Ms. Dolly flashed me a knowing smile and a wink. “That sounds like a romance movie in real life. Maybe you needed your special someone to drop out of a broken-down car for you to open your heart.” She placed her hands on her hips and returned a glare at Buck.

I giggled at the thought of a big and burly buck being chastised by an old lady. His eyes sparkled as he glared at me. That look seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place why. “It’s not funny, Mitzi.”

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