Page 18 of Taming the Wild Mountain Man

Last night's events are the reason why I tossed and turned so much that even little Miss-Sleep-Through-Anything Chewy had had enough, letting out a disgruntled snort before leaving me to sleep in the living room.

It's why I'm on my fourth cup of coffee before eight on a Sunday morning.

It's the reason I can't stay still and have been working in my garden since first light, desperately needing to do something to counter the torrent of emotions last night has unleashed.

Yes, the privilege of kissing Tenley again was incredible, but it was the conversation we hadbeforewe kissed that's got me all worked up. It may have started innocently enough, but it soon became clear we weren't having a hypothetical conversation.

These past two weeks have proven that something can be both blissful and torturous at the same time. It's been incredible spending time with Tenley every evening and getting to knoweach other better. I still have a million more things I'm keen to discover, but it's a solid start.

But the torturous part has been playing the role of a gentleman when, beneath my polite exterior where I keep my hands—and mouth—to myself, I've been aching to touch her, hold her, kiss her, make love to her.

I've been holding back because I figured my age ruled me out of contention, and I never want to be the reason for Tenley not getting everything she wants in life. As much as I want to be with her, I'd sacrifice my own happiness to make sure she never misses out on anything.

But then she said age gaps don't scare her—Even a really big one—and I was a goner.

All night, I've been playing out various scenarios in my head, imagining what a shared future could look like. Heck, I even did the math on if we had kids in the next year or two, how old that'd place me for all the major milestones.

This is no joke for me. I'm that far gone and have probably raced out way too far ahead of what this thing between us could possibly be. That's why I need to see her and find out where she's at. This is the last stop, her last chance to hop off the train before I reach the point of no return.

The door swings open, and my heart wants to burst out of my ribcage at the sight of her in faded denim overalls, holding a paintbrush. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun with lots of loose strands falling onto her shoulders, little splatters of paint coat her arms, and there's even a tiny speck of yellow on her nose.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"I, er…" Okay. That's about as much computing power I have left in my brain at the moment.

She smiles sheepishly and lifts her brush. "I couldn't sleep, so I've been painting since about four am."

I hold up my dirty, earth-sodden hands. "Gardening since sunrise." That actually reminds me of something I have to tell her. Later. After we have a chance to discuss, well…us.

"Wanna come in?"

"Thanks." I step inside and follow her as she leads me to the guest room at the end of the hallway. "Whoa," I say, shielding my eyes as I enter the room. "That is bright."

She giggles. "Every house needs a yellow room."

"To go with the shutters?"

I'm joking, since we haven't discussed what color they would be yet, but Tenley's eyes widen as if I've just come up with the most brilliant idea ever. "That would be ah-mazing. Can you please order yellow shutters?"

I chuckle. "Sure. I'll do it first thing Monday morning."

She places the brush into the paint tray and starts wiping her hands down on her overalls. I cross the floor and secure my hands around her waist. Her gasp fills the air before she latches onto my shoulders. We share a heated look before our mouths collide with an insatiable intensity. All my pent up energy, excitement, anxiousness spills out of me and into this kiss.

I could keep kissing her forever, but when that wordforeverskitters across my mind, I pull back slowly. If I actually want a chance at forever with her…

"We need to talk," I say, looking around the room for a place to have this conversation. With her hand in mine, I lead her to the built-in alcove by the window. We sit down next to each other, close enough that I can still hold her hand, but with enough space between us to allow us to have a conversation. "I've been doing some thinking."

She nods. "Me, too."

I hesitate, wondering whether I should let her speak first but decide against it. I have to say what's on my mind and in myheart, and once I do, if she rejects me knowing how I feel…well, there are plenty more mountain towns I can flee to.

"I have feelings for you, Tenley. Real, deep, genuine feelings. And I've been trying to push those feelings aside because I've been under the impression that I'm too old for you, that my age was a deal breaker for anything happening with us. But after we spoke last night, I'm…I'm reassessing that." I look her in the eye. "Am I right to be reassessing that?"

She holds my gaze for a moment, then treats me to a warm smile. "You're very right to be reassessing that." A gush of warmth surges through me, but I tamp it down, not wanting to get carried away just yet. "I mean, it's a consideration, of course," she continues before pausing. "I do want to have children. Would you be open to considering that?"

"I would be," I say, exhaling the breath I've been holding the entire time she was speaking, not sure which way she was going. I know one sleepless night doesn't begin to scratch the surface of the details and logistics we'll need to address in the future, but for now, I'm trusting my gut and going with what feels right.

---