Page 6 of Ashton's Mountain Man

It’s just like how Mama and Papa met—an attraction, but one which may never have happened if my papa had not taken that opportunity and gone back that next day and told her exactly how he felt. Their love story had always been at the forefront of my life and one that I’d hoped for myself. The two of them had met in a situation that was full of pain when my mama was trapped in a fire in a large office building across town. My papa was the chief fire officer at the time, and him and three of his best pals—men who I now call my uncles—ran into that building and managed to save each and every person moments before the flames flickered too high and the floor above their heads came crumbling down, destroying the building beneath them. It was instant, he always told me—a moment when his breath was taken from him and not due from the lack of oxygen received in that thick black smog. It was because of her. He always told us knew he couldn’t leave her, even though he should have—that she’d been through a significant trauma and seeing him could’ve been a trigger, but that didn’t stop him in the slightest.

If he hadn’t gone back and declared his thoughts, then my timeline wouldn’t even exist.

It was why yesterday was completely perfect. I learned there was a chance at love. I saw hope and passion before my very eyes, but then I also had to weigh up the pain and sorrow that my best friend was experiencing, having to allow Ashton into Wyatt’s life. I know how protective she is of him—what mother wouldn’t be? It still didn’t help that she knew all this time. I had to support my friend, but I wasn’t going to take away this opportunity for Ashton either. It was about the two of them working together and showing what was best for that little boy. If that meant me being the mediator in between, then so be it.

Today called for some normality. Even though all I wanted to do was stay and play at Maisie’s house with that little boy and get to know more about Ashton and his little quirks, I didn’t have a choice. I had to go back to work. It didn’t stop me noticing the way he still had those two charms on his shoes now rather than boots. How many other things hadn’t changed about him over the years?

Could he still be the same man—cutesy, a little nervous at times, that sexy smirk that showed up when he realized he had got something right? Well, only time will tell.

I just finished strapping up my boots nice and tightly before standing up and making my way over to the coat hook to reach with the thickest of all my coats—a nasty wind had hit the area in the night, and I wasn’t going to risk it being able to get to my bones. After all, it used to be me being in an office, working away being a manager. But now, I got my hands dirty with all the other guys out on that mountain, ensuring deliveries were able to reach their destination safely and be stored until they were collected and delivered to the peak. I haven’t gotten to those crazy stages yet and wanted to change positions again and start driving the heavy loads in the machinery up that incline— it scared the life out of me each time I saw someone doing it, but it didn’t stop the adrenaline from watching the process from start to finish.

I was an adrenaline junkie, after all.

I slid the thick fur coat over my shoulders and smiled to myself as I heard the giggling of laughter from Wyatt, Ashton, and Maisie leaving the playroom.

“I’m off, guys,” I shouted as I reached for the door handle, just as footsteps quickly made their way toward me. I glanced up and my heartbeat quickened as I saw the man who was on my mind walking at a quickened pace in my direction. “You didn’t need to come and say goodbye. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Yes, I did,” Ashton growled. “You know you would have done the same.” He shuffled his weight between his feet, pacing on the spot as I noticed his thumbs sliding along the edge of the waistband of his jeans as he licked his bottom lip. “I wasn’t sure, though… Forget it.” He shook his head before turning on his heel as I instantly reached out for his arm, freezing him to the spot and turning him back to face me.

“Don’t think.” I pulled his body flush against mine as I heard his breath hitch. “Just act,” I whispered against his ear. “Just do what is running through that brain of yours.”

I paused and waited with anticipation as he acted on instinct, forgetting about everything around him but the two of us here in this moment and just leaned in, tilting his head slightly as his soft mouth pressed against mine in a gentle but caressing way. I couldn’t suppress the moan he’d ignited from me as it traveled up my throat. Wrapping my hand around his neck, I pulled him closer, breathing in every inch I could of him as I fought for dominance before pulling back from him and staring at his swollen lips. I had never wished for more than at this second that I didn’t have to go to work or that he had to go and build up a relationship with his boy—but there was always tonight.

“Message me later on and let me know how your day is going, yeah?” Ashton uttered with that smirk I’d missed for so long. “Maybe we could catch up a bit more later on tonight when we are alone?”

“Screw it, why don’t you both come with me and see what it’s like up there?” I replied. “Plus, it could give Maisie a break and some time for herself. You could even grab that order from theshop she needed to collect,” I rambled before noticing her at the doorway with an uncertain presence. “I’ll be there, and I know the wind’s picking up, but I’ll make sure Wyatt goes straight to the office and sees Carlson too.” I continued as she slowly nodded, before I leaned in to Ashton’s ear, “Gives me some fucking nice thoughts to get me through the day. I mean, staring at you longer, tasting you... Mmm,” I whispered in a low teasing tone. “Better hurry up, yeah? I can’t risk being late.”

“I’ll show you where everything is,” Maisie began before pointing at me. “Remember the office. He can’t be out in this wind, West. It’s scheduled to take a turn soon.”

“You know it,” Ashton stated. “We’ll literally drop West off and say goodbye before we go and say hello to Carlson. “Agreed, West?”

I nodded just as the small timid voice of Wyatt came echoing down the hall.

“Daddy…” The two of us instantly looked at each other as tears welled in our eyes. “You take me out?” I chuckled before smiling widely as my cheeks began to hurt as he turned around and followed after his little boy. “We p-way out. Coat.”

Could this really be the start of something perfect?

I made it halfway up Fire Mountain with Ashton and Wyatt in tow to be greeted by Brock and the rest of the team about to swap with the current shift on hand. I couldn’t help but notice the inquisitive, narrowed gaze directed straight at me, as if he was trying to read something about me. I was an open book, and Brock knew it, but for some reason, I wanted to keep what was happening with Ashton between us. He was aware that he was back on the scene and that the circumstances were not whatwe all believed them to be. I mean, the guy was public enemy number one for the last few years in a lot of people's eyes. I had to do a lot of talking and smoothing out for them to understand that wasn’t the real Ashton. He was sweet, innocent, sexy, and in some ways so pure… I just wanted to keep this time personal while we found our footing together. It wasn’t because I was ashamed or anything. Nothing of the sort. The fact that he was here with us and hadn’t mentioned a word about the situation, though, was unusual.

“Seen much of Carlson lately?” Brock asked me, knocking me deep from my thoughts as the two of us chatted, prepping the lists for the day ahead as the latest strong wind hit. “I’d heard he’s just been promoted and taken on your old job?”

“Ah yes, news travels quickly around here.” I chuckled before groaning at the strain the two of us were under to remain standing up straight. I sometimes thought that the health and safety team just ticked the boxes on their checklist and weren’t always thorough with the task at hand. “He deserves it. He’s worked hard and should be rewarded for it?—”

“Talking about Carlson. Wyatt and I are going to let you two get back to the job.” Ashton waved, reaching for Wyatt’s hand as a loud noise alarmed us all and the little man pulled his hand away from mine and ran. “Wyatt!!!!” I screamed as I chased after him.

“Wyatt!” I shouted. “Ashton, nooooo!!” I cried out.

“Watch out! I think we need to get out of here and call management!” one of the workers shouted, pointing up to the right-hand side of the building as I panicked, hoping that Ashton and Wyatt had not gone in that direction. I couldn’t see them, and my all I could think about was how this was my fault. If only I hadn’t suggested for them to come up here with me. The rest of the team must have followed out of the far side of the building as the message was called out across the room,but then suddenly, my heart dropped. I was searching as the crash of rumble collapsed behind us, crushing all the essential equipment and loads the team needed desperately by the end of the day. “Is everyone alright?” the worker asked immediately in concern as the tears hit my eyes, and I rushed around, searching and kneeling, looking around for them both.

I thought I’d spot him anywhere in a crowd—maybe he was off to the side.

“Ashton!!! Wyatt!!!” I screamed again. “Where are you?”

I jumped into my old management role and asked everyone to gather around and started doing a roll count. Then I got the worker calling for support, hoping someone would quell this pain in a second suddenly and tell me all was fine.

“West!” Brock shouted out to me. “I’ve got Wyatt!” he screamed out to me, tears running down his face as the little boy pointed at the ground.

“Dadda, I wa-want my dadda,” he cried. “Un-ce West, Dadda. He hurt. He save me. Big rock.” He pointed again as my heart froze and Brock gulped harshly, holding the little boy in his arms.

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