Page 4 of Beast of Misty Mountain

“I never wanted a roommate,” I say again, quieter this time.

“Yeah, well,” she says, turning off the tap, “me, neither. But life is full of surprises.”

I swallow down the heat curling in my gut. “Hank had no right renting this place out without telling me.”

“Then take it up with Hank.” She dries her hands on a towel. “I have a lease. And no other options. Unless you’re offering to put me up somewhere else, like the resort.”

I snort and shake my head. That place is the reason it’s so crowded here in summer. It was better before, though businessis definitely better for everyone in Misty Mountain because the resort brings in all the tourists. Still, I miss the quiet summers.

She shrugs like that settles it. “Then I guess we’re roommates.”

I grip the edge of the counter and stare at the floor. The knot in my shoulder tightens. She’s not wrong. Every place in town’s booked. Even if I wanted her gone, there’s nowhere to send her.

And if I’m being honest, part of me doesn’t want her gone.

Which is a problem.

“Fine,” I mutter. “We’ll figure something out.”

“Thank you,Roomie.”

“I told you not to call me that.” She’s enjoying this a little too much and making me rethink not kicking her out, lease or no lease.

She walks past me and heads into the bedroom, humming as she goes.

The second she’s out of sight, I exhale. My fingers press into the counter’s edge until my knuckles pale.

She’s dangerous because I can already feel an attachment to her. It’s unnerving as fuck because I don’t normally feel anything for people. And it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.

She comes back out wearing tight jeans that make my cock throb to attention and a Rusty Elk T-shirt that hugs her heavy tits in ways I shouldn’t think about. Fuck. Me. This woman has the kind of body you want to spend a weekend in bed with. I can definitely think of ways to silence that sassy mouth of hers.

“What time are you back tonight?” I ask because I need to know how much peace and quiet I can get before she comes back in and upends my life all over again.

Marilee’s halfway down the steps, keys jingling as she adjusts her bag. “I have to close. So late. I can’t help the sound of my car, but I’ll do my best to be quiet when I come in.” She pauses and looks at me, her green eyes glinting in the sunlight. “Why are you glaring at me?”

She smiles as she looks over her shoulder at me, but I can hear the laughter behind her words. She has the upper hand here…and she knows it. This is going to be a long damn month.

I take a slow sip from my coffee mug and lean against the porch rail. “I’m not glaring.”

“You’re definitely glaring.” She turns to face me fully. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were about to throw me off the mountain.”

“Don’t tempt me,” I mutter.

She laughs and starts toward her car. “Well, good thing I’m quick on my feet.”

I watch her cross the gravel, not answering. Her hips sway naturally, and I’m transfixed by her thick thighs and full ass. She probably doesn’t even know she’s doing it. Then again, she probably knowsexactlywhat she’s doing and knows I can’t help but watch her.

I should look away, but I don’t.

“You always this tense?” she asks, walking back around the front of the car to the driver’s side. “Or is this just a me thing?”

“It’s a you thing,” I say. “And a mornings thing. And a general people thing. And anyone who calls me Roomie.”

“Well, lucky me.” She laughs. “I hit the jackpot.”

She opens the door, one hand on the frame, but doesn’t get in yet.

I glance at her. “We stay out of each other’s way. That’s the deal.”

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