Page 7 of Rescue in Misty Mountain

“So.” I force my gaze on the bowl in front of me to avoid looking her in the eyes. “What’s your story?”

“Is that your idea of small talk?”

“You were stranded in the woods with a cat. I brought you to my house and gave you a towel—and food. I think we skipped past the small talk.”

She sighs and nods. “Like I said before, I was on my way to stay with a friend.”

“The one marrying an FBI agent?”

I glance up in time to see her full lips twitch. “The very same.”

“You said you were going to stay. Not to visit?”

“I… need a fresh start. I needed to get away from everything.”

“Everything being?”

“My lack of job and abundance of a terrible ex-boyfriend.”

I say nothing.

“He got me fired. Well, his dad did. He’s the one who slept around and treated me like crap, but I’m the one who ends up being punished. That makes sense, right?”

I don’t answer. But I know that gut-punch feeling. Betrayal from the inside. From someone who should’ve protected you.

Her lips twist. “Anyway, I packed up, grabbed Whiskey, and hit the road. I wasn’t planning to stop here, but the car had other ideas.”

“You got someone coming to get you?”

“Nope.” She sighs. “My phone lost signal before I could even try calling for a tow. Now, I have zero signal.”

“You’ll get some closer to town to make a call. I can give you a ride.”

“No, that’s okay. I can walk.” She frowns. “How far?”

“Three miles.”

She groans. “Can I die here instead? It seems peaceful.”

Whiskey meows in agreement.

I lean back, arms crossed. “You can stay the night. There’s a guest room.”

Her eyes widen. “Really?”

“I’m not leaving you out there with the bears.”

“Bears? Are there really bears out there?”

“Do you want to find out?”

She studies me for a moment longer. Probably still trying to work out whether or not I mean her harm. “Thanks.”

I stand, needing to make some space. “You finish. I’ll get the fire started in the other room.”

I escape before I say something I’ll regret.

She’s too pretty. Too sassy. Too… everything.

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