Page 11 of Lost with the Mountain Man

Wedon'tgetoutof bed until mid-afternoon. I could spend the rest of my life naked with Rust in bed.

When we finally pull away from each other, I throw on one of his shirts and let the familiar scent wash over me. Wood and smoke. Home.

Then, I pad over to the front door where the basket of bread and muffins is still there.

Rust comes up behind me, shirtless.

I can't help but want to lick my lips. He's so delicious. More delicious than any treats I could bake, gluten-free or otherwise.

"Are you ready to try the gluten-free bread I made?" I ask him, holding up the basket.

"I would love to," he says, gently taking the basket from me. He opens it up to find two loaves of bread and half a dozen blueberry muffins. The scent of freshly baked goods fills the cabin.

Rust lifts a muffin out of the basket, examining it carefully. "You made these?" he asks, looking at me with a mix of surprise and admiration.

"Well, I knew I couldn't be falling for someone who couldn't eat bread," I joke, leaning against the kitchen counter. "I thought you might like them."

He tears off a piece of muffin and takes a bite. His eyes close briefly as he chews, a look of pure pleasure on his face. "Charlie, this is incredible," he says around the food in his mouth. "You're a genius."

I can't help but beam at his praise. Seeing him enjoy something I made is just about the best feeling in the world. "I'm glad you like it," I say. "I was really hoping you would."

Rust takes another bite of the muffin, then moves to the bread, cutting a thick slice and slathering it with butter. "Wow, you make the gluten-free stuff actually taste good. If I can eat this every day, I'll definitely get bread back into my diet."

I tear off a piece of the muffin and taste it. It tastes just as good as any other muffin in the bakery. "I think these should be part of the permanent rotation."

Rust looks at me, silence settling between us.

"If you're going to be coming around town more often, that is," I add sheepishly.

Rust closes the space between us, grabbing my hands. "You know I don't like being in town, but for you, I guess I can try."

"I'd like that. Are you going to tell me why you avoid people so much?" I ask, my breath catching. My heart flutters nervously. Will he finally open up to me?

I hope so. I want to know more about him and his past. I want to understand why he hides away up here in the mountains. I see a flicker of something in his gaze—pain, maybe, or vulnerability. But it's gone as quickly as it came.

"It's not something I like to talk about," he says finally, his voice low. "I've had a lot of time up here to think about what happened. To try and make sense of it all."

I squeeze his hands, encouraging him to go on.

"You don't have to tell me everything, Rust. But I care about you. I want to understand."

Rust pulls me close, wrapping his arms around me. I can feel his heartbeat against my cheek. He's silent for a long moment, his breath warm on my hair.

"I used to be a paramedic," he says finally. "In the city. I saw a lot of crazy stuff. Car accidents, shootings, stabbings... People dying in the most awful ways. I tried to save as many as I could, but sometimes... sometimes I couldn't." He takes a deep breath, and I can feel his body shudder.

"I started to see it all in my sleep. The faces of the people I couldn't save, their screams echoing in my head. I became anxious, paranoid. I started to see danger everywhere. Then, one day, I was on a call, and... I froze. I was suspended from my job, and I knew I couldn't go back. I was a risk to everyone around me. So, I left everything behind and came here. To hide. To heal. Or so I thought."

Rust's arms tighten around me, and I can feel the tension in his body.

I hug him back, wanting to soothe him, to take away the pain that's clearly still so raw. "It's okay, Rust," I whisper. "You're safe now."

He lets out a shaky breath, his hold on me loosening slightly. "I'm so sorry, Charlie. I never meant drag you into my troubles. I should have told you to stay away from me. I should have–"

"Shh," I cut him off, placing a finger over his lips. "You didn't know I was going to be so persistent, did you?" I grin, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm a stubborn one, remember?"

Rust looks down at me, a small smile playing on his lips. "That you are, Charlie. That you are."

I lean into him, resting my head against his chest. His heartbeat is steady beneath my ear, and I can feel the warmth of his skin through his shirt. He strokes my hair softly, his calloused fingers surprisingly gentle.

---