Page 4 of Mountain Man Savior

Ridge looked to me for confirmation. The once half wild, gray cat, heavily pregnant by a father yet to be determined, gave a soft yowl. Her stamp of approval sealed the deal.

How Ridge wasn’t under Lauren’s spell was beyond me. And thank the fuck he wasn’t since I really didn’t want to fight one my brothers for this woman, but I would with no hesitation. Because if there were any rewards coming to me based on my past deeds in service to my country, to my brothers, she was mine.

THREE

LAUREN

Yesterday hadn’t been real,right?I woke up to that thought as my very real alarm blared. And to the memory of some very unreal dreams. I’d done things, asked for things that I’d never experienced in real life. And my leading man? A hunky mountain man who happily fulfilled fantasies I hadn’t even realized I’d ever want. Stretching, small twinges of an unfulfilled ache had me reliving all the dreams high points andhim.

West Stafford was not my usual type. Did I even have a type? Didn’t matter because my body certainly now did. He was that rare combination of man no woman thought existed in real life. Strong and perfectly muscled, gallantry with a hint of bossiness that hit all my inner damsel in distress fantasies, and a husky, whiskey-laced voice that kept me on a low simmer of need.

Okay, so maybe I did harbor some fantasies, and he had more than a hint of bossiness, but he’d more than made up for it by ensuring my safety.

He also exuded supreme confidence as he rescued me from danger and my lack of good judgement. A definite turn onand my own personal catnip. Although, to be fair to myself, the weather in north Idaho was known for having multiple personalities.

I swear my pheromones clashed with his, mingling and percolating the entire time we spent together. If Ridge hadn’t interrupted us, would I have acted on my impulses? He’d held me as if I was the most important thing in the world to him. And the evidence of his attraction? Front and center pressed against my still tingling backside.

But the thing that had made the biggest impression on me was the deep sense of connection I felt. It was as if he not only liked what he saw, but he’d looked deeper, right to my very soul, and liked what he saw there too. Then every time I caught him staring at me, the burning desire and need I saw in his eyes made me feel—claimed.

It was an incredible realization, and it had triggered a need within me to claim him right back. When you know. You know, right? That sentiment was often used as a plot point in romance books, a favorite trope in the Hallmark movies I binged or even with my own mother when she and Beck had gotten together.

But this feeling I had for West? It both thrilled and scared me. I’d never had a long-term relationship with a guy. Never anything that had lasted more than a semester. Not even the guy I’d lost my virginity to had me under his spell like this rough around the edges former soldier.

My cell trilled with my sister’s text tone, saving me from a further deep dive into my feelings. So, did I tell Dylan about West?Duh, silly question. Grabbing the device off my nightstand, I snuggled back under my covers and opened the message app.

DYLAN: Missing you. And mom. And okay, Beck too. How goes life this week

Grinning, I typed,

“Think I just met my one.” Then I quickly deleted it. Closed my eyes, took a beat and wrote,

ME: Good. Working with new client. Met a hot guy. Actually two. You should come home

There. Just enough info to tempt my treasured twin to return home, like tomorrow. God, I missed her so much. I wanted to tell her in person about West. I needed her to talk me off the ledge or push me over it, taking a chance for once. Like she was doing as she figured her life out.

DYLAN: Kinky. Didn’t think you had it in you. Want photos

ME: No way. These 2 must B experienced live & in the flesh. When you coming back

DYLAN: UR such a tease. I’m still enjoying the room service and night life. But soon. Promise

She’d been staying at hostels and owner shared homes that rented out rooms for a night or two in order to stay overseas as long as she could.

I really hoped she found what she thought was missing from her life. I couldn’t help but wonder if our parents having us so young, then divorcing before we were even out of elementary school, had hit her harder than me.

Dylan never dated a guy for more than a month, if that, and even in college, she switched her major three times. She never seemed settled in her own skin. My mom and I knew she needed this time without us. At first, I’d been upset she’d wanted to leave. We’ve always been together, we’d never considered going to different colleges. So, do I lay on the guilt? Yeah, guilt worked for me.

ME: Soon, like next week. Please I really need to see you in person

DYLAN: …

those damn dots appeared and hovered on my screen way too long.I hate those little fucking dots.

Soonish. Best I can do. U 4ever

Better B or I’m gonna drag UR butt back myself!!!!!!!!!! 4ever U

Tossing the phone aside, I dragged my butt, which was noticeably rounder than my sister’s, out of bed. She was a bit taller, had more of an athletic frame like our fathers but still had some curves on her. Whereas I was curvy all over, like our mom. And since coming home to run the business full time, I’d had to work at not overindulging when I tried out new recipes with my mom.

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