Page 18 of Devoted Mountain Man

Gennie was a virgin too. That was one thing we’d bonded over when we met in high school. But in her case, it was by choice. She’d dated guys who tried to push her to the next level, and she’d refuse. She wanted to be in love. Like me, she’d never met the right guy.

For me, that had changed about twenty-four hours ago.

“He’s taking me on our first official date,” I said. “And he has the most adorable dog.”

“No, I want to hear everything about losing your virginity.”

I winced again. It wasn’t that this was personal. I discussed all kinds of personal stuff with Gennie. It was more this weird feeling that if I talked about it, it would no longer be personal to the two of us. It was like a secret I wanted to hold onto just a little longer. But I’d confessed that I’d done the deed, so I had to at least give her something.

“It was outdoors,” I said, practically sighing at the memory. “He took me to this beautiful overlook.”

“Like on a rock? Or against a tree?”

I shook my head. “A big patch of grass.”

Gennie’s eyes lit up. “Well, I guess I’ll have to live vicariously through you because my love life sucks.”

“Come on up and join me. Plenty of hot lumberjacks up here. I’m not getting any writing done anyway.”

I had a feeling once I got even a little time to myself, the words would flow. Even though I didn’t write romances, Dayton had given me this burst of energy when it came to my work.

“Are you sure?” Gennie asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I didn’t even stop to think about it before answering. “Yes. I’ve never felt like this about anyone. He’s the one.”

Gennie tilted her head. “If the roles were switched, you’d be worried too. If I just headed off to the mountains and told you I met a hot guy and was never coming back…”

Yeah, she had a point. But it was impossible to explain what I felt when I looked at Dayton. I trusted him with my life. Not only would he never hurt me—he’d protect me from anything that might. He was truly my soulmate.

“Just be careful,” she said. “I may have to hop in my car and check in on you. But I’ll let you have tonight with him.”

Did that mean she was showing up tomorrow? I opened my mouth to ask, but before I could get a word out, the sound of the doorbell blasted through the cabin.

“That’s my date,” I said, a big smile spreading across my face.

“Let me meet him.”

I shook my head. “Later. We need to get to the restaurant before things get too busy.”

That was an excuse, but it was also true. I was starving. I blew my best friend a kiss and hung up, my heart shifting into double time at the knowledge I was about to see Dayton again.

When I opened the door, I was nearly blown away at the sight of him. He stood there wearing a collared, button-down shirt and matching dark-wash jeans. He was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen.

Was it possible I was already in love? No, that wasn’t possible.

His gaze roamed the length of me, clear appreciation in his stare. I’d impulsively thrown something dressy into my suitcase at the last minute, and now I was glad I had. The flowy black skirt and red, short-sleeved, silky blouse were the perfect match for what he wore.

“You look amazing,” he said.

“So do you.”

Our eyes met. And with that long, meaningful stare, it hit me. I was in love. It had happened fast. Best of all, I knew that he felt the same.

“Let me grab my purse,” I said. “Come on in.” As I crossed the living room, I called back to him, “I planned to be ready to walk out the door when you arrived, but I stopped to call my best friend. I had to break the news that I’m not coming back. Well, I have to go back to get my stuff, of course.”

Dayton and I had discussed it briefly that afternoon. We had plenty more to talk about, but we both were on the same page with this. I was moving here. He’d offered his guest bedroom. Or his own bed. But he also said I could stay with one of his friends’ girlfriends if I didn’t feel comfortable “shacking up” just yet.

Shacking up. Those were the exact words he’d used.

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