Page 5 of Mystery Mountain Man

"My phone died." She glances at her backpack ruefully.

"Oh, god!" I scrub my hands over my face, trying to keep calm. My fear for this incredible woman alone in the woods just tripled. "Why would you tell me that? If Iwasa serial killer, that is the worst thing you could tell me."

Mimi stares at me, her mouth open, but she can't come up with a response. "Okay," she finally says, drawing out the word before clearing her throat. "Well, my boyfriend, Pierce, is on his way back from the car right now. And he's bringing my other boyfriend, Dante with him, so don't try anything, Mystery Man."

An unnatural rage boils in my blood at the thought that she has not one man pleasing her, but two.

Mine.

Oh, god. What if Iama serial killer and this is my first time getting the urge?No.The thought of Mimi injured let alone gone from this Earth turns my stomach.

Then I look at her small tent, the solitary cup, and single chair, and I know she's lying.

"Mimi, are you really alone out here with no cell phone and that ridiculous tent for shelter?"

"Excuse me? Does pink offend you, sexy mountain man?" Mimi puts her hands on her hips.

Sexy?I grin in spite of myself, mesmerized by her eyes, and then her cheeks turn red as she realizes what she said. She clears her throat, breaking eye contact with me, and I look around again before checking my watch. I'm not leaving her here.

"No, ma'am. Pink doesn't offend me. Cheap camping supplies do. Mimi, let's grab your stuff. A big storm is coming, and youare barely prepared to camp in good weather." I stand and start to gather the few items strewn about her camping site.

"I'm fine. I checked the weather yesterday, and the guy at the store said my tent will withstand some light rain." Mimi shakes her head, grabbing her backpack away from me. She sets the chair upright as if that solves the problem.

"Do you have any wilderness training whatsoever?" I blurt out before I can stop myself. And as if I hadn't immediately recognized my tone as obnoxious at best, Mimi's hands fly to her hips again, her mouth set in indignant annoyance as she glares at me.

"Well?" I ask, apparently stuck on my rude-douche setting.

"That is none of your business." Mimi huffs adorably, lifting her chin regally, but she doesn't refute my suspicions.

As irritated as I am with her for putting herself in danger, all I want to do right now is scoop her up and kiss her until she can't remember her name. My cheeks heat from the images rushing through my brain of everything I want to do to her luscious body. I flex my hand, willing it to remain in place and not reach for her hip as I picture her massive tits bouncing in front of me.

I'm a creep.

"If you must know, I was in scouts as a kid." Mimi brushes invisible lint off her skirt, not meeting my eyes.

"And you camped as a scout?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at her skirt and sexy knee-socks doubtfully.

"None of your business," she repeats, emphasizing each word.

I groan. "Did you camp in your backyard at least?" I ask, and when she doesn't respond, I try again. "You'vebeenin a backyard before, right?"

"Look, I grew up in the city, Mr. Mountain Man. There weren't a lot of backyards to come across. My mom used to take me to Central Park all the time when the weather was nice, and I loved it." Her face softens, and I'm overcome with the need to hold her."I loved the trees and the grass. The lakes and the birds." Mimi looks like she's about to cry. I hate it.

"So, you ran to the mountains? Why not go to Central Park?" I ask, softer this time and less accusatory, or I'd like to think that's the case. I'm trying not to reveal how turned on I am by her, so everything comes out a little choked and growly.

"Because I wanted to camp, Mystery Man!" Mimi turns her back. "Alone," she mutters, fluffing her tent, and I groan in frustration.

Mimi turns around, hands out as she shrugs. "Look. I can't leave. I need an epiphany. And I watched a TV show where the main character went on a camping trip and had an epiphany, so here I am."

"Do you make a lot of your decisions based on television?"

"If TV doesn't tell us how to live life, then I don't want to live!" Mimi says with all the passion of a main character.

I'm flummoxed by this crazy woman. Taking a deep breath, I try again. "It's not going to be safe out here in about two hours, Mimi. Let's go!" I come up behind her, trying to figure out how to pop the tent down.

"I can't leave!" Mimi whirls around, staring up at me, mere inches from my face.

"Why not?" I yell, exasperated that this incredible woman is stubbornly risking her life, and I can't do anything to stop her.

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