Page 16 of Her Mountain Man Grump

“You tired, sugar?” he asks as I let out a yawn.

I nod. My eyes are heavy, every muscle relaxed as I melt against Brody.

“Then let’s get some sleep.” He repositions himself, his arm tight around me as he stretches out his giant body, and I let out a deep sigh of contentment. I feel so safe in his arms. So happy.

“Goodnight, Brody,” I breathe, my eyes fluttering closed.

“Night, beautiful.”

I fall asleep almost instantly, drifting off with a smile on my face.

When I wakeup the next morning, it’s not even seven. Pale morning sunlight filters through the curtains as I sit up in bed, moving carefully so I don’t wake Brody. He’s still fast asleep, and I stare at him for a few minutes, watching the rise and fall of his bare chest. My eyes follow the swirls of dark ink on his arms, all the way up to his broad shoulders. His frown lines are softened by sleep, but even now, there’s a hint of a scowl on his handsome face, a seriousness that never quite goes away. My heart squeezes with affection as I look at him—the man who has changed everything for me. For the first time in my life, I feel hope. Real hope. My future doesn’t stretch before me like a long dark tunnel anymore—now I see light. Possibility. And it’s all thanks to Brody.

With one last look at him, I ease myself out of bed and pick my clothes up off the floor before padding into the living room. I get dressed and unlock the front door, walking outside into the brisk morning air. My toothbrush and all the other toiletries Brody bought me yesterday are still back in the outbuilding, so I head toward it, letting myself inside.

In the bathroom, I freshen up and brush my teeth, my heart fluttering as I think back to last night. It was the most magical night of my life. There’s a delicious ache between my legs this morning, a reminder of how it felt to surrender myself to Brody, and my heart soars as I hear the front door of the outbuilding open behind me.

“Good morning!” I call, hurriedly wiping my face. “Sorry if I woke you. I just came out here to brush my teeth.”

Grinning with anticipation, I hurry into the living room, expecting to see Brody.

My father is waiting for me.

I freeze, a scream lodged in my throat. My stomach sinks, fear rushing through me like ice in my veins. He’s standing in the middle of the room, watching me calmly. But I can see the fury etched in his features. It narrows his eyes, tightens his jaw.

“Hello, Emma.”

I feel sick. I hoped I’d never have to hear that voice again. Instinctively, I take a step back, my throat dry.

“H-how…” I suck in a lungful of air, choking on it. “How did you find me?”

“The car you stole.Mycar. It’s fitted with a tracker.” Triumph glints in his eye. “All the vehicles in Scourfield have them. I was prepared for this eventuality.”

My head spins.

A tracker?

“But…how come you didn’t find me sooner?” I ask.

The triumph fades into a glare. “This is a remote spot—the signal isn’t accurate. I’ve been driving around these woods for days.”

That explains why he looks so unkempt. His long hair is tied back, lank and greasy as though it hasn’t been washed in a while.

“The red truck.” I swallow hard. “Paolo’s truck. That was you?”

A dark cloud passes over his face. “Yes. You stole my car, so I had to make other travel arrangements. Paolo came with me. He’s waiting for us in the truck.”

It feels like I’ve woken up into a nightmare. I was anxious about the red truck, but I was never truly convinced it was my father. I had no idea he could track the car.

Why didn’t I think of that?!

But stealing a vehicle was the only way out. The mistake was keeping it. I should have dumped the Honda the first chance I got.

“What do you want?” I ask weakly. “Why are you here?”

“I’m here to bring you and my car back to Scourfield, where you belong.”

It’s the answer I expected, but it still sends a shudder through me.

---