Page 15 of Rough Mountain Man

“Your imagination seems pretty damn good to me,” Dayton said, tossing a smile at the woman standing next to him.

Their eyes locked in a stare that said exactly how much they were in love. It lasted just long enough to make me a little uncomfortable. But it also gave me hope. Vanessa had been willing to give up everything to be with Dayton. Could the same go for Gennie?

“We’re in love,” Vanessa said, grabbing Dayton’s hand.

She looked at Gennie, determination in her features. She was waiting for us to go against her somehow. We weren’t going to do that.

We were in love too. Well, I could only speak for myself, but I was in love. I never thought I’d say those words, and especially not with someone I’d just met.

But when it was right, it was right. And it was definitely right.

“I didn’t understand it,” Gennie said.

She reached over and grabbed my hand, and suddenly, I was aware that I was still shirtless. Maybe this meant I could pull out my wrinkled-up T-shirt and put it on. I felt a little weird standing here like this.

“But I get it now,” Gennie said. “I’m thinking about moving here myself.”

She looked at me after she said that, as though waiting for me to freak out or something. Or maybe she was waiting for my approval.

When I looked back at Vanessa, her face had lit up like a Christmas tree. “You’re moving here?”

And then Dayton seemed to get it. He pointed at me and asked, “You two?”

I nodded. “Us too.” And then I gave Gennie’s hand a little squeeze before releasing it and rushing to slide on my T-shirt.

“That’s awesome,” Vanessa said. “We can raise our kids together, like we always planned—only in a different place.”

I waited to be terrified at the thought of being tied down to a wife and kids. It didn’t happen. In fact, the opposite. The idea of being tied to this woman forever—raising a family, building a life—nothing sounded better.

“Looks like you’re stuck with us,” Gennie said.

And then she was looking at me, and I smiled back at her, letting her know that being stuck with her was exactly what I wanted.

“This calls for a celebration,” Dayton said.

“Drinks at the lodge?” I asked.

“I was thinking more a piece of that delicious chocolate cake I’ve heard about,” Vanessa said.

“Now that’s my idea of a celebration,” Gennie chimed in.

“Beers for us, chocolate for our women,” Dayton said.

I nodded. Hand in hand, Gennie and I followed Vanessa and Dayton down the hiking trail toward our vehicles. It was our first bit of alone time, post-making love. We didn’t get that pillow talk I’d wanted, but there’d be plenty of time for that later.

“I owe you an orgasm,” I said once there was enough space between us that they wouldn’t overhear.

“I’ll definitely take you up on that,” Gennie said. “You don’t mind me moving here?”

“Mind?” I shook my head. “That’s the best news I’ve had all year. Maybe in all my life.”

She squeezed my hand just as I’d squeezed hers earlier. “It seems crazy, right? I have a job. An apartment. And I’m just going to give it all up. But no way could I go back. Not knowing you’re here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re going to like Seduction Summit.”

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