Page 5 of My Tempting Mountain Man

We sit down, the silence thick between us. I take a spoonful, savoring the delicious warmth. "This is amazing, Liam."

He merely grunts in response, focused intently on his soup.

"Do you cook a lot?" I ask, unable to help myself.

"Kinda have to out here," he says shortly, then adds with obvious reluctance, "Can’t order takeout."

"Right," I chuckle softly. "Guess delivery guys don’t venture this far."

He snorts softly, shaking his head. "No, they don’t."

"Well, lucky for you, I do love soup. And storms," I tease lightly, aiming for levity.

"You enjoy being stuck with random mountain men?" He raises an eyebrow, amusement finally warming his gaze.

"Only the grumpy ones. They're the most fun," I quip, eyes sparkling.

He almost smiles this time, hiding it behind a sip of soup. "Careful, Everly. Might take that as a compliment."

"Maybe you should," I reply boldly, holding his gaze until I’m forced to look away, cheeks heating.

We finish eating in a companionable silence, the atmosphere shifting subtly between us. When we’re done, Liam clears the bowls, rinsing them quickly.

"You can have my bed tonight," he offers abruptly, not looking at me. "I’ll take the couch."

"No, Liam, I can’t?—"

"Yes, you can," he insists firmly. "You’re my guest."

I relent with a soft sigh, touched by his unexpected kindness. "Okay. Thank you."

He nods once, eyes darkening again as they meet mine. The air crackles between us, charged and intense.

He turns away quickly, muttering, "It’s getting late. You should rest."

"Goodnight, Liam," I whisper softly, the words carrying an unintended intimacy.

"Night, Everly," he murmurs back, voice rough and gentle at the same time.

I slip into his bedroom, heart racing. The bed is neatly made, the quilt worn and comforting. As I settle beneath the covers, breathing deeply the scent of pine and fresh air, my thoughts swirl wildly.

Liam might be grumpy and guarded, but beneath that rough exterior lies something magnetic and intriguing. As sleep claims me, I can't help but wonder just how many secrets the mountain man is hiding—and how badly I might want to uncover them.

4

Liam

I shift for the hundredth time on the damned couch, frustration building with each restless toss. My legs hang awkwardly over the armrest, feet cramped against the opposite side. I groan, running a hand roughly through my hair. This couch was never meant to accommodate someone of my size, and sleep is proving impossible.

Outside, the storm continues to rage, wind rattling the windows and rain drumming incessantly on the roof. It matches the turmoil swirling inside me. My thoughts stubbornly drift back to Everly, her soft laughter, bright eyes, the way her rain-soaked dress clung to every tempting curve. My body tightens with desire, a longing that’s inappropriate and completely unwelcome.

I'm too old for this. Too experienced, too scarred to let some bright-eyed city girl crawl beneath my skin. Yet she’s managed it effortlessly, simply by being herself—sweet, genuine, and impossibly alluring.

Another restless toss nearly sends me tumbling off the couch. That's it. I can't do this.

Grumbling under my breath, I push to my feet, padding quietly across the cabin toward the bedroom door. I hesitate for a moment, hand resting on the knob. Sharing a bed with Everly is risky, a temptation that might break my carefully built resolve. But I need rest if I'm going to take her into town tomorrow and face the inevitable barrage of questions and curious looks from townsfolk who love nothing more than prying into my solitude.

I take a steadying breath and ease the door open.

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