Page 13 of The One With the Mountain Man

Scottie ignored the question—and us—as he wrapped his arm around his girlfriend and kissed her. He kept ignoring us when he answered her. "We're warning Travis to watch out for them."

"I'm safe, bro. They love the gossip they get from me sleeping with tourists."

"You're a pig," Joanne, Travis's younger sister, said as she took the empty seat beside him. "I need food, Scottie! Feed me!"

He ignored that too. Scottie was too lost in whatever quiet conversation he was having with Mackenzie to care about anything else. He had this look I'd never seen. It was soft and protective and utterly entranced.

Jealousy flared in my chest for some odd reason.

I liked my unusual life and most of the time I didn't give it a second thought, but coming home, meeting Marley...I was starting to wonder if there was something missing.

Because as much as I told myself my relationships with Scottie, Digger, and Travis were fine, I fucking missed them. They lived their lives like this every day. They shared beers and silly stories about their days, while I only participated when I came home—which was almost never—or they road tripped out to see me. Once or twice a year, max. It was like sipping whiskey from a teaspoon when I could have the whole damn bottle.

"See what we've been dealing with?" Digger groaned. "They're like this all the time. They moved in together. They see each other all the time. And yet," he waved his hand, "right in front of us. It's practically pornographic."

Scottie spun. "Shut your fucking mouth." Then he went right back to Mack.

Joanne pushed up on her seat to see over the guys, zeroing in on me. "We met your fellow guest today. The one staying at Golden Hour."

"So, is she a celebrity or not?" Travis asked.

Joanne shook her head, frowning. "I don't think so. I don't recognize her."

"Thank fuck." His shoulders relaxed.

Joanne punched the closest arm.

"Ow!"

"That didn't hurt! You're two-hundred-and-fifty pounds of muscle."

He rubbed his bicep. "I'll have you know, I'm down to two-forty."

Joanne rolled her eyes and punched him again.

Fuck, how I missed this. If I could just move my family out of Lost Creek, I'd never leave. "Anything else I should know about her?"

That finally broke Mack out of her Scottie spell. She stepped up to the bar while he moved behind her, not letting her go. Like being near her without touching her was unthinkable. "Just that she wants to be left alone. She's here for peace and quiet. Like an extended retreat. I'm even bringing her groceries every week."

"So I won't see her much?" My biggest worry about being so close to a guest was that they'd be nosy or loud when the whole point of finding a place separate from my family was so that I could escape to the quiet.

Mack shook her head. "Only if she comes to town, which I think she'll do at some point. I gave her your name, so if you do run into her, she won't be completely freaked out."

Great. A skittish neighbor. At least she wouldn't be knocking on my door. "Sounds perfect. When do I need to be out by?"

"You don't. I wasn't planning on renting the apartment or workshop space, and since my guest has requested privacy, I don't see a reason to book it until after she leaves in October. If ever. I really need to figure out what to do with this property!"

Digger rubbed his hands together. "We have the plans for five more cabins. Just say the word."

While the business would be good for Digger, it hurt to think of that property having so many homes on it. I always had a soft spot for that land and was jealous when it was sold.

Not that I ever planned to move back. Or could afford that many acres.

"I'm still thinking, Digger." Mack cuddled back into Scottie's arms. "It's a big decision."

"You could always turn it into a long-term rental. There aren't a lot of places for people who aren't ready to buy property out here. The workshop is nice but it's not something most people would want to rent for a long weekend."

She frowned. "I'm not sure I want to be a landlord, but it's something to consider."

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