Page 47 of The One With the Mountain Man

"I'll get him to daycare. You just focus on you."

"I will. If you promise to stay away tonight. Go woo that gorgeous, resilient woman who is way too good for you. Gus and I will be fine now that we've had a good long night of sleep."

She needed five or fifty more before I'd believe her, but I was also desperate to spend a whole day with Marley. "Only if you promise to call if you need me."

"Promise."

I found the information I needed in the books and returned them to her dresser before cleaning Gus up and loading him into my truck. I dropped him off with Reesa, apologizing in advance if Gus took a swing at anyone.

"So it's true? You punched Travis? I thought for sure Christine was exaggerating." Reesa's eyes bulged.

"Just...if he acts out at all, let me know. I'm hoping he's already forgotten what he saw."

She shook her head and laughed at me, but she took Gus, making me a free man.

A ridiculous man, but a man on a mission just the same.

I stopped at the Green Door for the lunch Annie packed us, then hurried back to the workshop apartment so I could shower and change. When I pulled up to Golden Hour Marley waved from the deck.

"Coffee?"

I slammed my door and went straight to her. My hands were in her hair and my lips on hers so fast she squeaked in surprise before melting into me. "Good morning, beautiful." I felt twelve feet tall and ready to conquer the world.

Her eyes were still closed. "So that's a no to coffee?"

"You're all the coffee I need." I kissed her again. Was the line cheesy as hell? Sure. Did I mean it? Yes, I did. Just seeing her got my heart pumping faster, but now that she was in my arms it was like I was plugged into a generator.

She let her head fall back as she laughed at my line, and I took the opportunity to drop kisses on the soft skin of her neck. "Jackson!"

"Too much?" I kept kissing her. Down one side of her neck and up the other.

"Just surprised!"

I took her face in my hands again and studied her this time. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks pink, and her breath fast. I'd done my damn job. "That should be the only way to start the day." Then I kissed her one more time because her lips weren't swollen enough. "Now that we've had a proper start, Willow tells me you purchased a guidebook to Sammy locations."

She blanched.

Fuck. I really needed to figure out how I kept causing that reaction so I could stop triggering her already. I ran my thumbs over her cheeks. "Have you looked through it yet?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Yes."

"Good. Have you perhaps picked out some that you're more excited to see than others?"

Her features softened as the panic faded. "Yes."

I nodded towards the cabin. "Go get it. I'm taking you to see the sights."

She squealed as she ran inside. I might not know how to keep from scaring her, but I sure knew how to make her happy. So that was something. I followed her inside and looked around again. This time I was able to take in the craftsmanship that went into the home. Digger had been pissed and jealous that they didn't use him. I didn't blame him at all, but the previous owners weren't from around here. At least they had good taste and even more money to burn. If Mack didn't turn it into a mini resort, she'd get good money for it.

I flipped through Marley's notes while she cleaned up her breakfast and tied up her shoes. Most of the locations she marked were open to the public. Either general locations along the river or hiking trails. All places she could visit on her own. "If you could go anywhere," I held up the book, "anywhere at all, where would you want to visit the most?"

She chewed her lower lip, adorably nervous to tell me the truth. "Anywhere?"

Fuck, I was excited. The chance to blow her mind, to give her an experience she thought she couldn't have, had me half hard. "Anywhere."

She hesitated before giving in and telling me. "If I could go anywhere, I'd want to see the log cabin that inspired Sammy's home."

That's exactly what I thought she'd say. I held out my hand, proud as a damn peacock that I guessed right. "Well then let's go."

---