Page 9 of Adored By the Mountain Man

“Show me. I want to learn.”

So I do. I stand behind her, my chest nearly touching her back as I adjust her grip on the stone and guide her arm throughthe motion. She smells like sunshine and something sweet, and when she leans back slightly, her body fits against mine like it was designed to be there.

“Now throw,” I murmur in her ear, my voice rougher than it should be.

The stone skips twice before sinking into the lake.

Callie turns in my arms with a triumphant grin that nearly stops my heart. “I did it!”

“You did.”

We’re standing too close with her face tilted toward mine and the lake stretching out behind her like something from a dream. The smart thing would be to step back, put some distance between us, remember why I came out here in the first place.

Instead, I reach up and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, my thumb brushing her cheek.

“Harlan,” she whispers.

And that’s when I know I’m in serious trouble. I should shut this down right away. I don’t deal well with people. I’ve lost enough to risk losing more. I can’t get too close.

The realization hits like cold water. I step back so quickly that she blinks in surprise. I shove my hands in my pockets before I can do something stupid like wrap her in my arms.

“We should start making dinner,” I say, and turn around to get my cooking gear.

Chapter Five

Callie

I keep stealing glances at Harlan as we walk back to our tents. I’m trying to read his expression, but his face is neutral. Was I imagining things just now? Because for a moment, I could have sworn he was going to kiss me. The way he looked at me brushed my cheek with his thumb set my entire body on fire… Wow. But then he stepped back like I burned him.

I try to shake off the confusion and bite back my disappointment. I’m not about to cry in front of this big, tough mountain man and admit it’s because of him. Nope. I’m staying strong. And I’m not about to let tears ruin what’s shaping up to be a perfect evening. I came here to learn, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do, no matter how painful it is to spend time with Harlan without being able to… well, kiss him.

Do Iwantto kiss him? If I’m being honest, yes. I want to feel his lips on mine, but why would I want to kiss someone I barely know? Sure, he’s devastatingly attractive, but that’s not the only reason. Something deeper is pulling at me. Something about the way our bodies seemed to fit together when he helped me skip that rock like we were designed for each other. The way his presence makes me feel both safe and completely alive.

It doesn’t make sense, though. I’m practical, logical. I don’t believe in instant connections or love at first sight. So why doesbeing near him feel like coming home? Like I was wrong my entire life, and love at first sight exists after all?

“Callie?” Harlan asks, jerking me from my thoughts.

“Huh?”

He looks at me with a frown. “I asked if you’re ready to start making dinner.”

“Right. Dinner,” I say, even though food is the last thing on my mind. I’m too full of longing to be able to eat.

“We don’t have gas stoves for everyone, so our best bet is cooking over an open fire. It’s a win-win. It’ll teach your Camp Evergreen kids how to make a fire safely and how to use it to make dinner. Plus, it’ll keep us warm.”

“Sounds good,” I say.

For the next hour, he walks me through the process of gathering kindling, stacking logs correctly, and coaxing flames from a single spark to a steady burn. His hands brush mine as he guides me through stacking the wood, and each touch sends little jolts of awareness through me that I try desperately to ignore.

“There,” he says as our fire crackles to life. “Now for the real test.”

He produces two foil packets from seemingly nowhere, each wrapped around what looks like diced vegetables and chunks of marinated meat. “Hobo packets. Classic camp food.”

“Hobo packets?” I laugh. “That’s what they’re called?”

“I’m not messing with you, Callie.” He places the foil packets carefully on the fire and settles onto the log beside me, though I notice he leaves more space between us than before. “Give it about twenty minutes.”

The fire pops and hisses. Above us, the first stars appear, and I realize how quiet it is out here. No traffic, no other sounds, just the crackling fire and the soft rustle of wind through the trees.

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