Page 4 of Enticed By the Mountain Man

I glance at my watch. It’s almost 6pm. Sunset isn’t due for a while, but the rainclouds have made everything darker than usual. I won’t get home until just after seven, even if I leave right away.

I park near the front door. “Are you going to be all right from here?”

“I think so.” He unclicks his seatbelt and opens the passenger door. After a moment, he climbs out, looking much steadier on his feet than before.

He then pauses, and I watch as he pats his pants pockets.

“What?” I ask.

“It seems I’ve left my keys, phone, and wallet at the police station.”

I stare at him. “That’s very unlike you.”

“Well, the police station isn’t the kind of location I normally visit.”

“What do you want to do? I can drive back into town and get them for you?”

“No, no. You’ll be driving half the night. I’ll ask someone at the station to call a courier and have them sent here first thing in the morning.”

“Can you get inside without a key?”

“Fortunately, yes. I have a lockbox near the back door with a spare. I keep it for guests when they stay.”

I wonder what kind of guests he might have over. Family? Girlfriends?

Wait. Why am I thinking about Justin’s girlfriends right now?

“If you tell me the code, I’ll get it for you.”

“Thanks, Carrie. It’s 0623.”

“No problem. I’ll be right back.” I pause for a moment. “Hey, that’s funny. Your code is my birthday.”

He looks at me, surprised. “You’re right. How strange. I guess whoever set the default knew someone with the same birthday.”

I tilt my head to the side but don’t say anything. Isn’t the default usually 1234 or 0000? I guess this company could have set something else in case the owner was too lazy to change it.

I start to walk away, but he stops me. “Before you get the key, do you mind if I borrow your phone? I’ll call the station.”

“Oh, yes, of course.” I hand over my phone. “The unlock code is…” I laugh. “0623.”

He chuckles. “Okay.”

I hurry off around the side of the house, admiring its design. It has dark paneling on its walls and a steep gabled roof. There are several large glass windows, and I peek inside one as I pass. It looks like a large bedroom containing a king-sized bed and mid-century furniture.

I’ve already learned more about Justin from this one glance than I have in the previous three years we’ve worked together. It’s slightly weird, but I’m happy to see he has good taste.

I find the lockbox and retrieve the key, but before I head back around the front, I admire the view from the backyard. To my left is a thickly wooded area full of pine trees, but to my right is a large lake with access via a jetty.

There are no other houses visible from this vantage point.

Surely other people must live on the water nearby? I don’t know this area very well, but it looks like it would be popular.

Even now in the rain, the scenery is magical.

I head back to the front of the house and hand the key to Justin, who is still on the phone.

He nods his thanks and waves his spare hand to the door as if to invite me in.

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