Page 5 of Charmed By the Mountain Man

"No way. You're going to need makeup remover and a good scrub," I say. "Trust me, I know. I used to draw bracelets on my wrist when I got bored in high school."

"I can't just splash some remover on it?"

I laugh sympathetically. "No. Sorry."

He looks crestfallen as he slumps slightly in his chair. It does nothing to camouflage his height and bulk. "I have a doctor's appointment in West Stoneburg tomorrow. Way overdue for a stupid physical. The guy is a bit uptight. Is he going to think I'm a maniac with marker all over me?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe?"

A pressure starts just below my heart, then spreads both up to my throat and down to the lowest part of my belly. I want any excuse to be close to this gorgeous man. This sounds perfect. I take a deep breath before blurting, "I have a brand-new bottle of makeup remover. Want to come to my place? My aunt is out at her book club tonight."

There's something in his easy smile. The way he looks at me so intently. His large hand takes hold of mine, lifting it slowly as he leans down to kiss the center of my wrist.

"Thank you, Angel. That would be a huge help."

4

HUXLEY

The way Willa's eyes lit up when I called her Angel is a memory I'll treasure forever.

She truly is an angel. A beautiful girl who is far too sweet for me, but I still can't help thinking how much I want her to be mine.

No, not want.Need. The second I became lost in her eyes, I turned into a different person. A man whose sole purpose in life is to care for this smart, sexy woman.

I feel like a burglar sneaking in as Willa double checks to make sure her aunt isn't home, then guides me up to her bedroom. It's a nice house – casually comfortable, with lots of houseplants. Willa's room is done in light blue, with a big fuzzy purple pillow in the center of her bed. There's a dark wooden desk in front of the window with an industrial gray rubber mat on top of it, across which jewelry-making supplies are scattered.

She picks up a large bottle of light blue liquid and a sleeve of cotton pads, then pulls over the wastebasket. I perch on the edge of the bed with my back to her, then look back over my shoulder to catch a slightly tense look in her eyes.

"If this makes you uncomfortable, I'll figure out something else," I say quickly.

She shakes her head and flashes me a precious grin. "No, this is going to be fine. I just don't want to be the one to yank off your shirt."

"Fair."

Chuckling, I pull it off and turn my back to her completely. She gets right to work, saturating the top third of my back with the makeup remover. It's a little chilly, but I keep my mouth shut. After a few moments, I'm holding back a moan from the amazing feeling of her left hand gripping my shoulder and the right scrubbing in brisk circles, and the immediate closeness between us.

She sighs softly, her breath warm against my spine. “I feel terrible erasing this gorgeous artwork.”

“All good. Crow took tons of photos.” My chin nods into the corner. "So, that's your jewelry making station?"

"Yes."

"The charms are super cute. I'm sure they'll be popular around here."

I catch her reflection in the mirror and notice the way her head shakes. "I love doing it, but I don't have any false hope it could ever be a real job. It's not important work or anything."

She blinks in surprise at me in the mirror when I frown and make a low growl. "Ithink it's important."

Her laugh is like a ray of sunshine bouncing around the small room. “How? It makes people happy, but it’s just decoration. It’s not saving a life, like what my parents and sister do.”

"People buy handmade jewelry as a treat, right? Either to perk themselves up or mark special occasions." I point to a necklace on her desk. "I bet somebody is going to buy that for their best friend's birthday. They'll always think of theirfriendship when they wear it. And those earrings – they could be a three-month anniversary gift."

Her lovely eyes grow wide. "I didn't realize you were so sentimental."

"Ha! Busted."

She smiles brightly. "I wish I had the materials to make more. It's hard to find really interesting stones. Of course, I'd love to use beach glass, but you know…" She shrugs. "We're not by an ocean. Maybe at the small lake close to here, but it’s really hard to get to. The only public access is a two-mile hike, so I haven't made it there yet."

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