Page 20 of My Protective Mountain Man

I raise an eyebrow, amused. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

He grins and leans in, his eyes locked on mine. “Stick around. You might be surprised.”

There’s a playfulness in his voice that makes my chest warm. But beneath that, I can feel it—something more serious simmering just under the surface. Like this dinner, this night, means more than he’s letting on.

My smile falters slightly. The nerves come rushing back.

I fold my hands tightly in my lap, trying to keep them from trembling. “So…” I say carefully, my voice softer now, “what’s the surprise?”

He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he reaches down beside his chair and lifts a large manila envelope onto the table.

My stomach twists.

It’s not what I expected. There’s no velvet box. No ring gleaming under the candlelight. And yet, somehow, the mystery of it makes my pulse race even faster.

He pushes the envelope toward me with both hands, his eyes dancing with excitement. “I’ve been working on this for days,” he says. “Go ahead. Open it.”

I stare at the envelope, trying to read something in his expression. He looks… proud. Hopeful. A little boyish in his eagerness, and that only makes it more endearing.

I reach for the flap, hands still trembling slightly.

What is this?I wonder. If it’s not a proposal, then why all the secrecy? Why the candlelit dinner and the nervous energy between us?

My fingers brush the seal. It feels thick—like there are multiple pages inside. Documents? Letters?

I glance up at him again, and he’s watching me like I’m about to open the universe.

My heart softens at the sight of him. Whatever this is, it matters to him. That alone is enough to push past the nerves.

I pull the flap open slowly, careful not to tear anything.

And inside, I see a stack of papers, neatly clipped together. The first page is a printed map of the mountain.Hismountain.

My brows furrow, and I flip to the next page—a legal document. Deed information? Zoning changes?

“What is this?” I whisper, looking up at him.

I flip past the conservation documents, my fingers brushing across the next section in the envelope. Something thickercatches my eye—another set of pages, printed and stapled neatly. The title at the top reads "Transfer of Ownership." My heart stutters.

“Everest…” I glance up at him, suddenly breathless. “There’s more?”

He leans forward, eyes sparkling with excitement, like he’s been holding in this secret for far too long. “Yeah,” he says, nodding. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

I stare down at the page, trying to make sense of it. It’s a deed—this one not for the mountain, but for a property downtown. The address jumps out at me. I know it. It’s right on the edge of the square, the old corner lot with the towering oaks and cracked stone gate. I’ve passed it a hundred times. The abandoned mansion.

“I’ve seen this place,” I murmur, fingertips grazing the page. “It’s been empty forever.”

Everest nods slowly, a knowing look in his eyes. “I’ve had my eye on it for years. The bones of it… they’re beautiful. It’s got history. Charm. But I never had a reason to live down there. That place was never meant for me.”

I blink, the weight of what he’s saying slowly sinking in. “Then why?—”

He reaches across the table and places his hand gently over mine, anchoring me to him. “Because it’s meant for you.”

My breath catches in my throat.

“I bought it for you,” he continues. “So you could chase your dream. You told me you wanted a bed and breakfast, just like you always talked about with your mom. I listened. And I saw that house… and I sawyouthere. Welcoming people, running the place your way. Building something of your own.”

Tears flood my eyes. I shake my head, overwhelmed. “You… you bought me a mansion?”

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