Page 7 of Her Mountain Man Giant

“Are you okay?” I ask, instinctively stepping toward him.

“I’m fine.” He manages a barely there smile. “Can you grab me a couple of plates?”

I do as he asks, and out of the corner of my eye, I see him reach down to touch his knee, rubbing it firmly. He straightens up again as I bring him the plates, stacking the first three pancakes before starting on the next couple of batches. When he’s finished, he carries the plates into the living room while I bring the butter and syrup. As we sit down opposite each other, I notice he’s given me the plate with five pancakes, keeping only four for himself. But when I mention it, he waves it off.

“I’m the one gatecrashing your breakfast,” he says pointedly.

His voice is so serious that I can’t help but laugh. “I invited you.”

He shrugs, taking a bite of his pancakes. “You didn’t have to. Glad you did, though.”

I feel my heart flutter as he meets my gaze. He’s so handsome, from his olive eyes to his bushy beard, the width of his shoulders taking up an entire side of the table.

“I’m glad I did too.”

Something passes between us, the air thickening as we look at each other. My mouth is suddenly too dry to chew, and I take a sip of water, breathing hard.

“So,” Tanner says, clearing his throat, “you been living out here long?”

“Only a few weeks. I came here from Denver.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Big change. What brought you to Cherry Mountain?”

I set down my fork, feeling myself blush. I’m still hesitant to talk about how I gave up my life in the city to follow my dreams. It sounds so naïve, especially after so many people told me I was crazy for even trying—friends, family, my old boss. But something tells me Tanner won’t judge.

“I wasn’t happy in Denver,” I admit. “My apartment was nice, and I had a good-paying job, but none of it felt…right, I guess. So I decided to try writing a romance novel. It was something I always wanted to do, and I ended up publishing it last year. It did pretty well and I had so much fun writing it that I decided to quit my job to be a full-time author.” I press my lips together, my blush deepening. “I couldn’t afford to live in the city anymore, so I rented this place instead and…well, here I am.”

Tanner nods thoughtfully. “Damn. Good for you. Can’t have been easy, but it’s great that you’re chasing what you want.”

“You think so?” I ask, feeling a rush of affection for him.

“Sure. Takes guts to rock the boat and follow your heart, but you won’t regret it.”

I beam at him, my chest tingling. It’s the first time anybody has encouraged me instead of telling me I’m being dumb, and it means a lot coming from Tanner.

“Thank you,” I say. “I really hope you’re right.”

He grunts as if to say “of course I’m right,” and I smile to myself as I take another bite of my pancakes.

“What about you?” I ask after a few moments of silence. “Have you always lived on Cherry Mountain?”

“Feels like it sometimes, but no. I bought my cabin eighteen years ago. Been here ever since.”

His words throw me off for a second. Eighteen years ago, I hadn’t even started kindergarten, and Tanner was already living in his own mountain cabin. It should feel weird…but I like that he’s so much older. So ruggedly mature. The silvery streaks in his beard, his weathered features—they only make me want him more. My body tingles, and I force myself to look away from him.

Keep it together, Violet.

Don’t act weird.

“So, what made you move out here?” I ask, trying to keep my voice natural.

He’s silent for a moment. “Wanted a change, I guess. A quieter life.”

There’s a heaviness behind his words. It reminds me of yesterday, the way he said he’d been involved in an accident that people still talked about. The way he assumed I was there to write about it.

Is that why he came out here?

To get away from all that?

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