Page 11 of The Mountain Man's Unexpected Bride
He gives me a smile – they seem to come so easily to him – and waves me goodnight. I walk like a zombie into my room and sit down at the edge of the bed. I see the packages that I still have to open and then pack, but right now it's hitting me that my life has done a complete one-eighty in just a few hours.
I have things now that I can call my own, and I no longer have to serve others if I don't want to. I will no longer be treated like a person of lesser value, given only the scraps from the table. The problem is that my feelings are battling each other. One part of me is so glad that I want to dance naked in that luxury bathroom.
Another part wants to hide away from this new, dangerous world all around me. It's beautiful, but I don't know how to navigate it. And then there is Brock. Strong, smart, and willing to stand up to my stepmonster.
I realize I can get myself really confused if I keep thinking all these thoughts, so I do the one thing I've been wanting to do – besides kiss Brock – since I saw the bathroom in this suite. Take a warm bath. It's a luxury I've never had, and I don't know when I'll be able to have it again.
So I gather my new PJs and head to the bathroom. There's everything I need to take a bubble bath, and I eagerly read each bottle to see what new thing they've included. When my bath is ready, I get in slowly, letting the warmth of the water soothe me.
I thought I could have a nice bath, but my thoughts won't stop going to the man who's sleeping on the sofa bed outside. What would his gruff hands feel like against my skin? Is he affectionate like he was today, always touching me innocently?
A soft knock takes me away from my thoughts. I sink down and let the bubbles cover me as I tell him to come in.
"Oh wow, that looks amazing, princess. Does it feel as good as it looks?"
"Better."
I wait patiently for him to tell me what he needs, but he just stares at me. His gaze looks heated, and he's breathing a little fast. Am I causing those changes in him? Does he want me as much as I want him?
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, and clearly you are. Good night."
"Good night, Brock."
He silently closes the door behind him and leaves me once again to my treacherous thoughts. I guess time will tell if he's just being kind or if he's genuinely interested in me.
Chapter 5
Brock
What on earth is wrong with me? Going into her bathroom like that! All day I've been struggling with how sweet and delicate Savannah is, and how much I want her for my own. I keep reminding myself that this is just a temporary arrangement, but my instincts are telling me to claim her and make her mine.
Seeing her like that, all covered in bubbles, made me want to explore her slick body from head to toe. The things I'd do to that delicious woman are probably illegal in some states. That's another thing that kept me up last night. If I'm not going to marry her, should we become intimate at all?
Maybe she'd like to meet other men who might be more compatible with her than me. I immediately scratch that thought and am surprised at the anger I feel at all these imaginary men that don't really exist. I try to focus on the moment.
We've finally arrived at Hunter's Peak, and we're nearing my cabin. Savannah has been very quiet during our trip, and I wonder what's going through her mind right now. When we near the house, I realize she's uneasy in her seat and has a look of wonder on her face.
"This is your cabin? My god, it's huge! I can't believe you built it yourself."
My chest feels full of pride for what I've accomplished. More so now that I can share it with someone special like Savannah. We walk in, and I give her the grand tour. She's the most excited about my library, and I see her pick up book after book in awe. I think she's going to be a reader like me.
"This place is amazing, Brock. Thanks for sharing it with me."
"I'm so glad you like it, Savannah. I hope you make this place your own."
"Are you kidding me? I've already got a ton of ideas for what I could do to make it more of a home. If that's okay with you?"
"You've got carte blanche to do anything you want."
I want to take her into my arms and give her a better welcome to this temporary shelter I'm offering her, only she doesn't know it's temporary. Will it break her heart to know she has to leave in six months? Can I even hurt her like that now that I've gotten to know her a little more?
It's close to dinnertime, so that could be an activity we can do together. I'm eager to spend time with her, and I've noticed that her demeanor has changed from that of a shy girl to that of a curious young woman. I check the fridge and see that Cassie from the General Store has come in and restocked it.
"Want to help me make some dinner?"
"Oh, of course. That will be so much fun."
I open the door to the fridge so that we can see what we have available to us. I think we've got enough to make a chicken stir-fry with some white rice, and I practically see Savannah's mouthwatering. So we set out to chop vegetables and get dinner ready.
