Page 5 of Healing with the Mountain Man
I seriously need to stop making him worry about me.
If only it didn’t feel so good.
3
Dean
Lewis would want me to take care of his daughter in whatever way possible. He’d want me to make sure she’s happy, and give her whatever she needs.
If he knew what kind of thoughts were forming in my head as I sit here watching her shovel food inside like she hasn’t had a good meal in days, he’d be rolling around in his grave.
I should be ashamed. Fuck, I should be forking out the money to get her the next plane ticket back to Texas so we can go back to playing it safe.
There’s no risk of trying to make the young woman mine with thousands of miles separating us.
Now that she’s here—under my roof, at my table—I can’t bring myself to let her go. Even if I tried, the way she clings to the warmth of this house, the quiet relief in her tired eyes, tells me she won’t leave without a fight.
I’d have to be a damn fool—or a far worse man—to send her back into the storm, knowing she’d struggle alone when I could keep her safe.
So, I’ll do what’s right. Keep my word. The guest room is hers for as long as she needs it.
But that’s where it ends. No more slipping into her space like I did earlier, no more aching to let my hands linger where they shouldn’t. No matter how badly I want to.
The lights flicker above us, a warning. Her gaze darts up, lips parting—not quite fear, but close. She doesn’t have to ask. I already know.
“Generator’s out back if the power goes out. No point in worrying about it, I’m sure it’ll happen before nightfall,” I say, nudging her plate toward her. “Eat. The storm’s gonna get worse before it gets better. Enjoy it while it’s hot before we can’t heat it back up.”
She obeys, picking at the pasta like it’s something sacred. My eyes drag the entire length as she brings the fork to her plump lips. Her cheeks match in color, stained pink. All it takes is the sight of her tongue to make my knee bounce.
I’m a good man. Iam.The only way I’m going to convince myself is to put my focus on her without taking in the small details. What I need to do is take in the bigger picture here.
The way her throat works when she swallows, the faint tremor in her fingers—it’s been too long since she’s had a real meal.
Not anymore. If she stays here, she eats. She sleeps. She stays safe.
There isn’t any other option. The only cost is my patience and the constant test of my strength.
We get a few minutes of silence, a few minutes of me trying to think of something I can talk to her about without bringing back that hurt expression to her face. Can’t ask about college, or thechoice not to move to a dorm instead of traveling out here. Can’t ask about her lease and why she decided to leave everything behind.
What else is there to discuss?
“Mr. Whiskers looks fluffier in person,” she murmurs, like she’s thinking the same thing I am. “Tell me he enjoys cuddling. I’m going to need someone to sleep with.”
My knee bounces faster. I blame the next strike of thunder for why my heart pounds heavier.
“He can’t decide what he wants to do. Sometimes, I wake up with him on my face. Others, he acts like he’s too good to be near me.” She snorts, and I stifle a smile behind my propped-up hand. “I’ve only spoken good things to him about you, so you have a fair chance to stay on his good side.”
Alani rocks back in her chair to look around for the white ball of fluff, but he’s nowhere to be seen. As long as he’s not getting fed, he doesn’t care. If I have to guess, the storm has him hiding under my bed. Her lips purse together, and I consider moving to hunt him down so that I can see another smile form on her lips.
She’s beautiful when she lights up. Like the sun on a summer day.
Fuck me. Focus.
Once her plate is empty, I push back to clear it, but she moves too.
Like it’s a competition, her hand darts out, fingers skimming mine in her rush to prove she doesn’t need me to take care of her. Like she doesn’t want to be a hassle.
I don’t think she is. Iwantto take care of her. After upsetting her earlier, she thinks such a concept is unfathomable.
