Page 10 of Demolishing with the Mountain Man
She already has it doesn’t she?
I ignored the nagging thought, kissed her again, and moved her hair back over her shoulder. “Let me start the fire. Sit wherever you’d like.” I motioned to the chairs around the pit.
“Which seat is yours?”
I pointed to the red one. She nodded and sat in the white one next to it. “Give me fire.” Taelyn’s eyes widened and her smile stretched across her face. Over our past few dates, she let her guard down more with each date and I loved her silly personality when she really let loose and enjoyed herself. She opened up about her struggles and she talked about her parents and how the relationship didn’t sit right with her, but that she didn’t know how to go forward. How she loved her new career but still felt guilt for giving up the first one.
As I lit the fire, I shot her a wink and blew her a kiss. Before long, flames appeared, and the fire took off. I added firewood to it, thanks to my lovely neighbor’s supply, and kept the flame going by giving it something to burn.
Before sitting in my chair, I dragged it over closer to her chair. I wrapped one arm around her shoulders and pulled her into me, my other hand holding the fire poker. Taelyn rested her head on my shoulder, and we sat in silence for a while, both of us watching the fire. I rubbed her shoulder, my eyes hooked on the orange flames as I poked the fire and turned the wood.
“You haven’t mentioned your parents. Are they around?” Taelyn asked softly. “Of course, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay. Just tell me to shut up.”
I chuckled. “I would never tell you to shut up. But no, sadly, my parents aren’t around. Five years ago, he got a new job opportunity with the company he worked for, but it was in London. I was two years into my carpentry program and didn’t want to leave. I’d have to drop out of the four-year program and lose my limited spot if we came back. But I didn’t wantmy parents to turn down a better job because of me. They were smart people, and I trusted their judgement. They wouldn’t leave for just any job. Anyway, as a gift, my parents bought me this cabin. I finished my school and started working. But I miss them. A lot. I’m an only child, too.”
“I’m sorry, Zale. It must be tough not seeing them. Have they come to visit? Or have you gone there?”
“My parents come every Christmas. I’ve gone there twice. I’d love to go again and do the whole touristy thing.” I smiled like an idiot, but the thought of traveling made me giddy. There was so much of the world I wanted to still see. I needed a partner to share it with. Hopefully, it would be her.
“I bet it’s an awesome time. I’ve never been to Europe, but I want to. There’re so many places to see and explore.”
“I agree.”
“But I’m only getting older. I don’t know how much longer I can wait around to start a family. Maybe I should just travel the world instead.”
My body froze as my mind went haywire.She wants to start a family?
It was something I wanted too. Traveling could wait. “But maybe you already met the guy who’d become your husband.”
Taelyn’s head snapped my way, and she searched my eyes. “Maybe I have.” Her cheeks flushed, and she broke our gaze, staring at her hands fidgeting in her lap.
“I really like you, Tae.”
“I really like you, too.”
“Can we explore whatever this is? Make a commitment to each other?”
Taelyn stroked my beard with her hand before kissing me softly on the lips. “Yes.”
THE END
