Page 2 of Falling for the Mountain Man
I drag my hands down my face, exhaling hard.
Three days. That’s all. I’ve survived months with this woman under my roof. Months of forced small talk, of catching her watching me when she thinks I don’t notice. Months ofpretending I don’t want to close the space between us whenever Kallie leaves the room.
I can handle this.
All I have to do is keep my head down. Give them a place to sleep. Cook a meal big enough to feed an army—leftovers to last the week, so I don’t have to share air with her any longer than necessary.
Easy.
So why does it feel like walking into a burning building? My heart thrashes every time I picture her in my head.
Is college still going well? Is she eating enough?
Questions that should be aimed toward Kallie. Thankfully, my daughter is happy to blow up my phone any time something exciting happens.
Like she’s a mindreader, the screen of my phone lights up before rattling against my desk; it’s Kallie’s contact that pops up. If I have to guess, she’s probably telling me that they’re just now reaching Willowbrook Ridge.
I told them to come here, that way they wouldn’t run into any issues heading up to the mountain to reach my cabin.
I don’t feel like I’m ready to see them. How long has it been since they were here last? Right before summer ended, if I remember right. Too many months have passed since then.
Setting my phone down after typing away a short message, I groan softly and sit back in my chair.
Can’t let my thoughts run wild and wonder what kind of clothes she’ll be wearing. It’s cold as hell here, so I hope they kept a few long-sleeve shirts.
My knee bounces as I crack open my unread emails and listen back to any voicemails.
Focus, Ryder.
After mastering using these tasks as a distraction, I lose myself in knocking off a few more, one at a time. The less I havewaiting for me here, the less I have to be worried about spending my time here during the holidays.
How much time passes before I hit my next disruption, twenty minutes? Seems like a lifetime of peace to not have the blaring weight of my problems filling my thoughts.
Another knock on my door. It’s Wyatt popping his head in. “Kallie is here asking for you.”
My heart launches into my throat on its own, and my gut clenches automatically. Zaria isn’t even mentioned, but just knowing she’ll be there right at Kallie’s side is enough.
Working hard to keep my face straight, I thank him and prepare to leave.
Powering off my desktop and grabbing my bag, I take a couple of inches of paperwork from my leaning tower and shove it inside. Can’t hurt to take my work home if I need to extend my need for distractions.
Feeling a knot form with my next swallow, I clear my throat.
I hear my daughter’s voice as soon as I enter the garage. Next to one of the engines, she’s talking off Walker’s ear about who knows what.
He’s clearly had enough, because he’s quick to point toward me the moment he notices my arrival.
Kallie’s eyes grow bright when seeing me. She’s always been glued to my hip growing up, so the distance is always rough on her. As her smile stretches across her face, she doesn’t bother saying her relief or properly ending her conversation with Walker. Instead, she launches herself in my direction and throws herself into my barely-ready arms.
She’s got a tan despite it being November. She is a fan of complaining about the high temperatures over in Arizona.
As she pulls away, she’s overworrying about me, taking in my features like she’s expecting to see a chunk of my body missing. Once I see relief filling her gaze, I know she’s satisfied.
“Missed you, Kal.” Petting her hair, my eyes drift next to her.
Zaria’s got a matching brightness to her, but her smile is more contained, like she’s trying to keep her excitement inside. Just as Kallie steps out of my arms, she steps forward.
Act normal, Ryder.
