Page 25 of The Mountain Man's Virgin
“What do you want to know?” I tried to act cool, but inside my head, I was trying to figure out how much of the truth I wanted to tell her.
“You said that you have a job and that you’re not just some weird hermit.”
“I do. I fix helicopters.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep.” Technically, it was the truth. I had transformed a failing helicopter company into the most successful private heli operation in the west.
“That’s the last thing I would’ve guessed, your hands don’t look like a mechanic’s hands and I guess I missed all of the coveralls in your closet.”
“They’re all in my Seattle penthouse.” Truth, kind of, not coveralls, but suits.
She laughed. I realized that based on what she had seen, the idea that I would have a penthouse would seem preposterous.
“Along with your collection of Monets.”
“Actually yes, that’s exactly where I keep my Monets, along with my Rolexes.”
Again, the truth, but by the way that Lucy was giggling, I knew that she thought that I was joking.
“Where do you hide your perfect wife and family?” she giggled.
“I haven’t been lucky enough to get one of those yet.” Again, that was the truth, but it wasn’t until I spoke the words out loud that I realized that, underneath it all, that’s what I really wanted. I wanted to have a beautiful wife and give her some babies.
“Ah, so a mechanic with a penthouse.”
“You’ve pretty much got that bang on.”
“Who spends months at a time living in isolation with none of his material possessions.”
She hadn’t seen the helicopter.
“You got it.”
I could tell that Lucy was confused. The truth that I was spouting out was so ridiculous, she couldn’t tell whether or not I was joking.
“And I’m a sex addict.”
She howled. “This just gets better and better! Let me guess, you moved out here to get away from the temptations of the real world.”
“Are you a mind reader?” I feigned disbelief to mask the fact that she had me pegged to a T.
“Well, maybe when we get back to your cabin, I can get the real truth out of Mick… Mick, what’s your last name?”
“Brady.”
“Well, Mick Brady, when we get back, I’m excited to hear all about your playboy ways.
“Your wish is my command,” I said and swirled my hand around and bowed to her. “Race to the cabin?”
“You got it!” she shouted and bounded past me, Chopper hot on her trail.
I turned and ran behind her, wishing that time could stop so I could bottle up the sound of her laughter to keep in my cabin once she was gone.
Back inside the log cabin, the fire had burned down to embers, but it didn’t take much to get it roaring again.
“Would you like a coffee before we head back?”
