Page 3 of Fired Up By the Mountain Man
She is quiet as I lead her through the forest path back to my truck. Carrying her bike, I put it up in the back and then turn to the girl. She is beautiful. Long dark hair. Dark eyelashes. And sweet, kissable lips. And yet, she looks so dejected, it makes my heart ache. I prefer her fit of temper, with her cheeks flushed and eyes flashing. I don’t like this look on her face like her whole world is crumbling around her.
“Hey, I’m sure everything will be okay. And I’m not going to charge you. I’ll just give you a lift.”
She gives a sad nod as she gets herself into the passenger seat.
“You’re staying at the camping ground?” I ask as I turn over the engine and head down the road.
“In town. My family lives on Gump Road.”
I look at her surprised. “You’re a local? What’s your name?”
Surely if a woman as beautiful as this lived in town then I would know about it. We don’t get many new people moving to town.
She lets out a little sigh before answering. “Erika Breegall.”
I know old man Breegall. I remember he did have a daughter. “Bug Girl?”
“I donotlike that name.”
I nod. Erika is several years younger than me, so I didn't know her in school. But I do remember the name. Kids used to chant it over and over. She was a weird kid. The school janitor’s daughter. And always wearing those huge black glasses. I glance at the woman sitting next to me. She sure did grow up nice. Though the dress and oversized sweater hides the amazing body I got and eyefull of earlier.
“What were you doing back there in the forest?”
She takes a while to answer. “I was trying a stupid spell, alright?”
“What were you wishing for?”
“It’s more of a cleansing ritual. I just feel like I’ve always been cursed with bad luck and this year has been worse than normal. I just want a fresh start.”
I want to know more. I find myself intensely curious about this girl. As we pull up to her house I get out to run around and open the passenger side door.
“Hope to see you around, Erika Breegal.”
She lets out a little scoffing noise as she takes her bike from me. “Carter Kingsley and Bug Girl, yeah, I’m sure we’ll hang out all the time.”
I pause, both of us holding onto her bicycle. She raises her eyes to me and I give her my best smile. “Well, I’ll be wanting to know if you get your wish.”
Her mouth drops open with surprise. I don’t know if it’s what I said or if it’s the first time she has really looked straight at me all night. But for the first time I’m glad I’ve been blessed withgood looks. Erika, yanks the bike out of my hands and I watch as she walks up the path and lets herself into the house.
I shake my head. Erika Bregall back in town and dancing around naked in the woods. Well, things sure are going to be interesting.
Chapter 4
Erika
After last night's disaster I just want to hide away, but I had arranged to meet Annie. For a little moment there I had felt strangely free. Something about being naked in the forest with no one around, it was liberating. That was until the interruption.
All night I had gone over it all in my head. Carter Kingsley. He is even more handsome than I remember. Age has given him a rough, rugged look that I’m sure has melted more than a few hearts around town.
But it was that look on his face when we parted. Like he really saw me. Like he might be interested in me. Want to see me again. It is too crazy to even think about. People like Carter aren’t interested in people like me.
“How’d it go last night?” Annie’s wearing a knitted jumper with a big carved pumpkin on it, her tights have pumpkins all over them, and her outfit is topped off with a bright orange scarf.
I shrug. “I don’t think it worked.”
I don’t want to tell her about the embarrassment of being caught naked. That it was Carter Kingsley just makes it worse. We used to dream of growing up and marrying a Kingsley brother. They are rich, good looking, and charming. Butcrushing on a Kingsley and being tackled to the ground while naked in real life is a different thing.
“I think maybe it might have worked.” Annie whispers like something magical has occurred.
