Page 6 of Gifting the Mountain Man
How long have I allowed my insecurities to control my life, hiding in the mountains instead of finding a good woman who would love me for who I am, until I realized that with Cora?
Cora. How could I be so stupid? When she left my cabin, the look in her eyes when she told me her heart was mine. No one can fake that look of love.
I have to get to Cora before she leaves. I need to convince her she is mine.
“Well, don’t you have anything to say for yourself? Blake told me all about that poor girl when I ran into him at the flower shop yesterday.”
“I’ve got to go, mom.” I grab my jacket hanging on the hook behind the door. It’s the same one Cora wore when we fed the animals. I lift it to my nose and breathe in, her scent still clinging to the fabric.
“You’ve got it bad, don’t you?” Mom laughs. “Here, you’re going to need this.” She pulls a small black velvet box out of her coat pocket. “I think it’s time for the next generation to wear this ring.”
I take the ring from her hand and kiss her cheek, “Thanks, Mom.” I step back and stride toward the door.
“I can’t wait to be a grandmother," she calls after me.
A small smile touches my lips. I plan to work on making her a grandmother as soon as Cora forgives me.
nine
Cora
“Are you sure youdon’t want to go to the diner with us?” Sara asks, standing by the door with Blake, his arm draped over her shoulder, holding her close, almost as if he’s afraid of losing her. I hide my feelings, masking the jealousy I feel deep in my bones.
Sara deserves to be happy. I won't ruin that for her.
"No, Sara. You and Blake need some time alone. You've been stuck in the hotel room with me for the last three days.” I pat my sister’s hand and force a smile to my lips, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders.
Blake has been a true gentleman, checking on us every day and bringing food and flowers. On the first day, he only brought flowers for Sara, but when I couldn’t hide the hurt in my eyes, he also started bringing flowers for me.
Blake is the strong, sensitive hand Sara needs in her life. I did my best to raise her, but she's grown up in just five days of knowing Blake. I notice the change in her—the way she took responsibility and was ready to marry Nash.
“At least take a hot shower, maybe read one of those romance books on your phone you like.”
“Sure.” I force the word out of my mouth. I haven’t showered since I left Nash’s cabin three days ago. I needed to feel him on me for a little longer. I know I need to clean up sometime, but I’m not ready yet.
I walk Sara and Blake to the door, shooing them out with a playful shove before closing it. I let the tears fall now that I’m alone in the hotel room.
I slump against the closed door and hold my stomach. We didn’t use protection every time we had sex that night. I know it'll be hard having another mouth to feed, but I can’t help wishing I were pregnant so I would always have a part of him.
A knock on the door startles me. The romantic in me hopes it’s Nash, that he has realized he’s made a mistake, and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with me. But the practical side of me knows it's Sara. She probably forgot her purse or something.
I swing the door open and ask, “Did you forget something?” I force a smile on my face.
“Yeah, I forgot something.” Standing in front of me is my sexy, grumpy mountain man.
I quickly wipe away my tears with the back of my hand, not wanting him to see me like this. “Oh, Nash, um, is it money? Are you going to go through with suing us?” I grab my purse from the bedside table. “I have some money I can give you.” I hand him a total of five hundred and forty-two dollars, the last of my tip money, the money we were going to use to get home. Well, I guess it's just me now. It looks like Sara will be staying here with Blake.
He glances at my hand, “That’s not enough.”
My heart drops. “I-if you give me some time, I can sell our house back home.” I knew the time would come when I would have to sell the house, but it was supposed to pay for a fresh start for Sara and me, not pay off a scorned mountain man.
He walks through the door, backing me against the wall, “Nope, that’s still not enough.” He bends down, capturing my lips with his. “You’ve already given me more than my miserable life is worth.” He whispers against my lips. I stare at him, not understanding what he’s saying. “It’s still mine, isn’t it?” I shake my head, still not understanding what he’s talking about. “Your heart. It’s still mine, isn’t it? You gave it to me, and I’m not giving it back.”
“But you didn’t want me.” I lower my eyes to his big, muscular chest, unable to meet his gaze.
“I’m a fool, Cora.” He grabs my hand and presses it to his cheek. “You gave me your love, and I threw it away. I didn't get to tell you, but when the picture of you and the real Sara arrived, I knew you were mine. So, when I found you on my front porch half frozen to death, I vowed I would spend the rest of my life loving you." I blink at him, too numb to say anything. “When you told me you weren’t Sara, that you had lied, my whole world crashed.” He lets go of me and runs his hands through his hair, causing it to stick up in all directions.
“I had a crush on a girl in high school. I was the simple, big boy living in the mountains. I was homeschooled until I could drive myself to school. I didn't have many friends, so I couldn't believe it when the most popular girl in school asked me to the homecoming dance my senior year. We didn’t have much money, but I spent what I had on renting a tuxedo and buying her a corsage. When I arrived at my date’s house in my old, beat-up truck, I was just in time to see her get in Bobby Miller’s brand-new SUV. They laughed and waved at me as they drove by.” His shoulders slump.
