Page 27 of Tempted By the Mountain Man
“Are you trying to seduce me?” I ask as I set the steaks on the table.
“Maybe,” she says and I laugh.
I pull out her chair for her and she tilts her head up before she sits down, offering me her mouth. I can never resist kissing her. My lips have just barely touched hers when she pulls away, plopping down in the seat and I head around to my own chair.
I love how comfortable she is with me. She seems to have come into her own these last few days. She’s so much more relaxed and open with me than when we first met. More confident too and I love seeing her like this.
Camden is filling her plate, and I grab the potatoes, adding some to her plate before my own. She does the same with the broccoli and I love how in tune we are.
“We make a good team,” I comment, and she smiles.
“Thanks for making dinner.”
“Anytime.”
My stomach clenches and I know that we need to have that talk. I hate to ruin what could be our last meal together, but I know that I need to get this cleared up.
“What are your plans?” I ask. “For tomorrow.”
She has a mouthful of food and she pauses, chewing slower. She’s trying to drive me crazy. I already feel so on edge, so worried about what is going to happen between us.
“I can list the house here in Maple Bend, or maybe just rent it out. We can find something for us in New York, something bigger, I mean then your place.”
“You’d come with me to New York? You hate big cities,” she blurts out, and I smile at her.
“Yeah, but I love you. I’d go anywhere to be with you.”
“Don’t sell the house,” she whispers after a beat.
“What?” I ask, my stomach dropping.
I feel like I’m going to be sick and drop my fork. I have to be able to turn this around, to convince her that we’re meant to be together. Maybe I could get my own place near hers in New York. I can give her more time if she needs it.
“If we’re moving too fast for you…” I start and she shakes her head.
I’m this close to begging when she speaks.
“No, don’t sell your place. I’ll quit my job.”
“What?”
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot the last few days. I think working at that company, taking on the projects that I was working on, is a big part of why I’ve been feeling so down and blah the last few years. I’ve been thinking it through and I think that I can start my own editing company. I already know that a few of my favorite clients would still use me.”
“That’s great! I think it’s a great idea and you know that I’ll support you no matter what you decide.”
“I know,” she whispers. “That’s actually why I feel confident that I can pull this off. It feels really good to have you on my side.”
“You can do anything that you want, Camden. You’re so strong, so incredible.”
She looks like she’s about to tear up and I’m already rising from my seat to head to her side.
“It’s going to be a lot of work. I’ve been looking at hiring someone to make me a website and then I’ll have to advertise or market and find new clients.”
“You can do it, Camden. I know that you can and I’ll help in any way that I can.”
“I know,” she says, tears starting to slide down her cheeks as she wraps her arms around my neck. “I love you.”
“I love you too. So much,” I say, pulling her into my arms and settling her on my lap. “We can do whatever you want with the house. If you don’t like anything, then we can have it redone.”
