Page 2 of A Very Mountain Man Wooing

“Texas?” I guess.

“No.”

I both love and hate this game. I started it as a way to get close to Anise. It seemed like whenever I was starting to make headway she would get skittish or pull back.

Now, it’s turned into her seeing how vague she can be while still having to answer my questions. Because of that, I’ve learned to be more direct with her.

“Nevada?” I try again, and her eyelashes flutter.

That means yes, and my stomach dips with excitement.

“Las Vegas?”

“No, just outside. It was a small town. You’ve never heard of it.”

When she starts to ramble like that, I know I’m close to hitting a nerve so I back off, changing the subject.

“Any brothers or sisters?”

“Uh-huh.”

“How many?”

“Two.”

“Sisters?” I guess, and she shakes her head.

“What about you? Where’s your family?”

“Wouldn’t know. They gave me up when I was born.”

Anise pauses then, her body going tense, and her blue eyes search mine, looking to see if she’s upset me.

I shrug, and she frowns.

“I’m sorry, Whit,” she whispers, and I shake my head.

“It’s alright, darling,” I whisper back.

It’s the truth. I used to miss not having a family, but then I joined the military and realized that I could make my own. I met Hunter there, and we’ve been best friends ever since. He was there for me through deployments and big life changes. He helped me figure out how to invest, and now we’re both set for life. He’s my family now and hopefully, one day, Anise will be too.

“Want me to style it?” Anise asks, and I nod.

I’d never turn down anything that means she’s touching me. She runs her fingers through my hair, smoothing the strands down into place.

“Like that?” Anise asks.

“It looks great. Thanks, Anise,” I say with a smile.

She gives me a shaky smile in return and I want to bundle her up in my arms and tell her that I love her, that I need her, but I know that wouldn’t go over well so I grit my teeth as I climb to my feet.

I tower over her short frame and she shifts on her feet as she leads me up to the register.

“Are you done for the day?” I ask, and she nods, smothering a yawn.

“Yeah, I just need to clean up and then I’m clocking out.”

I nod, trying not to frown when she yawns again. I pass her a fifty and tell her to keep the change as I push open the front door and head back to my truck. Hunter and Grier are finishing up now too, and I climb behind the wheel, waiting until Anise leaves to start my truck and follow her.

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