Page 12 of Snowed in with the Mountain Man

Never mind that it’s Christmas and this is supposed to be a friendly small town.My ticket lands on the ground twenty feet away and I run for it at full speed, afraid another gust of wind might leave me stranded.I emptied my bank account to be here.I don’t have money to buy another ticket right now.

Feeling the wind behind me pick up, I run faster and plow right into a wall.

Except, it’s not a wall.

It’s a man.

I start to rock backward, certain a concussion is in my future, when I feel two strong arms catch me.I’m pulled against a warm chest.A very muscular chest that smells really, really good.A scent that will forever be burned into my memory…

“Mallory, don’t leave.”

I’m too stunned to blink much less look up.I want so badly to believe it’s Jake, but I don’t dare.

“I love you, Mallory.”

Okay, now I know I’m dreaming.Maybe I hit my head on a real wall and I’m lying unconscious on the concrete.Yeah, that makes way more sense.

A gloved hand cups my cheek, forcing me to tilt my face upward.

“I know it’s sudden,” Jake says.“But I mean it.I love you Mallory—I don’t even know your last name.”

“Collins,” I manage to stutter.

“I love you, Mallory Collins.I want you to stay so we can get to know each other.So we can figure out a future together.”He lowers his mouth against my ear, whispering, “I claimed that pussy of yours.”My lady bits quiver.“You don’t get to go running off and sharing it, now.You’re mine.Onlymine.”

“Then why didn’t you ask me to stay?”

“Because I was scared.Because I was an idiot.Because I was caught off guard.Take your pick.What matters is that I’m here now, begging you to stay with me.”Jake holds out a ticket—my ticket—in offering.“If you want to go, I won’t stop you.But know that it’ll crush me to never see you again.To never kiss you again.To never make you come again.”He doesn’t lower his voice this time, and his words turn a few heads.Some are scandalized.Others are wearing mischievous grins.“Come home with me, Mallory.”

Now that the shock has worn off, I have no doubt that Jake is speaking the truth.Because he did the brave thing and came after me, I force myself to be brave too.“I love you too, Jake.I don’t understand how it happened so fast.But I love you so much I can’t stand the thought of never seeing you again.”

He cups my cheek, drawing me in for a deep kiss that warms every chilled cell in my body.“Then stay, Mallory.”The next kiss makes me weak in the knees.Tingles dance in my core, begging for him to get me out of this very public setting.

“Take me home, Jake.The sooner the better.”

“I have to warn you,” he says, taking my hand and leading me away from the train, “there’s another snowstorm on the way.It’s supposed to be much worse than the last one.”

“Sounds perfect to me.”

EPILOGUE

ONE CHRISTMAS LATER…

MALLORY

“It’s not toolate to turn around and go home,” Jake says, shifting the truck into park in his mom’s driveway.“My family is a little nuts when it comes to Christmas.”

“You forget that Ihavemet them.”

“Not at Christmas.”

I can’t help but chuckle at my husband’s horrified expression.His family is the complete opposite of mine.TheyloveChristmas.And they love their family.There’s not a toxic trait in any of them.It’s been the most refreshing experience of my life.When Jake brought me home to meet them last spring, they welcomed me with open arms.Their love and acceptance of me, just the way I am, made it easier to cut ties with my own family.

“It’s going to be fine.”I reach my hand onto his thigh and squeeze.If our daughter wasn’t softly cooing in her car seat, I’d give him a quick blow job to calm his nerves.

“Don’t tease me, sweetheart.”

“You like it when I tease you.”I steal a quick kiss, biting his bottom lip before I pull away.Jake tugs down the zipper of my coat and fondles a boob.Even through my sweater, his warm fingers cause my nipple to pebble.“Let’s get inside.”

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