Page 4 of Reuniting with the Mountain Man

There. Maybe that would jar his memory. Had he ever known the exact town I lived in? I might have mentioned it, but ‘Nashville’ was likely the only thing that stuck. Plus, it was only three hours from where we sat right now, so it wouldn’t be that unusual for someone in Rosewood Ridge to meet two people from there in the space of a decade.

“You’ll have to hop on my bike and go for a ride with me before I leave town,” he said.

Our eyes met, and it felt like not a second had passed since the last time I’d sat by his side, wishing more than anything that he would kiss me. Imagining what it would feel like to have his arms around me. It was every bit as nice as I dreamed when it finally did happen.

“I’d like that,” I said.

“I’m going to grab another drink,” he said. “Then I’d love for you to show me around the retreat center. You know, so I’ll be familiar with everything when the other bikers arrive.”

He was standing, staring down at me, and all I could do was nod. I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to spend more time with him, even if it meant putting my heart at risk.

4

JESSE

Everything about Sierra reminded me of Makenna. Her smile, her laugh, the way she looked at me… Only this woman had a seductiveness about her.

And with this woman, I could clearly picture stripping off her clothes and kissing every inch of her body. With Makenna, I’d felt guilty for even imagining her naked. She was an eighteen-year-old virgin. Sierra was all woman.

I took a sip of my third gin and tonic as I followed Sierra around the hotel. She showed me the banquet room where breakfast would be served tomorrow morning, bright and early. Too early, considering how much I was drinking tonight.

“This is the workout room,” she said. “If the rest of your crew looks like you, I’m guessing you’ll need to direct them here.”

I’d just stepped through the door, but her wording had the handle slipping through my hands. The door slammed shut behind me. Her eyebrows shot up as she turned to look at me. She probably chalked up my reaction to being tipsy. Okay, drunk off my ass.

“Is that a compliment?” I asked, suddenly more alert than I’d been in a good half hour.

The fatigue had hit me at the same time the alcohol settled in. Until she’d arrived, I’d been worried I wouldn’t be able to stay awake, but my dick had been on full alert since she sat down, those generous tits stretching the fabric of her short-sleeved golf shirt in a way I couldn’t ignore.

She smiled at me and took a step closer. “More of an observation.” She poked my arm with her index finger. “Don’t go getting a big head on me, but it’s pretty obvious you work out.”

I shook my head. “Work. Good old-fashioned manual labor. I’m a general contractor. I do woodwork and cabinetry, as well as some plumbing and roofing. When I’m not on my motorcycle, you’ll find me in my pickup truck, traveling between job sites all day.”

As I stared down at her, it hit me that we were alone in this relatively small room that was jam-packed with treadmills and weight benches. I couldn’t imagine working out in such a confined space.

“Here.” She reached out a hand. “I’ll throw that away for you.”

I looked down. My cup was empty. When had that happened? I’d definitely had my last drink of the night, although I wasn’t really feeling it. I blamed that on the adrenaline coursing through my veins. If I let my body take over, I’d satisfy this craving I had to touch and kiss every inch of her naked body.

As she took my empty cup to the trash can, I admired the curve of her ass under those navy pants. Damn, this woman was perfect. She had the face of the angel from my dreams but the curves of a woman.

In fact, if I’d had the imagination for it, I would have pictured Makenna looking exactly like this in her mid-twenties. The angular features of a woman combined with that sweet smile and those big, innocent eyes.

I had to kiss her. But first, I’d make sure she was okay with it.

“Sierra,” I said as she turned to walk back toward me.

Her footsteps slowed, then she came to a complete stop. She was still a good ten feet or so away. I wanted her closer.

“Who?” she asked.

“Sierra,” I said.

“I’m not Sierra.”

“That’s what Nate said your name was.”

She shook her head, her eyes narrowing as she stared at me. “You really don’t recognize me?”

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