Page 18 of The Mountain Man's Bride

There’s a snarl and a flash of flannel then suddenly I’m freed. Sebastian is pinned against the wall by Crew. One big forearm is pressed against his throat. “You hurt her again and you’ll be sipping every meal for the rest of your life, motherfucker.”

12

MAGGIE

I tug on the bottom of Crew’s shirt and wait until he turns to me. He’s breathing hard and his hair has fallen onto his forehead. There’s a wild look in his eyes, like something primal in him was awoken.

I lick my suddenly dry lips, uncertain of why I’m so turned on by his reaction. I realize that what he needs is reassurance. “I’m OK.”

He closes his eyes as if he’s in pain then slowly releases Sebastian. He doubles-over and begins wheezing dramatically. It’s pretty clear the whole thing is an act as he clutches at his throat.

Crew rolls his eyes. “You can go now.”

“I’ll sue you,” Sebastian hisses, standing up. His face is mottled in an angry red color, and he’s miraculously recovered from his inability to breathe only seconds ago. “I’ll sue you both.”

Crew takes one step toward him, staring him down with a menacing gaze. “You don’t threaten her. Now get the fuck out of here before you end up as a stain on my boot.”

Sebastian slinks away, and I watch him go. I doubt I’ve seen the last of him. But at least, Crew was here for me this time. Something warms in me at the way he came so quickly to my defense.

“Can we talk?” I ask.

A guarded look flickers over Crew’s face, but he nods and follows me outside into a little courtyard on the hospital grounds where we’re alone.

In the middle of the grounds, there’s a fountain. It should be bubbling with water but given the cold temperatures outside, it’s been shut off.

Still, the sun is setting, casting a romantic orange glow over the wrought-iron benches that are covered with a fine dusting of snow.

Crew rakes the snow off, pausing to dry the bench with his sleeve.

I take a seat and after a moment of hesitation, he joins me. His frame is so big that we’re squished tightly together, our thighs touching.

I decide to start with the truth. “I think you’re the most incredible man I’ve ever met. You’re protective and kind and yeah, a bit grumpy sometimes. I even like that about you.”

“But you’re not interested in being with me,” he answers, his voice flat. “Because I’m not moneyed enough for you.”

I risk a glance at his profile, but it gives nothing away. I hate that impassive look, not when I’ve seen him look at me with so much tenderness and passion as he made love to me again and again in his cabin.

Dropping my gaze, I focus on the snow on the ground. “I didn’t realize my grandfather was suffering from dementia until it was too late. His money manager took everything including my grandfather’s personal fortune and most of the funds for the family business.”

He’d left a small sum behind. Maybe out of guilt or perhaps an inability to grab it all before he left. Whatever the reason, time is running out if I hope to save our business.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he answers, genuine concern in his voice.

I don’t dare look up. I don’t want to see what’s in his expression. “If I don’t figure something out, the jewelry business my grandparents built is going to collapse and that’s seven hundred families going hungry. Then my grandfather—” I sniff and realize there are tears rolling down my cheeks. “He’ll be left penniless.”

If that happens, he’ll have to leave the house he spent four decades in with my grandmother. He still wanders from room to room looking for her sometimes. It’s his last bit of comfort, a place where he thinks he can still find her. I’ll do anything to keep that from being ripped from him.

Crew lets out a slow breath. “That’s why it has to be a marriage for money?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think I can do that anymore because I fell in love with a giant mountain man.”

“Then I reckon we should get hitched. Because I fell in love with a cute redheaded pixie.” He holds out his hand, waiting for me to take it.

I turn to him, smiling. There’s so much love in my heart for this man. I wish my parents could meet him, that they could know how happy I am in this moment. I found the kind of love they had together.

I thread my fingers through his, amazed that he’s always so warm no matter where we are. “You know it’s not going to be easy. I’ll do right by my employees and my grandfather. But I’ll probably have to file for bankruptcy, and he’ll be in rehab for months. Do you really want to take all of that on? I mean, you could just retreat to your cabin and forget about me.”

He growls and pulls me into his lap. “Don’t you ever talk like that again unless you want another spanking.”

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