Page 14 of The Mountain Man's Flirt

“I’ll be back,” I promise as I slip into the pair of blue jeans I discarded earlier tonight.

When I return, she’s curled up on her side and huddled under one of the blankets. Her eyes are closed and she’s breathing slowly. She’s so peaceful that I hate to make her stir.

I scoop her into my arms, nuzzling her ear. “Come on, honey. Your man is going to take care of you.”

She yawns. “Does it involve a quickie?”

I chuckle as I open the bathroom door and set her into the warm tub. “Afraid not. You need to give those muscles time to recover.”

I move to leave the bathroom even though I don’t want to miss the sight of her in my bathtub, sitting there topless and sleepy.

“Stay with me?” She asks, adjusting the rolled-up towel I gave her to rest against.

“Give me a moment,” I say before leaving for my room. I change the sheets and blankets that are soaked from our sweaty session together, putting clean stuff on.

If this were a one-night stand, I wouldn’t think twice about this shit. But this is Lyla. I want her to be comfortable and happy when she’s in my space. Hell, I want her to be comfortable and happy no matter where she is.

When I’m done with that, I return to the bathroom and pass her a mug of herbal tea. I know from camping out together that she always drinks a glass of the stuff before bed.

She sips the beverage and gives me a smile as I settle onto the cold bathroom tile in front of the tub. “You remembered my favorite.”

I picked up a couple of boxes of the stuff when I knew she was moving here. I didn’t want her to be without her favorites since it can be hard to get specialty products in a small town like Mount Bliss.

“You could join me,” she offers.

I snort. “That tub is barely big enough for one person. Not like the jacuzzi at my place. It has turbo jets and more than enough room for two people.”

“You detest baths. You told me that on our last visit. Did you go soft on me? Are you sitting around taking lavender baths these days?” She teases.

I try not to make a face. A bath isn’t my idea of fun unless I have Lyla naked next to me. Then it would be different. “The bathroom also has a walk-in shower.”

She shakes her head. “So, why a jacuzzi? You spent money on something you’ll never use and that doesn’t make you happy.”

“Because you like baths,” I explain. “Every element of the cabin was picked with you in mind. Every choice I made came back to what would make you happy.”

Tears fill her eyes. “Amos,” she breathes my name so softly.

She is an angel. Better than I deserve. More than I could ask for. But I’m not letting her go. For now to eternity, she’s mine. She’s always been mine and it’s time I explain that. “I always knew we were meant to be together. I spent years fighting it and I’m done, Lyla. You’re mine and as soon as this damn snowstorm clears, you’re moving into our cabin.”

The sweetest smile crosses her face. “We’re together. We have a cabin.”

“Fuck, yeah we are.” I press a chaste kiss to her lips, not letting myself deepen it. We have a whole lifetime of happiness to look forward to together. There’s no reason to rush.

Lyla

I wake the next morning pressed against the soft t-shirt Amos is wearing. His chest rises and falls in a slow rhythm, and I snuggle deeper into him. I could get used to this, waking up sore and sated next to the man I love.

Last night’s conversation goes through my head again. I always knew we were meant to be together. I spent years fighting it and I’m done, Lyla. You’re mine.

He didn’t say he loved me but I’m pretty sure that he feels the same way I do. A bubbly, hopeful feeling rises in my chest as I think about his cabin. I wonder what it will be like to live together in a place he designed just for me.

My phone beeps and I scramble from the bed to grab it before it can wake Amos. It’s a text from my brother.

As soon as I see his name, my heart sinks. I don’t know what he’s going to think about us together. I doubt he’ll be happy. He might realize Amos is a good guy, but I know enough about the bro code to understand that sisters are supposed to be off-limits.

I haven’t heard from you. Where are you? Storm still going strong?

I cross to the living room, the hardwood floors cold beneath my bare feet. I don’t want the sound of my texting to wake Amos.

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