Page 5 of Waiting for the Mountain Man

He rapid-fired the questions just as I had. Only I wasn’t shaking my head at any of them. Instead, I took in that intense stare of his. It made me feel all tingly inside.

No one had ever looked at me like that. Not even my ex-boyfriend. But maybe that was the difference between a boy and a man. Denver was all man. He was probably in his mid-thirties, and I was in my early twenties. My ex and I had been teenagers when we dated. Basically, we were kids.

“None of the above,” I said. “I suck at the whole dating thing, so I’m focusing on my career for now.”

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them. I didn’t want him to think I wasn’t open to anything romantic. I was here to lose my virginity, after all.

“I’ve spent most of my dating life looking for a fairy tale.” I laughed. “Now I just want fun.”

Did that make me sound slutty? Yeah, I was right the first time. I sucked at this dating thing.

“What do you mean by good time?” He stared me down. “Like partying?”

I shook my head. “Not at all. I don’t even like to drink. My idea of a good time is curling up on the couch with a book or staying home and watching a good movie.”

“I can relate. I’m invited out for beers all the time with the guys. I’ll go, but I’m always the one cutting out early after barely making it through half a mug. So you mean sex?”

That question, like his hunger one in the truck, caught me by surprise. He seemed to be the king of throwing in a stunning statement at the end of whatever he was saying.

But now he had me looking around, making sure no one was listening. The place was packed, but everyone was too caught up in their own conversations to pay attention to what was happening over here.

“It makes sense,” he said.

“Yes,” I said. “Men do it all the time. Why can’t women?”

When my gaze landed on him, I saw a frown line between his eyes. He was confused.

“Men do what?”

“Have sex just for the pleasure of it.”

“Women do that too,” he said. “What decade are you living in?”

The question came across as gruff, leading me to sit back, moving away from him slightly. I carefully thought through my next words. I didn’t want to get defensive.

“I’m aware,” I finally said, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m just saying that the general perception is that women are supposed to be in it for love, while men are in it for sex.”

He was eyeing me closely, the frown line now gone. I felt scrutinized. It was like he was seeing me in an all-new light. Or maybe he was finally trying to figure out exactly what light I existed in.

“So you came to town looking for a good time?” he asked.

At that question, I gasped. Yes, my friends and I had been drawn to town by the Cyclone Stud, but that didn’t mean we were horn dogs just looking for a quick lay. Hell no. All four of us were moved by what we’d seen in that video.

“We came to town to help with tornado recovery,” I said.

“We?”

Oh, shit. I hadn’t mentioned I’d come with friends, had I? But so what if I wasn’t traveling alone? There was nothing wrong with a group of friends joining together to help out after a natural disaster, was there?

“My three best friends,” I said. “We were in college together.”

A sorority, to be more specific. We’d become good friends and ditched the sorority, moving into an apartment sophomore year.

I didn’t mention any of that, though. Something told me he’d stereotype me if he heard I was in a sorority. And like it or not, I cared what this guy thought.

“So the Cyclone Stud stuff didn’t draw you here?” He laughed. “That would make you the only woman who showed up today not looking for a man.”

“You asked if I was married and I answered,” I said. “Suddenly, I’m being accused of coming to town to find the man of my dreams.”

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