Page 9 of Broken Mountain Man

Russell shrugs one broad shoulder. "Got distracted, I guess."

"Distracted by what?" I press, arching an inquisitive brow.

He averts his gaze, almost seeming bashful.

"I'm not used to having company around, is all. It throws me off my game."

I can't help but smirk at that admission. "Do I make you nervous or something?"

Russell's eyes snap back to mine, and he gulps audibly.

"It ain't like that," he says gruffly. "I just...don't like having people in my space much, that's all."

Finished cleaning and bandaging his finger, I lean back with a humorless chuckle.

"Well, if the way you treat people trying to help you is any indication, I can see why they wouldn't want to be around you either."

His brows draw together in a glower at my blunt words, "That's not...I didn't mean..."

But I just shake my head, rising to my feet as I cut off his flustered protests.

"Save it. I get the message loud and clear - you're a lone wolf who doesn't play well with others. Noted."

Brushing past him brusquely, I hurry into the cramped bedroom, shutting the door behind me with perhaps more force than necessary. Taking a seat on the sagging mattress, I huff out an irritated breath, glaring at the closed door.

Maybe I am better off alone in the woods after all. At least then, I won't have to deal with Russell's hot-and-cold attitude, which switches from playful one second to gruff bastard the next.

Stretching out my arms and legs, I try to force the tension from my muscles with a few deep, calming breaths. This weird, volatile energy between us is quickly becoming too much.

One minute he acts almost...approachable, only to shove me away again the next.

A sharp knock at the door makes me jump.

"Can I come in?" Russell's gruff voice comes through the wood.

"It's your house," I shoot back, feisty again. "Feel free to enter whenever."

The door swings open, and he steps inside, "Look, I'm...sorry about that. The way I spoke to you. It's just..." His jaw tightens before he continues in a low rumble, "I haven't had to talk with anyone in a long time. Hell, I barely recognize the sound of my own voice most days."

He runs one hard-working hand through his hair with a frustrated sigh.

"We should probably head back to the kitchen. Get some food into us before it gets any later."

I give a curt nod of acknowledgment, refusing to make this easier by immediately giving in. He wants to try playing the surly hermit again?

Two can play that game.

Pushing myself off the creaky mattress, I brush past him towards the door without a backward glance.

"Fine by me. You're the one who invited me to stay longer, remember?"

As I stalk past him out of the bedroom, Russell lets out a low grumble.

"That's not exactly how I remember it going down."

I whirl around to face him, hands on my hips. "Oh? Then please, enlighten me on the finer details."

He opens his mouth, then closes it with a scowl, seeming to think better of whatever sharp retort he was about to dish out.

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