Page 18 of Broken Mountain Man

He bends over, ducking his head under to thoroughly douse his long hair. When he resurfaces, rivulets stream down his whiskered face as he smooths his hair back with both hands.

"Geez, it looks like you needed this dip as badly as I did," I can't resist teasing lightly.

Russell shakes his head, sending droplets flying in an arc around us both.

"Never said I didn't," he rumbles. “I just didn't think it was the best idea for a man and a woman to be doing it together."

The words are out of my mouth before I can think better of it.

"Have you ever even kissed a woman before?"

His brow furrows deeply at the sudden, invasive query.

"What kind of question is that?"

I shrug, backpedaling slightly. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I'm just curious, I guess."

Russell's jaw tightens mulishly for a long beat. Finally, he huffs out a sigh that seems to emanate from deep within.

"Yes, I have. Not that it's any of your business." He fixes me with a pointed stare. "Now, how about you focus on getting yourself cleaned up so we can move on with the rest of the day's lessons?"

"I thought you were going to try and be nicer," I shoot back, unable to hide my irritation at his gruff dismissal. "But clearly, you're not even attempting it."

Russell's nose scrunches up slightly, "You're right, my apologies, but it was a stupid question... Of course I've kissed a woman before."

"Well, I couldn't have known that for sure. And it would have been okay if you hadn't."

Part of me wonders if he'd look down on me for my own lack of experience if he knew the truth. But something tells me Russell isn't the type to judge about that kind of thing. Hopefully.

We lapse into relative quiet as we both set about scrubbing away the grime and sweat from earlier. Eventually, Russell breaks the stillness.

"So, why'd you really move out to Sweetheart Falls?"

I frown at the seemingly random question. "I told you - I was offered a job here."

He shakes his head. "Sure, but you said things didn’t work out in Pine Valley, right? What made you uproot to move so far for that particular gig?"

My shoulders tense despite his tone remaining neutral and conversational.

"Does it really matter? It wasn’t that big of a deal."

Russell levels me with a Look that says he's not buying my deflection.

"If you don't want to share, just say so. But don't insult me by lying about it either."

I huff out an annoyed breath, "Okay, fine. I'll tell you the real reason since I'm not like some people who hide behind their secrets all the time."

Rather than rise to my baited remark, Russell simply waits with an expectant arched brow.

"My dad passed away about a month before I took that job," I admit reluctantly. "He was the only reason I was still in Pine Valley. After he was gone, I just...I couldn't stay there anymore with all those memories, you know?"

Russell's expression softens minutely. "I'm sorry for prying. That must have been tough."

I give a halfhearted shrug.

"It's alright. And honestly, even though the job itself was a letdown, I don't regret taking the chance to start over somewhere new."

He nods slowly in understanding before his brow furrows slightly.

---