Page 4 of Broken Mountain Man

Wandering further into the main room, she runs a finger along the back of one of the armchairs, leaving a trail in the dust.

"I've gotta say, I'm surprised you're letting a total stranger into your place like this."

"Don't get the wrong idea," I warn her gruffly. "You can take the spare bunk, but that's as far as this hospitality stretches, got it?"

She turns towards me with a coy smile.

"I don't know, you did call me a lady just now. That implies a certain level of chivalry on your part, don't you think?"

I simply shake my head at her playful ribbing. This woman has more nerve than just about anyone I've met. I can already tell having her around for the night is gonna be...interesting, that's for sure.

"Don't get too comfortable," I grumble, even as her teasing grin makes the corners of my mouth twitch traitorously. "One night is the deal, and then you're out of here first thing tomorrow, understand?"

She puts her hands up in mock surrender.

"Yes, sir, I got it. Although..." She trails off, looking around the cramped space once more. "Where exactly am I supposed to sleep?"

I jerk my chin towards a door at the back of the cabin.

"The spare bunk is through there. It's not much, but it'll do for just one night."

Following where I've gestured, she moseys over and pushes open the door to reveal the tiny bedroom - if you could even call it that. There's barely enough space for the rickety twin bed shoved in the corner.

"Wow," she says flatly. "You really weren't kidding about the basic setup, were you?"

I lean one shoulder against the doorframe with a shrug.

"Like I said, it's just for one night. I didn't exactly have guests in mind when I built this place."

She eyes the sorry excuse for a mattress dubiously.

"I don't know, Russ. This might be a little too rustic, even for me."

The nickname makes me stiffen.

"It's Russell," I correct her gruffly.

I don't know why I'm letting such a little thing get under my skin.

But she just smirks right back at me, not an ounce of apology in her expression.

"Well, Russell, then. Are you sure this rickety thing won't just collapse underneath me?"

Exasperated, I blow out a sigh. "For the last time, it's just for one damn night! You'll survive."

Instead of rising to my growly tone, her expression softens into one of sincere gratitude.

"I'm just giving you a hard time. Really though, I do appreciate you taking me in like this when you easily could've just left me to fend for myself out there."

I give a stern nod of acknowledgment, suddenly feeling unaccountably sheepish under the warmth of her gaze.

"Yeah, well...don't mention it."

Chapter 3 - Lyla

I watch as Russell gives another curt nod, then turns and stomps back out to the main room of the tiny cabin, effectively ending our conversation. For a gruff, solitary mountain man, he sure seems easily flustered by my teasing.

Glancing around the sad excuse for a bedroom once more, I can't help but shake my head in amused disbelief. When I imagined potentially having to spend the night in the woods, this cramped little setup was not what I pictured—not even close.

---