Page 12 of Saved By the Mountain Man

If she’d come for me, would that have been the case? Or had she left again to tell whoever the fuck had sent her that I was here?

The crisp morning air bit at my skin, waking me up more effectively than any coffee, and I marched along. The forest was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves or the call of a distant bird.

My mind was a loud, screaming, rumbling mess. It was a stark, frantic contrast to the pace around me.

Rae.

She was back, and my questions, all unanswered, only added to the gnawing unease in my gut.

Silver Ridge came into view as I emerged from the forest. The town was just waking up, the streets still mostly empty, with only a few early risers going about their morning routines. The familiar sights and sounds of Main Street greeted me—the clink of dishes from Millie’s Diner, the creak of rocking chairs on porches, and the distant hum of a tractor down the road.

If she was here, where would I find her…?

I made my way toward Garrison’s General Store, my footsteps quiet on the cobblestone path. The store was a cornerstone of the town, a place where everyone came to buy their necessities and catch up on the latest gossip. Hank Garrison was usually behind the counter, ready with a joke or a story, his bushy mustache twitching with every word.

But he’d mentioned not too long ago that he might get someone in for help, and maybe, if I knew Rae at all, that waswhat she would jump at. The chance to earn some cash while she was here. Plain and simple, with no paper trail.

A lot about her might have changed but no one changed their ways of survival, and we’d both learned how to stay under the radar.

Rae getting a job wasn’t a good sign. I didn’t know why she was here. If it was for the wrong reasons, I didn’t want her to settle down.

The bell above the door chimed as I stepped inside. The store was warm and smelled like freshly brewed coffee. The narrow aisles and tall shelves created a maze toward the back of the store.

I scanned the store, searching for her. I spotted Hank at the register, chatting with a customer. He gave me a nod and a grin, but I barely acknowledged him. My attention was focused on the woman stocking shelves near the back.

Rae.

She was dressed in jeans and a simple sweater, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. She moved with grace, swaying her hips, but I didn’t miss the tension in her shoulders, her eyes flicking toward the door every few seconds. When she saw me, she froze, the can of beans still in her hand.

I walked down the aisle, pretending to browse, but my gaze never left her. Her reaction to me was like a physical force, an electric charge that crackled in the air between us. Her presence drew me in, a force I couldn’t fight despite the warning bells going off in my head.

“Morning,” I said casually, picking up a jar of peanut butter and inspecting the label.

Rae’s eyes narrowed, and she set the can down with a little too much force. “What do you want, Tanner?”

“Just picking up a few things,” I replied, keeping my voice even. “Thought I’d see how you’re settling in.”

She snorted, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m fine. Not that it’s any of your business.”

I shrugged, trying to ignore the way my heart pounded in my chest. “Maybe it is my business. You showing up here out of nowhere… it raises a few questions.”

“Questions?” She raised an eyebrow. “Like what? My being here has nothing to do with you.”

“Are you sure about that?”

She rolled her eyes and went back to stocking her bean shelf. I didn’t walk away. I should have, but I couldn’t. I was glued to the floor, staring at the way she moved. After all this time, nothing had changed. She still had that effect on me, paralyzing me and charging me with an electric current at the same time.

“What do you want, Tanner?” She sighed when I didn’t leave. She looked at me over her shoulder. “Beans? Am I in your way?”

I shook my head. “I just want to know what you’re doing here.”

“Not looking for you, if that’s what you’re so worked up about. I have bigger fish to fry than you.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. If she was in some kind of trouble… I went into protective overdrive right away.

“Like what?”

“Why would I tell you that? You left, remember?”

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