Page 6 of Stubborn Mountain Man

“How do you knowI’mnot dangerous?” he asked. “You don’t even know my name.”

I smiled. “You don’t know mine either. I could be dangerous.”

I wasn’t sure what our names had to do with whether we were safe or not, but this felt a heck of a lot like flirting. And I was enjoying every second of it.

“Kane Bishop,” he said. “I’d say you could look me up, but you won’t find anything on me out there. I keep a low profile.”

“I couldn’t look you up anyway. No internet access, remember? And I’m Gillian Morris. You’ll find plenty about me out there, but I’m guessing you don’t go online.”

“Not unless I absolutely have to. The public library has computers I can use on the rare occasion I need it.”

I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “You know what? I could learn a lot from you.”

His eyebrows lifted. “How so?”

“Do you know how many times social media has ruined a perfectly good day? And that doesn’t even take into account the hours I waste on it every week. I probably could’ve cured cancer by now if I put that time in something constructive.”

The slight smile I’d seen faded. What had I said? Social media? Wasting time? Cancer?

“So your plan was to hike back down the mountain tonight?” he asked.

I was so relieved at the change in subject, I spoke without really thinking it through. “I was going to tent camp at the overlook.”

That look came across his face again. Protectiveness. I instantly knew that I’d said too much.

“You know there are bears up here,” he said.

I looked down at the tequila bottle between my legs. I’d set it there after taking one sip, hoping he didn’t notice I couldn’t bring myself to drink more. But maybe another sip was in order.

I unscrewed the cap as I spoke. “My friends dared me. They don’t believe I’m adventurous enough. I haven’t really experienced life, I guess. But I have experienced this trail and that campsite many times.”

He said nothing. Just stared at me. But somehow I felt like I was in a chair at a therapist’s office. He didn’t have to say anything for me to go deep inside myself and ask why I gave a darn what my friends thought. I certainly didn’t have to try to impress them.

“Well, if you’re up for a motorcycle ride, I can put you on the back of my bike and take you to town,” he said. “Do you have somewhere else to stay?”

I shook my head. I could stay with my parents, but I was determined to beat this challenge. But his offer gave me an idea.

“You could do me an even bigger favor,” I said. “Take me to the overlook and set up my tent.”

He looked at me like I’d lost my mind. It was a justified reaction, but I had a good reason for the request, and it had nothing to do with spending the night there. I had a picture to take and a dare to win. Nothing was going to stop me. Not even an injury.

But as I prepared to convince him, he said the last thing I expected.

“Let’s do it.”

4

KANE

“Dinner is served.”

Gillian’s voice carried over to me as I stood, admiring my work. The tent was smallish and flimsy, but it had fit into her backpack with a shitload of other stuff. I couldn’t believe she’d gotten all of this into such a small pack.

I turned and headed toward the area where I’d set up the chair—yes, chair—she had it in that backpack. It was like nothing I’d ever seen. It folded up small enough to slide into a tiny bag. It came in handy now, though, when she couldn’t stand.

“What do you think?” she asked as I drew nearer.

Oh, right. I was supposed to be looking at the food spread on a towel on the ground, not the gorgeous woman who had me battling a hard-on. Having her arms wrapped around me while we took the bike up here didn’t help. I kept wondering what would happen if she lowered those arms just a little. Then a little more…

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