Page 9 of Stubborn Mountain Man

I had no idea what she was hinting at, but suddenly, I knew I’d follow this woman to the moon and back without question. And that was when it became absolutely clear that my plan to spend the rest of my life alone was wrecked.

I’d do whatever I could to make sure this woman didn’t walk out of my life when the weekend was over. Even if that meant only kissing her until I could someday marry her.

5

GILLIAN

Iwas too old to be holding to some pact I made when I was only twelve years old. My conversation with Kane had made that clear.

I’d been going along like a good girl, not questioning things, following my friends’ rules. We didn’t even see each other in person anymore, we were so spread out. We stayed in touch through an app where we spoke to each other through video clips and responded whenever we could. They were always on some exciting adventure in some exciting location while I was in my apartment or on the commute to and from work.

They’d never said anything to make me feel bad—aside from the occasional teasing—until the day they dared me to come up here alone and camp where bears could get me. I was starting to question those friendships and the meaning of the pact we’d made more than a decade ago. Maybe it was time to show them just how adventurous I could be.

I reached for the tequila bottle and uncapped it, telling myself only one more swig. This time for courage. I did just that, and when I looked back over at him, he was staring at me.

Was that concern I saw on his face? Maybe he thought I was getting drunk. Far from it. Not drunk, just courageous.

“How old are you?” I asked.

His brow furrowed. Was he assessing my age? I’d made it clear I was working on my veterinary degree, so it stood to reason I’d be in my early twenties.

“Thirty-five,” he said.

“I’m twenty-three,” I said, just in case he was wondering. “So have you been with a lot of women?”

His eyebrows arched at that. He hadn’t expected me to be nosy, but I’d just given him my full sexual history, so I wasn’t really asking a lot.

“Not since moving here,” he said. “But I’ve been around the block a time or two. I have the experience necessary to make the person I marry a happy, happy woman.”

Those words seemed to put him deep in thought. He wasn’t the only one. My mind was spinning as I reviewed what he’d said.

He planned to marry someday. That was good news. The way he’d isolated himself up here, it wouldn’t have surprised me to hear that he planned to spend the rest of his days alone. But he wanted to share his life with a woman, and I wanted that woman to be me.

Where had that come from? I frowned as I thought it over.

I wanted to move back home to Sweetheart Falls. I’d be close to my parents. That was a good thing. And if I was married, they couldn’t butt into my life anymore, right?

I doubted that, but it was a comforting thought.

“So what’s your idea?” he asked.

“I want you to help me prove I did what I was dared to do.” I looked over at him. “And then some. But to start, I just need pictures of the tent and me camping. They don’t need to know about my ankle.”

Why I didn’t want to tell them about that, I wasn’t sure. But maybe it felt a little like it proved I couldn’t handle all this.

“I want a picture of you, shirtless, in my tent, maybe even looking like we slept together,” I said.

Even in the fading daylight, I saw the subtle flash of disappointment in his eyes. He didn’t like that at all. Maybe he didn’t want me using him for some silly dare.

“You don’t have to do that part,” I rushed to add. “I understand if you’re uncomfortable.”

“Hand me that,” he said, holding out his hand.

It took me a second to realize he was talking about the tequila. I passed it to him. He uncapped the tequila and took a hefty swig, then handed it back.

“I’ll do it,” he said. “On one condition.”

I was almost afraid to ask. “What’s that?”

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