Page 3 of Forbidden Mountain Man

What was I thinking? Why did I trust those girls?

I should have known Casey, Gabriella, and Rachael would abandon me the first chance they got. All three of them hit the dance floor and scooped up men within the first thirty minutes of arriving. I, on the other hand, stayed at our table, watching everyone’s drinks and purses. That’s the real reason they invited me.

“Fiona?” comes a familiar voice. It softens everything about me, even warming me up a little with his gentle tone.

I look up to see Forest coming around the side of his truck, his face painted with concern as he studies me. I’m sure I look like a pathetic little kid while Forest is as handsome as ever. I haven’t seen him in years, but one glance into those blue eyes of his and my childhood crush on him flares up, singeing my nerves and making me shiver again.

“Here,” he says, taking off his flannel shirt and draping it over my shoulders. He’s left wearing a tight-fitting, white undershirt that molds to the contours of his muscles. “You’re freezing. Let’s get you inside.”

I don’t have the strength to argue with him, so I simply nod my head while he leads me over to his truck. Forest opens the passenger door and hovers as I sit down and get settled. I’m about to reach for the seatbelt, but Forest gets to it first, leaning over me and securing me in place. I’m hyper-aware of every roll, fold, and flabby area on my body as the man I’ve had a crush on for years slides his hard, rippling muscles across me before leaning away and standing back.

He carefully shuts the door, then races back around the truck to his side, hopping in and turning up the heater. Forest adjusts the temperature and turns all the vents so they’re facing me. I close my eyes and rest my head against the back of the seat, pulling Forest’s shirt around me even tighter. His earthy, cinnamon, and pine scent washes over me, draining away some of the anxiety and fear that’s been rattling around in my brain.

“Are you okay?” he asks. I open my eyes and glance over at Forest as he turns to face me. “Do you know who those fuckers were? We can file a report and a restraining order and–”

“I just want to go home,” I whisper defeatedly. “I want to crawl into bed and never leave again.”

Tears well up in my eyes, but I shut them before the first one can fall.

“I’m so sorry this happened, Fiona,” he whispers. “I’ll get you home safely. I promise. Where is your place? I haven’t been back here in Sweetheart Falls in quite a while.”

I sniffle a few times, then clear my throat, not wanting to fall apart in front of Forest. “I’m over at the apartments on Mulberry Street. Do you remember where that is?”

“Of course,” he replies, starting up the engine. “How long have you been living there?”

I can tell he's trying to distract me, and I'm thankful for the change of topics. "Since Jett moved down to Texas and joined Deviant Souls MC. A little over three years now." Forest hums in acknowledgment, and then silence fills the cab once more. "So, what is it you do?" I ask.

“I make custom furniture and sell pieces through my online store.”

“Really? That’s amazing.” I can see it. Forest up in his cabin, toiling away.

“And you’re in school, right? I remember Jett saying you’re getting a degree in… I want to say something artsy?”

Forest peers over at me, those blue eyes locking with mine for a brief moment before focusing back on the road. The way he worded his question is kind of adorable, and I’m starting to remember why I liked him so much. It wasn’t just that Forest was always handsome; I had a crush on him because he took the time to ask about me. He checked in on me from time to timewhen my older brother, Jett, was raising me and had to work late or pick up an extra shift.

“Interior Design,” I reply, studying Forest’s face. His lip ticks up into a slight grin, and I get the urge to scoot across the bench seat and snuggle up next to him.

"That's right. I can see it. You've always had a good eye for color. I remember the day I helped you guys go dumpster diving for a new couch and coffee table. After three hours of searching, we were ready to give up the hunt. But then you saw an ugly-ass couch sitting on the side of the road. Jett was apathetic if I remember, but you… You had a vision."

A small smile tugs at my lips as I reminisce on that day as well. “After cleaning the cushions and vacuuming out all the crumbs and cat hair, it was a solid couch. It just needed some touch-ups to the upholstery and a few pillows to tie the bold colors together.”

“I thought you were crazy and offered to buy a new couch for you,” he adds.

“But then I went and blew your mind with my design skills,” I finish for him.

He chuckles, the warm sound echoing in the cab of his truck. Forest turns onto Mulberry Street and my stomach drops. All the good feelings of catching up with Forest are replaced with fear and paranoia. I know those guys don’t know where I live. But then again, it’s a small town. Part of me is glad my roommate is gone for the next few days so she doesn’t have to deal with all of this, but another part of me is terrified of going home to an empty apartment.

“Hey, what’s going through your head? You went silent on me,” Forest gently asks.

"I'm fine," I'm quick to reply. "I mean, you know besides the obvious. But I'm okay. Nothing a good night's sleep can'tfix." The words sound hollow, even to my own ears. Forest isn't buying my bullshit either.

He pulls into the parking lot of my apartment complex, parks the truck, and then turns to face me. "You can trust me, Fiona. You can tell me what happened and how you're really feeling."

I nibble on my bottom lip to keep it from trembling. “I was so stupid,” I start, looking down at my hands so I don’t have to face him. “These girls at work invited me out and I was so surprised I said yes. They’re like… the cool girls, you know? I just felt honored to tag along. But they ditched me almost immediately, leaving me to look after their things and hold our table.”

Forest grunts and I see him clench his fist out of the corner of my eye.

"I got up to go to the bathroom and when I got back, everyone's things were gone. I thought someone stole them at first, but I looked up just in time to see all three of them walk out the door with some guys I'd never seen before. I was shocked and… yeah, I guess I was hurt," I confess. I hate looking weak, but there's no denying that it stung to see my "friends" ditch me.

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