Page 13 of The Mountain Man's Flame

He frowns at me. “What’s wrong?”

“I remembered the bucket,” I lie. Every day, Aiden and I have to empty the bucket from the leaking roof, so it doesn’t overflow and create a mess on the floor.

He stands from the couch and passes me some clothes. We don’t bother with them at night but we’re still plenty warm. “You should stay here where it’s comfortable and let me do it.”

It’s practically freezing in the main library right now. As I predicted, the HVAC unit can’t keep up.

“I’ve got it,” I argue. I’m dressed before Aiden, and I hurry out the door. We might be good together and the sex is amazing but as soon as the snow melts, I have to push him away. It’s the only way that my heart won’t completely shatter.

“Nova, wait up,” he calls after me.

I keep walking toward the biography section. There’s still so much I want to know about this man, so many things I want to discover about his body. But I’ll never get that chance.

Aiden catches up to me and grabs my arm. “Wait a second. I know I was talking about children back there, but you didn’t have to run out on me. Kids aren’t a dealbreaker. If you don’t want them, two people is still a family in my book.”

Why does he have to do this? Why does he always have to say the most perfect things and make me wish we could be a real couple?

Swallowing down all the longing in my heart, I say, “Why don’t we wait until after the snowstorm and see how you feel then? This could all be a product of—”

He lowers his head and puts his lips over mine. His kiss is possessive and commanding. Like he’s trying to tell me that I’m his forever and always will be. He lifts his head and I suck in oxygen, feeling dizzy from the intensity of my feelings and the powerful kiss he just gave me.

“Make no mistake,” he growls. “I am in love with you. I have been since I laid eyes on you in the diner that night. Each day that love only grows and it will continue to every day for the rest of our lives.”

I open my mouth to respond at the same time there’s a loud crashing noise. I don’t have time to register anything as Aiden wraps me in his arms, his body shielding mine.

8

NOVA

It’shard to take a deep breath because there’s a weight on my chest. I’m so tired that I want to go back to sleep but I fight against the darkness, opening my eyes.

The weight over me isn’t Aiden’s big body like I’d hoped. This is some type of drywall. It takes me a moment of glancing around to remember what happened. I was standing here with him when he suddenly lunged for me.

Panic rises in my throat, and I yell his name. Angling my head, I spot him about a few inches away from me. There’s some type of drywall pinning him. At least, it’s not across his chest the way mine is.

I yell his name again as I struggle against the rubble that I’m trapped under. I keep calling his name as the temperature drops. It’s not just debris we’re under, it’s snow too. The cold wetness is seeping through my clothes and chilling me to my bones.

After what feels like an eternity, Aiden finally stirs. He lets out a low groan then says my name.

“I’m here. I’m to your r-right.” I’m shivering at this point. My body aches all over and I’d give anything to be back in the employee’s lounge with Aiden like we were this morning. “Are you t-trapped badly?”

He manages to sit up and the sight fills me with relief. He can move and that means he’s alive. He’s OK.

“I’m trapped, but the drywall caught on one of the shelving units. I just have to dig my way out,” he explains. He tries to reach for me but we’re still too far apart. “Shit, you’re buried. Are you hurt?”

“Not t-too bad.” I don’t want him worrying about me. I doubt he can do anything to change this. But just knowing he’s OK has comforted me.

“Alright, I’m going to get us out of here, angel. I need you to stay with me. Can you do that?” His voice has changed. It’s taken on an authoritative yet calm note. I wonder if this is how he talks to the people he helps in emergencies.

“I’m scared,” my voice comes out in a wail. Why didn’t I stay in the lounge? Without me here to distract him, Aiden would have had the bucket empty and been on his way back to me before the ceiling collapsed.

“I know you are. But you’re being really strong and brave. You already…woke…me…up.” He grunts between the words, and I can hear him moving rubble. The air is filling with a swirl of dust from the debris.

“At least, we’ll both die surrounded by books. That’s a comfort, right?” If I have to go, I’d want it to be with Aiden anyway. Granted, I’d rather it be after we’ve lived a good life together.

“No, we’re going to make it out of here, but I need you to tell me a story. What’s your favorite teenage memory?”

I smile despite the situation we’re in. “Don’t laugh. A Jonas Brothers’ concert. My brother saved up all summer to be able to afford tickets for me. I was so in love with Nick Jonas. I was going to marry him. What about you? Who was your celebrity crush?”

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