Page 20 of Shared By the Mountain Men

Ash gave me the tiniest nod, then placed a plate of food onto the receiving counter and rang a bell. That sound knocked me out of my paralysis, and I hurried—as much as I could hurry on my ankle—out of the diner.

I shivered when I was outside, despite the warm sun. That man was hot, but also absolutely terrifying. I didn’tactuallyfeel like I was in danger, but it was a huge relief to put a few walls between us.

I soon forgot all about Ash’s intimidating appearance as I walked up the curb along Main Street. I popped into a hat store and tried on a few trucker hats, which had become the style out here in the mountains. There was a store with leather goods, including the most amazing backpack I had ever seen. I hurried out of the store and into the next one, which sold ice cream. Don’t mind if I do.

The crowds picked up in the afternoon. There was a steady stream of pedestrians on the sidewalk, and even more bicycles than before cruising up and down the street. When my ankle became sore, I sat down and people-watched for a little while. Everyone seemed so happy and pleasant. And why not? It was a sunny day with zero humidity.

I liked this town. If I had to get stuck somewhere while my ankle healed, I’m glad it was Crested Butte.

I ate dinner at a cute little Mexican restaurant, then mulled my options. My original intention was to walk home, but I didn’t want to make Noah upset. Especially since we had adatetomorrow. So I swallowed my pride and called the number on the card Noah had given me.

“Hi Melissa! Noah said you would call for a ride. Do you care if it’s me or someone else?”

“I’ll take a ride from anyone except Jack,” I replied.

Theresa chuckled. “Don’t worry. Noah told me you don’t like him.”

“It’s not that I don’t like him…” I protested. But I couldn’t think of an excuse. “It’s just that, uh, he’s already helped me out enough, you know?”

“Of course! I’ll whip up a ride for you real quick. Just hang out in front of Marlene’s and someone will pick you up in a few.”

I walked the three blocks back to Marlene’s and sat down on a bench outside. Even that short trek made my ankle throb worse than before. As much as I hated admitting it, calling Theresa was the right thing to do.

A few minutes later, a rusted pick-up truck came rumbling up the main street. There was something familiar about the silhouette behind the wheel, but I couldn’t quite place them until they pulled up in front of where I was sitting.

My breath caught in my throat. It was Ash. The passenger window was rolled down, and he leaned toward me.

“Ride?” he asked.

“No thanks,” I said politely. “I’m waiting for someone.”

Ash’s gaze bore into my soul, hard and unwavering. “No,” he said in a voice like a rockslide. “Theresa called me.”

Oh. He was my ride. And that was the most I had ever heard him speak before. His voice was like a deep caress, a sexy shiver along my bones. The way my body was reacting to him was in complete contrast to my brain screaming not to get in the truck with him.

But Noah trusted Theresa, and Theresa trusted Ash enough to call me.

Knowing that my cheeks were red with embarrassment, I opened the truck and hopped inside. Ash gripped the top of the wheel with a thick fist, which made the muscles in his arm stand out along with the ink from the tattoos.

As he drove me home, I searched my brain for something to say. A topic of conversation.

“Did you make my sandwich?” I finally blurted out.

He glanced over at me. “Sandwich?”

“The sandwich at Marlene’s. Chicken salad. It was really good. I didn’t know you were a line cook, so I wondered if maybe you were the one who made it.”

I was rambling. Why was I rambling? This guy’s entire aura had me on edge.

“Maybe,” was all he said.

I breathed a sigh of relief when we arrived at the cabins. I hopped out of the truck, and to my surprise, so did Ash. I froze as he came around the back, then pulled something out of the bed of the truck. A mountain bike.

He placed it on the ground and then pushed it toward me.

“What’s this for?” I asked.

“To move around town,” he rumbled, eyes shining.

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