Page 9 of Her Mountain Man Recluse

You’re beautiful.

He said it so matter-of-factly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I feel like I’m about to float up into the sky as I set down my empty plate and chance another glance at him. He looks so handsome stretched out in his sweatpants, those broad shoulders taking up most of the couch. All I want to do is hold him—curl up against that muscular chest and breathe him in. I don’t care if we only just met. This man is making me feel things I’ve never felt before, and it’s intoxicating.

“So, what do you have planned?” Ridge asks, pulling me back to reality.

“Sorry?”

“When you booked this place, what were you planning to do here?”

I blink at him. “Good question. Honestly, I didn’t have much of a plan. I just wanted to read…be alone…escape from the world for a little while.”

Ridge frowns. “Guess I kind of ruined those plans.”

“No, not at all! I’m glad you’re here, Ridge. It’s really nice to have some company.”

I smile at him, and his lips twitch slightly upward, which is probably as close to a smile as can be expected from this grump.

“I guess I planned to walk in the woods a little too. Enjoy the quiet.” I point to my cell phone. “Turn this dumb thing off for a while.”

Ridge gets up, and I have a delicious view of his butt in those sweatpants before he turns around and says, “Walking alone out here isn’t a good idea. Easy to get lost. There are cougars around, too.” He clears his throat. “I should probably come with you.”

There’s something about the way he says it. He’s trying to sound nonchalant, but his eyes are burning with an intensity that makes my insides turn to mush.

“I’d like that,” I mumble.

We stare at each other for a beat too long. My heart batters against my rib cage as I look up into Ridge’s handsome face, my gaze trailing to his thick beard, his slightly parted lips.

I wonder how it would feel to kiss him.

Before I can run away with my thoughts, I force myself up off the couch and head to the bedroom to get changed. Outside the window, the world glitters white in the winter sunlight, blanketed in snow. Jagged peaks and fir trees stretch all around us, and as I pull on my thick coat, I feel a buzz of excitement in my belly. A walk in the woods with Ridge—just us together in this winter wonderland.

It sounds romantic.

Almost like a date.

But despite the bubbling excitement in my chest, I know I’m getting ahead of myself. This is real life, not one of my romance books. We’re still just two strangers who double-booked the same vacation cabin, and tomorrow, Ridge and I will go our separate ways. He probably can’t wait for me to leave, so he can finally get some peace and be on his own again. It’s a thought that hurts more than it should, and as we step outside together into the wintry January morning, I can’t help wishing we had more time.

5

RIDGE

The air iscrisp outside the cabin, but the sun is shining, warming our faces as we walk toward the forest. Lila looks painfully adorable, wrapped up in her coat, hat, and gloves, her cheeks pink from the cold. I have to fight the instinct to hold her hand as we walk.

“It’s so beautiful up here,” she says, stopping just before the trees and turning back to look at the vista. “You can see for miles! Is that Cherry Hollow down there?”

“Sure is.”

“What about your cabin?”

“Can’t see it from here, but it’s over there.” I point. “Not far, just a little way up the mountain.”

“Cool. The view must be even better from your place.”

I open my mouth to tell her that I’ll show her some time, but think better of it. I have to keep reminding myself that Lila is leaving tomorrow, and a dull ache grows inside me as we enter the forest, our feet crunching against the fallen branches and snow. Nobody has ever been inside my cabin except me and Middy. That’s how I like things. But damn, I’d love to invite Lila into my home. While she was sleeping this morning, I made a few calls, arranging to have the tree removed from my cabin andall the necessary repairs made. It won’t be ready until after she leaves. Otherwise, I’d take her there right now.

“It’s so peaceful,” Lila says as we head deeper into the trees, past frozen waterfalls and frost-covered leaves. “I can see why you love it out here so much.”

“Yeah, it’s a special place. I spend most of my time in these woods.”

---