Page 13 of Her Mountain Man Recluse

Having a giant mountain-sized crush on Ridge is one thing, but kissing him is something else entirely. I’m leaving this place tomorrow. Then it’s back to the real world to rebuild my broken life, while Ridge heads back to his cabin with Middy. He’ll be here in the mountains where he belongs, and I’ll be hours away at my parents’ house in Colorado Springs. Tomorrow will be hard enough as it is without falling for this man more than I already have. This year has started badly enough—I don’t need to add heartbreak to the mix.

I pull back, releasing Ridge’s hand and turning away. A second later, the light above our head flickers on, the power whirring back to life.

“The power’s back,” I say, stating the obvious just to break the silence. “I should probably go call my best friend. She’s been waiting to hear from me.”

There’s a pause before he says, “Okay.” His voice is deep and quiet, and I can’t look at him as I get up from the couch and hurry into the bedroom, closing the door behind me.

Here I am…running away again.

I groan, feeling like the worst person in the world as I sit on the bed and call Audrey. She answers immediately.

“Lila! I was hoping you’d call soon.”

“Hey, Audrey.”

“How’s life in the Rockies?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out a deep sigh. “It’s complicated. Something happened.”

“Uh oh. Tell me everything.”

I do as she says. I tell her everything from the moment I arrived at the cabin and Ridge answered the door with that sexy scowl on his face. Talking about him makes me want to head straight back to the living room to be close to him, but I stay put,letting it all out while Audrey listens. She’s a great person to tell things. She reacts in all the right places, gasping when I tell her about the cougar.

“And then just now,” I continue, “there was a moment where we both kind of leaned in, like we were going to kiss. But I pulled back. I already like this guy way more than I should, and kissing him will only make it worse. Every second I spend with him, the more attached I get, and I’m already dreading tomorrow.”

Audrey lets out a long breath. “Wow. Where to start…well, first off, I’m glad you weren’t eaten by a cougar.”

“So am I.”

“Ridge sounds like a good guy,” she continues. “You say you don’t want to get attached, but Lila, that ship has sailed! It sounds like you’re already super-glue levels of attached.”

I rest my forehead on my hand, squeezing my eyes shut. “You’re right. I am. But it doesn’t matter—this ends tomorrow either way. I don’t want to make it hurt more than it needs to, you know?”

Pain. That’s what it comes down to. It’s what I spend my life trying to escape from.

“Look,” Audrey says, her voice turning serious, “sometimes, you have to let yourself enjoy what’s in front of you, even if it’s temporary. Nothing lasts forever. Would you avoid picking up a romance book just because it has an ending?”

“I guess not.”

“Exactly. This is your real-life romance book, Lila! You have your very own mountain man waiting for you in the other room. Sure, falling for him is a risk, but if you don’t kiss him on his big grumpy mouth then you might regret it forever.”

I chuckle despite myself. “Okay. I’ll think about it. Thanks, Audrey.”

“You’re welcome. Now get off the phone and go do some smooching.”

We say our goodbyes and I end the call, but despite my best friend’s wisdom, I’m riddled with doubts.

Would you avoid picking up a romance book just because it has an ending?

I run the words over in my head. She’s right—even my favorite romance books have endings. But the endings are happy ones. That’s why I love them so much. No matter what happens, you know the heroine will get her hero in the end and live happily ever after. I don’t read books with sad endings…and that’s what Ridge and I will be stuck with tomorrow.

But I’m already in too deep.

Would it really hurt to sink a little farther?

“Ugh.” I shake my head, trying to untangle my thoughts. There’s a growing ache behind my temples, and when I finally leave the bedroom a few minutes later, I’m confronted with the stupidly adorable sight of Ridge stroking Middy as she kneads his lap. His giant hands make her look tiny, and he’s murmuring softly, telling her she’s a good kitty. I shut the bedroom door, butterflies fluttering inside me, and Ridge’s eyes meet mine across the tiny living room. His features soften as he looks at me, and as he smiles softly beneath his thick beard, I feel more torn than ever.

7

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