Page 20 of Her Mountain Man Recluse

“Yeah, the storm was pretty rough.”

He grunts in agreement. “Anyway, I came to apologize. There was a problem with the booking system and the cabin was double-booked.”

“I know. Lila showed up about an hour after me.”

“Shit. Did she find somewhere else to go?”

“She’s staying here with me.”

“I see.” Weston looks surprised, but he doesn’t comment. “Well, I’m sorry for the mix-up. I’ll refund the stay for both of you. Anything else I can do to make it up to you folks?”

His words tug at my brain, and an idea hits me.

“Any chance of extending our stay?” I ask. “Even just for one more day?”

I know the answer before Weston says it. His mouth quirks apologetically. “Wish you could, but I’m booked up all week. Lots of skiers this time of year.”

“You got people coming today?”

He nods. “You two are out by ten, then the cleaners come in and the next guests arrive this afternoon.”

“Fuck.”

“Sorry, buddy.” Weston frowns, clearly struggling to understand why I want to prolong my stay with a stranger. He has no idea that he just buried my last hope.

“Thanks for stopping by, anyway,” I say, taking a step back into the cabin.

“No problem. Take care of yourselves.”

I close the door and listen to the crunch of Weston’s boots in the snow until they die away, leaving Lila and me alone again. Then I rest my head against the wood of the door, breathing hard. I hear movement in the bedroom, and Lila enters a few minutes later, already dressed in jeans and a sweater. She meets my gaze, but the smile she gives me doesn’t reach her eyes.

“Good morning, Ridge.”

“Morning.”

We look at each other, and I know we’re both thinking the same thing.

This is it.

Silence stretches between us, thick and suffocating. I want to go to her—pick her up in my arms and tell her how I feel. But it won’t change a damn thing. It will only make saying goodbye even harder.

“I better get packing,” Lila says quietly.

Her words slice through me, and I flinch.

Packing. Leaving. Gone.

She disappears back into the bedroom before I can respond, and as the door clicks shut, I collapse onto the couch, burying my head in my hands.

Fuck, this is all wrong.

For years I’ve been a recluse, shutting people out, keeping my distance. But Lila has changed everything. She’s turned my whole damn world upside down, and I can’t go back to life without her. This curvy angel is the woman of my dreams; the only woman I’ve ever wanted.

And I’m in love with her.

The realization hits me like an avalanche, burying me beneath its weight. It’s crazy. It’s too soon. It’s wrong for a million reasons…but dammit, it’s the truth. Lila is everything to me. Hell, I think part of me loved her the moment I saw her, standing on the doorstep in the storm, looking up at me with those big brown eyes. She stole my heart then and there, and I can’t just stand by and watch her walk out of my life forever.

No fucking way.

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