Page 3 of Trouble for the Mountain Man

My voice sounds angrier than I had planned. But I’m successful in cutting off her nervous words. I hold up my hands in defence as her gaze narrows in on me.

“My sister created the profile. She’s the one you were talking to. I’m sorry. Really sorry. But you can’t stay here.”

I watch in fascination as she processes this information. So many different emotions pass over her beautiful face. But there is no doubt that the one she ends up hanging onto is anger. And I have a feeling I am in deep trouble now.

Chapter 3

Hazel

His sister???

Feeling tired and dejected, my confidant stance disappears and my shoulders slump. Of course he doesn’t want me here. It’s just the latest in a long line of failures. I was stupid to think this might work out. I was stupid to think I was being brave. It’s laughable how I told myself I was finally taking charge of my life.

And all that time, those messages, it was his sister I was talking to?

His sister??

I feel like the butt of some joke. Everything that has happened. I finally decided to take charge of my life. I drove up this damn mountain in the rain. I waited, pacing on his porch both scared and excited and not knowing what to do. And then, when he turned up, looking so much bigger than he had in his picture. And oh so handsome.

I had been thrilled just at finally feeling something for a man. Feeling that instant heat in all the right places like they talk about in the books. I thought maybe I had done the right thing. When I saw the armchair by the fire just as I had imagined… I thought… I felt…hopeful?

But to have it all dashed. Anger and hurt boils in my chest. That life can be so unfair makes me lash out. I pin Aidan with a glare.

“So it was all a joke? I come all the way up here. No come in, have a cup of coffee. That’s it. Just you can’t stay here?”

“I can take you into town. You can stay with my sister.” He pauses. “Except that the storm is picking up.”

“Fine. I’ll go stay with your sister.”

“Hazel, stop. You can’t drive in these conditions.” Aidan’s voice is strong and sharp. I’m getting a little tired of being told what to do. To come so close to chasing a dream, only to have it dashed. If he thinks I’m going to hang around here where I’m not wanted…

“It will be fine.” My words just as sharp as his.

“You can not drive.”

“Well then I’ll walk!” I’m being childish, I know it. But I just want to get away and think about my next move. I yank open the door.

At that moment an icy cold blast of wind and rain crashes over me. Chilling me to the bone. The wind that has cut through me rushes into the room picking up and scattering papers everywhere.

“Oh, no!” I run after papers that flip up into the air out of reach. Aidan and I both drop to our knees desperately trying to hold down the piles. Like a game of twister, I try to cover as much as I can with my body and limbs. My hand reaches out to grab a folder threatening to spill its contents. Aidan has seen the same thing and his hand lands at almost the same time covering mine. His warm touch. The roughness of his skin on mine. A zing of hot electricity passes between us as, wind forgotten, we end up just staring into each other's eyes.

A stray piece of paper smacks me in the face as even more flip by us. We both look at the door that is still wide open.

Stupid, Hazel, he must think I’m such an idiot.

We both run for the door and slam it shut against the forceful wind. Collapsing against the door to catch my breath, I glance up at Aidan. He smiles and we both laugh.

“So, you’re staying then?” He asks with humor in his voice.

I grin. “I guess I am.”

He latches the door and walks into the mess. “Won’t you come in, have a seat, I’ll get us some coffee.”

I start to pick up papers as I make my way further into Aidan’s house. “What is all this stuff?”

“It’s my research.”

“Oh yes. Your profile said you watch trees grow.”

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