Page 4 of Trouble for the Mountain Man

His lips turn up at one side as he shakes his head. “I study the ecological effect of changes in climate in different species of plants and trees.”

I nod, trying to look knowledgeable while reading titles of articles with words I couldn’t even try to pronounce.

“Do you want to see some of my work?”

I nod and follow him through a door into a long greenhouse connected to the side of the house. It’s nice and warm despite the rain beating down against the windows. My feet crunch along the gravel path as he points out different plants in the raised garden bed. Swiss chard, pineapples, tomatoes, avocados and citrus fruit trees. I watch in fascination as he leans in to check a thermometer attached to a tree.

His look of concentration softens his features. If I could, just once, have a man look at me the way Aidan examines this tree, then I would be a happy woman. He touches the leaves withtender care. I don’t know what he is looking for but he is careful and gentle in his examination.

There must be something in the air in this greenhouse because suddenly I am wondering what it would be like to be kissed by this man. To feel his lips on mine. Those big, strong hands gently explore my body. To be held by him. Wanted by him.

He straightens up and holds out a tomato towards me.

“Try this. I promise you that you won’t find anything better anywhere.”

I take the tomato and, trying to ignore all the feeling this man is stirring in me, I take a big bite.

The juices explode in my mouth and while I’ve never really liked tomatoes, this thing is delicious.

I look up and grin at Aidan, only to see a strange look in his gaze. He reaches out a finger and wipes away some tomato juice running down my chin. With that simple touch I am held spellbound by his eyes. My pulse races fast and I feel warm all over.

This is crazy. I have just met this guy and now I’m thinking …what? About sex? I’ve never been very interested in sex. I’m just not any good at it. I thought this guy was a nice, safe, scientist. I was looking forward to reading books by the fire, not getting caught up in sexy eye contact.

I put down the tomato and back up towards the door to the house. It’s too hot in here. We are too close for me to think straight. Back in the house I walk around the piles of paper. I need a distraction. Something to do.

Turning I look at Aidan who is leaning against the greenhouse door.

“I could help you organise this place. I worked as a research assistant through college. I’d love to help, if you’d let me?”

“Really?”

“Sure. I used to want to be an archaeologist and to me, this is sort of like a cave of undiscovered treasure to be sorted.”

“Like Indiana Jones?” He asks with a grin.

“Exactly. Give me the hat and a whip and I’m in my element.”

He gets that dark look in his eyes again as if he is imagining me with the hat and whip and it’s as if he likes what he sees. But then with a mental shake and a nod.

“Okay, you can help sort through papers. But I need quiet while I work.”

“Hey, I worked in a museum. I can be quiet.”

Chapter 4

Aidan

Hazel’s idea of quiet includes softly humming or mumbling to herself when she is unsure of something.

There is a good reason I choose to live up here on the mountain. It’s closer to my research and I like to be left alone. People are just a distraction from my work.

I look up from my desk to watch Hazel sorting papers at the table. A slight frown showing her concentration. And she looks to be humming quietly to herself as she works.

Hazel is most definitely a distraction.

I would much rather look at her than my stats and figures. I want to know all about her. What motivated her to come all the way out here. For me. It’s hard to ignore the fact that she came here to meet me. To date me. To belong to me.

I glance her way again. Her little pink lips bounce off each other as she mutters to herself.

---