Page 1 of Accidentally Kidnapping the Mountain Man

One

Kaylee

“So, initial impressions?” I ask, turning to face Logan Armstrong, AKA the most impossible client I’ve ever had. AKA the most infuriatingly sexy client I’ve ever worked with. AKA the man whose pickiness is causing me to slide closer and closer to homelessness every day.

Logan lifts one magnificently sculpted arm and rubs a hand over the back of his neck, making his sweater pull taut across his broad chest, giving me a hint of pec outline. “It’s…nice.”

Frustration flares inside me, and I haul what I hope is a professional smile onto my face. “Well, they’ve all been nice. I wouldn’t show you something that wasn’t nice.”

“Of course not,” he says flatly, glancing around the space with a completely unreadable expression on his stupidly gorgeous face. Emphasis on the gorgeous: warm brown eyes with smile lines fanning out around them, perfectly kissable lips, a stubble-covered jaw that might as well have been carved from granite, thick dark brown hair with threads of gray woven through. Logan is a work of art.

He’s also a pain in my ass.

“I’m not sure this is the one. I don’t know that I can picture my daughter here.”

I suck in a deep breath, then another, my hands curling into fists at my sides. This is the fifteenth house I’ve shown this man. Yeah, that’s right.Fifteen.And he’s said the same thing about every single one. It’s nice, but it’s not the one.

I’m going to get fired because this man cannot make up his mind. I’m going to get kicked out of my apartment for not paying rent because I lost my job.

My boss’s words from just a couple of days ago echo through my head, reverberating around my skull like something slick and slimy circling a drain.

Close the Armstrong deal or you’re done, Kaylee. Prove to me you can make a sale, or I’ll find someone who can.

If this was a comic strip, this would be the point where the cartoon character saysGULP.

“It’s got a great view of the mountains on either side of the house with these east and west facing windows, and the wood burning fireplace here in the living room was recently serviced. The kitchen was remodeled last year, and just wait until you see the upstairs.” I look out the aforementioned windows, frowning slightly at the snow falling in thick flakes and the darkening purplish gray clouds. I wasn’t aware of a storm system coming in, but it certainly looks like one is brewing.

Logan gestures at the staircase (which is stunning and made out of solid beams of oak, by the way) indicating I should lead the way. Another gust of wind sends the trees outside dancing, and the power flickers, just for a second.

I glance out the windows again, biting my lip at the sight of those dark clouds getting closer by the minute. It’s a good thing we took Logan’s truck today. My car would never make itthrough the slippery snow sure to be all over the roads when we’re done here.

“This one is only a two bedroom, but it does have the additional space downstairs that’s perfect for a den or an office, whatever Hailey needs,” I say. “And look at these beautiful skylights in the hallway. There isn’t a single space without beautiful, natural light.” I crane my head back and watch as snow starts to gather in the corners of the skylights. Thick flakes land in clumps, coming faster and faster by the minute.

I lead Logan into the principal bedroom, showing him the terrace that looks out towards the mountains, and provides a view of the tidy backyard below, complete with a cute little patio and a fire pit.

This place is nicer than anywhere I’ve ever lived my entire life, but I can tell by the set of his beautiful mouth that this one’s going to be another no.

My chest tightens as panic spikes inside me, and I scramble for what to say.

“You know, if you ask me, I really do think this place is fantastic,” I say, trying a new angle. “It’s got everything a young woman in her twenties could want. Trust me.” After all, this house isn’t for him, but a university graduation present for his daughter.

“Mmm,” he grunts in his growly, deep voice. Is he agreeing with me? Disagreeing?

Who the hell knows with this man?

I show him the ensuite bathroom, and then the other bedroom, chattering the entire time. The more nervous I get, the more I talk. I’m aware of it enough to know that I’m doing it, but that doesn’t mean I can control it.

We head back downstairs, and I’m dismayed to see nothing but white when I look out the windows. The snow is coming down in gusty sheets now. I can’t even see across the street.

Maybe this is good. Maybe while we wait for the snow to stop, I can convince him to make an offer on one of thefifteenplaces we’ve seen.

“So…what did you think? Isn’t it great?” I say, cringing at the false cheer in my voice.

Logan sighs, and my entire body goes warm when he looks down at me. He has to tilt his head downward because he’s more than a foot taller than me. There’s something in his dark brown eyes, something I can’t name. But it pulls me in and makes my skin feel hot and tight.

It’s probably just my ridiculous crush on my much older client fucking with my head. Because that’s what my crush is—ridiculous. There’s no way a man like Logan—older, successful, confident, mouthwateringly sexy—would have any interest in a girl like me. Completely inexperienced and naive, desperately trying to sort her shit out.

“It’s…” He sighs and leans a hip against the kitchen counter. The beautiful, granite kitchen counter. His eyes are on me again, and as my nipples pebble to little peaks inside my bra, I realize what the look on his face is.

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