Page 3 of Accidentally Kidnapping the Mountain Man

Her cheeks go a little pinker, and then she nods. “Okay. It’ll be our secret.” She pulls her phone out of her pocket and shows me the code. I take the small lockbox in hand and press on the buttons. The seven is jammed, and I have to press on it hard to get it to give. No wonder she couldn’t get it to budge with her little fingers.

The lockbox pops open, and I pull out the key, handing it to her. “Success.”

“Ah!” she shrieks happily, making warmth flush my body. “Yes! Thank you! You have magic fingers.” Her cheeks go deeppink at that. “I don’t mean…you have the magic touch is what I meant.”

Fuck, she’s cute when she’s flustered. Which is often.

“Not magic, just strong,” I say, and she smiles at me, her bright blue eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before she looks away, her cheeks even pinker than before.

I can’t help but watch her as she unlocks the door, taking in every detail. The way her long, shiny brown hair falls over her shoulder, the slight upturn of her nose, the smattering of freckles across her skin.

So. Damn. Beautiful.

And so freaking young. I don’t know exactly how old she is, but she can’t be much older than twenty or twenty-one.

And me? I’m forty-six.

Yeah. So I really shouldn’t be having these thoughts about a woman young enough to be my daughter. Hell, she’s probably around the same age as Hailey, who’ll be twenty-two in the spring.

As we step inside the warmth of the house, my mind flashes back to the first time I saw Kaylee, sitting behind the desk at Big Mountain Realty. She looked up at me with those gorgeous blue eyes, and in that moment I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. Like there was no oxygen in the room, only electricity as I stared at the most beautiful girl I’d ever laid eyes on. It was as though time had stopped, and I couldn’t make myself look away. Couldn’t do anything but stare and try to breathe as every single cell in my body screamed with want.

I’d never experienced anything like it in my life.

I’d come in to talk to John about finding a house for my daughter Hailey as a university graduation present, assuming I’d be working with him. But one look at Kaylee, and I knew who I wanted to work with.

“You know, I think you’re really going to like this one,” she says, bringing me back to the present moment. We toe off our boots by the front door, and I can’t stop myself from smirking at how much smaller hers are next to mine. So freaking cute. She holds her arms out and turns in a small circle, then faces me, her eyes wide and hopeful. “I have a good feeling. This just might be the one.”

I rub a hand over my mouth and don’t say anything. Over the past two weeks, Kaylee’s shown me about a dozen different places, and I’ve rejected every single one. Not because they weren’t good enough for Hailey, but because if I settle on a place and buy it, I won’t have an excuse to see her anymore.

And no, I can’t just ask her out. I might be totally smitten, but she’s half my age and I don’t really do the whole relationship thing. I haven’t since Hailey’s mom and I split almost fifteen years ago. I’m happy on my own, living in my home in the mountains and running my construction company. I don’t need anything—or anyone—else.

This is just a crush, one that will fade with time. One that I’m enjoying the hell out of right now, even if I can’t do anything about it.

She shrugs out of her wool coat, which seems a bit thin for the cold weather, then flips her hair over her shoulder. She’s wearing a red sweater and a fitted brown skirt that hugs her slender hips, and I can’t help but stare at her pert little ass as she turns around.

Fuck, the things I would do to that ass.

Good god, what is wrong with me? I’m not normally this…this…horny, for lack of a better word.

Except when I’m around Kaylee, I realize. Something about her sets me on fire, and while she’s beautiful, I don’t really understand the intensity of my reaction to her.

Maybe I should buy a house in order to get some distance and get over this ridiculous crush on Kaylee.

And yet the idea of not seeing her again has my heart twisting uncomfortably.

What. The. Fuck.

She guides me into the living room, her voice echoing slightly against the vaulted ceilings. “As you can see, it’s got great natural light, and the layout is really open. You said that Hailey likes to have people over, and a space like this is perfect for entertaining.” She looks up at me expectantly.

“Mmm,” I say noncommittally, scanning the room. She’s not wrong, but I’m having a hard time paying attention to the house, to be honest. It’s yet another nice place, and one I already know I’m going to reject in exchange for just a little more time with her.

She bites her lip as she studies me, and I curl my hands into fists. The urge to reach out for her is almost overwhelming, and I’m starting to get the sneaking suspicion that my feelings for Kaylee might be deeper than just a little crush.

She moves closer, and I love the way she has to tilt her head back to look up at me. When we’re standing close like this, the size difference between us is stark. She’s so tiny that she doesn’t even reach my shoulder. It makes me want to wrap her up and protect her, take care of her. Shelter her from the world.

I shove a hand through my hair.

Get a grip, I tell myself. Maybe I do need to start dating. Maybe I am lonely.

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