Page 29 of Accidentally Kidnapping the Mountain Man

She frowns. “What do you mean?”

I tilt my head. “Well, as I see it, there are two options. Option number one is we go shopping so we can properly furnish and decorate this place. Whatever you need, I’ll buy for you. We can make this place a safe, comfortable home for you. You give me the payment information for your rent, and I’ll take care of that, too.”

“I can’t let you…” she starts, shaking her head.

I smirk at her. “I had a feeling you might be resistant to that, so here’s option number two. Move in with me.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “Move in with you? I can’t…”

I hold her chin in place gently, looking her right in those gorgeous blues as I talk. “You can. I have a three-thousand square foot three-bedroom house I live in alone. I’ve got lots of room. And not to brag, but my place is pretty nice. I built it myself.” I sigh. “I can’t stomach the thought of you living herelike this, Kaylee. I want you with me, and I want to make sure you have everything you need. If you move in with me, you won’t have to pay rent. Hell, you don’t even have to work if you don’t want to.”

“I want to work,” she says firmly, and I nod.

“And that’s fine. But don’t think I’m not gonna tell John off the next time I see him for the stress he caused you and the way he treated you.”

I can tell she’s thinking it all over. After a moment, she nods. “Why don’t I pack a bag and come for a few days? Like a…a trial run?”

I smile, knowing I’ve won. My place is stunning, and I’m going to pamper the shit out of her. She’s never going to want to leave.

“Sounds like a plan,” I say, trying to keep the cocky grin off my face. I can tell I’ve failed from the look she gives me.

Fuck, I love this girl.

I wait for her to pack her bag and then we head back out to my truck. The sight of my vehicle reminds me that I’ve gotta get Kaylee something more suitable than the car she’s been driving around in. I’ll see if I can convince her to let me take her car shopping in a day or two, once she’s found her bearings at my place.

Less than ten minutes later, we pull up to my house, my truck tires crunching on the packed snow and gravel driveway. I glance over at Kaylee, gauging her reaction. I know she’s seen it before, but I still want to see what she thinks. Her eyes are wide, her lips parted as she takes in the timber and stone house with its peaked black roof. I try to see it through her eyes—the gabled entrance, the massive windows, the intricate stonework. It’s not exactly a mansion, but it is gorgeous. I built it exactly the way I wanted about ten years ago.

“Logan,” she breathes, leaning forward to look up at the house through the truck’s windshield. “I know I’ve seen your place from the outside before, but I think I’d forgotten how beautiful it is. And you built this?”

I nod, a swell of pride inflating my chest. “Yep. Designed and built it myself.”

She turns to me, her eyes bright, her cheeks pink. “It’s incredible. You’re incredible.”

I chuckle, putting the truck in park. “Just wait till you see the inside.”

She giggles, shooting me a look. “That’s usually my line.”

I laugh as I climb out and walk around to her side, opening the door for her. She takes my hand, her small fingers cold against my palm. I help her down and then lean in, restraining myself to a brief, almost chaste kiss. There’ll be time for more kissing later. Right now, I want to show her where I live and try to convince her that she should live here, too.

We step inside the entryway, and I quickly disarm the security system.

“Oh, wow,” she breathes, eyes zeroed in on one of my favorite parts of the house. “Is that a…a tree?”

“Sure is,” I say, leading her over to the massive polished tree trunk that goes from the walk-out basement level all the way up to the top floor, with the staircase zigzagging around it.

“That’s amazing,” she says, sliding her hand over the smooth wood.

I take her coat and hang it in the closet—where it belongs –and then show her the rest of the house. We start in the kitchen with its beamed ceiling, hand scraped wood floors and custom cabinets. She oohs and aahhs over the granite counter tops and gleaming stainless steel appliances. Off of the kitchen is a den, with floor to ceiling windows that look out onto my propertyand a towering stone fireplace. A dining area sits adjacent to the kitchen.

“It’s very manly,” she comments, gliding her fingertips over the back of one of the leather dining chairs. “Lots of wood and leather. It’s very you.”

“If you move in with me, you can redecorate however you want,” I promise. “We can paint the kitchen bright pink, get feathered pillows, a mirrored ceiling. Whatever you want.”

She laughs, her mouth hanging open. “I didn’t say I wanted to change any of it. I like it the way it is. I like seeing you in every touch.”

My heart feels too big for my chest. She really is perfect in every single way. “Come on, let me show you upstairs.”

I take her hand and lead her up the gleaming wooden stairs, taking her straight to my bedroom.Ourbedroom, if I get my way.

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