Page 7 of Paired with the Mountain Man

AppleMtnMan43: What are you wearing?

ApplesNotSweet: Nothing

AppleMtnMan43:

ApplesNotSweet: Should I send a pic?

AppleMtnMan43: No. I need to meet you. Now.

ApplesNotSweet: And we both need some sleep. Talk to you in the morning, stud

ApplesNotSweet is now offline. Send a message for when they return?

I groaned and rolled over in bed, sliding my phone under the pillow. I should be exhausted, yet my thoughts were stuck on a rollercoaster ride, spinning and twisting me every which way.

Bailey looked at me from the foot of the bed, groaned, and then laid her head back down. Even my own dog was tired of my crap.

Hours and hours I’ve spent talking to the mysterious Joanie akaApplesNotSweet, then dragging my ass to work, only to think about her all day, come home and talk all night again. This morning was the latest we’d ever stayed up and I wanted more.

No, I wanted her here. Next to me. In my bed.

Or so I thought.

Because when I tried to picture it in my head, what I saw was not the woman in the picture I’ve stared at for days, but Adalynn. Her warm smile and happy demeanor that melted all my troubles away.

Adalynn. My heart beat for her.

But maybe it could beat for Joanie too. Our connection was unmatched, and I could only hope it would be the same in person.

It had to be right?

I finally dozed off at some point and woke up to Jack’s loud voice booming through my cabin, his footsteps loud on the stairs.

What the hell? Wasn’t it Saturday?

Bailey barked and followed behind him and I could just imagine her going nuts when he showed up.

“Dude, what the fuck? You’re still in bed?”

“More like what the fuck are you doing here?” I moaned and pulled a pillow over my head.

“Uh did you forget you said you’d workout with me this morning?”

Shit.

I tossed the pillow aside and watched while Bailey sat in front of Jack begging for her attention. “Dammit, sorry man. I totally spaced it out.”

Jack shot me a questioning look while he patted Bailey’s head. “That’s not like you. And it’s not like you to still be in bed at noon. What’s up?”

“Meet me downstairs in a few and I’ll fill you in. And start a pot of coffee, will ya? Make yourself useful or something.” I smirked and he flipped me off with a shit eating grin on his face before disappearing downstairs.

After throwing on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and stopping by the bathroom, I made my way to the kitchen, the smell of coffee awakening my senses.Slightly.

Jack was already sitting on one of the bar stools at the kitchen island, sipping on a steaming mug. Bailey laid at his feet, chewing on a bone. One I didn’t recognize. Jack loved to spoil her.

Mornings like these made me thankful I installed a doggie door on the back door so Bailey could let herself in and out into the fenced in yard. It made me feel better on the days I didn’t bring her with me to work.

“There’s the sleepy head. Glad to see you joined the land of the living.” Jack nodded in my direction.

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