Page 18 of Her Mountain Man Rescuer

The cute nickname brings reality crashing down around me. Weston belongs here in the mountains. I belong in Denver. We’re from two different worlds, and soon enough, we’ll have to go our separate ways. It was easy to set all that aside while we were making love, but now I can’t help remembering that our time together is running out.

I wonder if he’s thinking it too. It seems to hang over us, this unspoken ending, a gray cloud that we’re both trying to ignore.

No,I tell myself.Don’t think like that.

I’m not back in Denver yet. We have several more glorious hours before us, and I can’t ruin them by dwelling on things I can’t control. I need to focus on the here and now. Everything else can wait…the heartbreak can wait.

“You okay, sugar?” Weston asks, pulling away, sensing the hesitation in my kiss.

“Better than okay.” I force a smile and wrap my arms around his neck, my gaze roaming his rugged features. Then I kiss him hard, pressing my naked body against his, making him groan with renewed desire.

For now, Weston is all mine.

And I’m going to make the most of every second.

8

WESTON

The day passesin a blur of pure fucking happiness. We spend most of it in bed, only leaving a couple of times for food, and it’s well past midnight by the time we finally hop in the shower, washing away the sweat and running our soapy hands over each other’s bodies. I can’t stop touching Audrey’s curves—from her plump thighs to the softness of her belly. She’s so fucking beautiful. My cock swells every time I look at her, and we end up fucking desperately against the tiled wall, our smacking skin echoing around the bathroom, eyes locked like it’s the last time. Afterward, we collapse into bed, too tired to speak or think any longer as we drift off in each other’s arms, falling asleep almost instantly.

It takes me a long time to wake up. I’m usually an early riser, but after yesterday, it feels like my body is in a stupor. Sleep clouds my eyes, and I blink it away slowly, my head full of cotton wool. The clock on the nightstand says it’s after nine, and I sit up with a groan, running a hand over my face. All at once, the events of yesterday come flooding back to me, and my heart squeezes tight as I look beside me. But Audrey is gone.

Fuck, did she leave already?

I hear cupboards opening in the kitchen and relax slightly. She’s still here.

But for how much longer?

A boulder seems to settle at the bottom of my stomach, weighing me down. It was easy to push everything aside yesterday and let our desires take over, but now, in the cold morning light, it hits me. She’s really leaving. She’s going back to the city where she belongs. And there’s nothing I can do to stop her.

Goddammit, how am I meant to say goodbye?

I force myself out of bed, throwing on dark jeans and a blue flannel shirt, the same shade as Audrey’s eyes. It’s the shirt I was wearing the night I found her. Somehow, it feels like months ago now, even though it’s only been a couple of days.

How did this girl turn my life upside down so damn fast?

I pad out of the bedroom, frowning at the scent of burning in the air.

“Good morning!” Audrey’s voice calls.

“Morning.”

I reach the kitchen and stare, eyebrows lifting at the sight that greets me. Audrey is on the floor, mopping up a puddle of milk. Her face is streaked with flour, hands covered in some kind of pale gunk. On the counter, used bowls are strewn everywhere, full of cracked eggshells and powdery sugar. There’s a plate stacked with…pancakes? Only they’re not like any pancakes I’ve ever seen. Some are black, some are runny, while others have fallen apart completely. A couple have congealed into blobs of charred batter.

“So, I know this doesn’t look great,” she says as she gets up off the floor, “but I wanted to return the favor and make you breakfast! Only I’m not much of a cook. More of a takeout girl, to be honest. And, well…” She grimaces, gesturing around. “Ithink with another couple of tries, I might figure it out. The last pancake was a little less black?—”

“You don’t need to return any favors,” I tell her, unable to suppress a smile. “I appreciate the thought, but I’m happy to cook for you.”

Audrey sighs, washing the gunk off her hands. “You’ve done so much for me, Weston. I just wanted to show you how thankful I am.” She catches my eye. “I know all this probably looks more like I was trying to poison you. But seriously, you deserve something nice. I’m sorry this is such a crappy repayment.”

She looks so fucking cute, biting her plump bottom lip, standing in the middle of a floury bomb site. I close the space between us and bend down to kiss her, tasting syrup on her tongue.

“You’re sweet as hell, you know that?” I tell her. “Now, go sit down and let me make you breakfast. I enjoy doing it. It’s not something you need to repay me for.”

She looks hesitant. “Well, at least let me clear up the mess I made?—”

Before she can argue, I steer her into the living room and urge her onto one of the leather armchairs. She already lit a fire, and I stoke it a little until it’s warm and roaring once more.

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