Page 7 of Her Mountain Man Rescuer

4

WESTON

I’mreluctant to leave Audrey, but I need to head for the grocery store so I can buy us something for dinner. Despite the darkness that surrounds me as I drive toward Cherry Hollow, it’s only eight-thirty, so Cherry Grocery will still be open. I also brought my towing equipment, so I can take Audrey’s car back to my cabin.

When I left her, Audrey was still sitting in my armchair, texting Lila about her plans to stay with me for dinner. It was nearly impossible to tear myself away from her—she looked so fucking beautiful in the warm glow of the fire. But I had to go. After what she’s been through today, she deserves a delicious meal.

The grocery store is emptying out when I get there. I fill my cart, grabbing everything I think Audrey could like before heading back outside into the chilly parking lot. I’m just about to get in my truck and drive away when a familiar voice calls my name.

“Weston!”

I turn to see my brother crossing the street toward me, holding a saw beneath his arm. I raise an eyebrow in surprise. Dane rarely ventures into Cherry Hollow.

“Hey, buddy,” I say, reaching out to slap him on the shoulder. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Broke my damn saw.” He nods at the new one beneath his arm. “Had to get to the hardware store before it closed.”

The streetlamp above us throws light on Dane’s scarred face, and I feel a familiar flicker of guilt. I was Navy; my brother was Army. Even now, it bothers me that I escaped the military unscathed while he was scarred for life.

“You want to come over for a beer or something?” Dane asks, pulling me from my thoughts. “I was thinking of grabbing a pizza while I’m here.”

Dane is the only person I’m close to, especially since our parents left for Florida. Usually I’d be happy to head over to his place for the evening, but tonight, things are different. There’s an angel waiting for me at my cabin, and I need to get back to her.

“Can’t tonight,” I tell him. “Got company.”

It’s Dane’s turn to look surprised. “Yeah?”

I quickly explain to him what happened earlier, how I found Audrey at the bottom of the slope, and Dane shakes his head. “She’s lucky you were there. Damn city folk, always getting themselves into trouble.”

Usually, I would agree. Hell, it’s exactly what I thought when I found Audrey. But now, I feel a flicker of defensiveness in my chest when I think of her, the way she let me clean her cuts without flinching, the warmth in her eyes when she grabbed my hand and thanked me.

“She wasn’t doing anything wrong,” I say. “Was just bad luck that the ledge gave way.”

Pretty damn hypocritical considering the way I lectured her when I found her, but defending her is my instinct, even to my brother.

“Guess so,” Dane says with a shrug. “Anyway, better let you get back to her. Hope her wrist feels better soon.”

“Thanks, I’ll tell her.”

Dane’s gaze lingers on me for a minute, his brow furrowing. I wonder if he can see my feelings written on my face. My brother always did know me better than anyone. I turn away quickly and lift my hand in a wave as I get into my truck and pull away from the grocery store. I begin the drive up Cherry Mountain, mentally working out where Audrey’s car must be parked based on where I found her. Before I left, she told me it was a red Honda Civic and gave me the license plate number.

It doesn’t take long to find. I park in front of her car and hook it up to my truck, taking a second to inspect the ledge where Audrey fell without getting too close. It still bears all the marks of a recent rockslide, and something freezes in the pit of my stomach when I see how far down the drop looks.

She was so damn lucky.

Thank God.

Shaking off the tightness in my chest, I hop back into my truck and begin towing the car back to my cabin. It’s only been an hour since I left, but it feels like so much longer. There’s something pulling inside me, a desperation to get back to Audrey. It freaks me out more than I’m willing to admit. I’ve always been a lone wolf, more than happy to do my own thing. With the exception of Dane, I avoid people as much as possible. There’s freedom in being alone, and I’ve always savored it.

But now…

Hell, I don’t know.

It doesn’t make any sense. I just met this girl, and already I feel ‘wrong’ without her, like something is missing, an emptiness in the air around me. I try not to think about it, but I can’t ignore the flood of relief that washes over me when my cabin comes into view through the trees, smoke puffing out of the chimney.

I unhook the tow equipment from Audrey’s car, grab the groceries from my truck, and hurry into the cabin, heart thudding with anticipation.

It’s only been an hour, goddammit.

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