Page 7 of Devotion By the Mountain Man

“Hi,” she says with a giggle. I set her down and grab her hand, leading her to where Ava and Soph are sitting at the bar.

“Rosie, this is my sister, Sophie. She’s in town helping Ava with some redecorating.”

“Oh! Hi! Ava has told me you have the most amazing taste in the world,” Rosie says, sitting on the chair I’ve pulled out on Sophie’s other side.

Sophie laughs. “I like to think so,” she says with a wink. My sister is not known for being humble.

I slide Rosie’s chair back in. “Can I get you anything? I should be done in a few minutes and then we can head out.”

“A water would be great,” she says, turning her face to mine. I press a kiss to her cheek before rounding the bar and passing her her water.

I hear her chatting away with Sophie and Ava and I’m glad to see she’s getting along well with Sophie especially. She can be a bit hard to crack sometimes. Sophie asks Rosie about her cottage and Rosie looks at me a bit surprised that Soph knows about it. I just shrug.

I finish cashing out and getting the bar set for the shift change before grabbing Rosie and saying goodbye to my cousin and sister. I’m sure the two of them will sit there chatting Rosie’s ear of all night if given the chance and I am definitely not giving them the chance.

I need some time alone with my girl.

We head outside and start walking towards the store.

“What did you do today?” I ask Rosie, her hand still in mine.

“Caught up on some school work and then went for a long walk. I ended up walking here, actually, so I might need you to drive me home. I’ll make you dinner,” she says shyly.

“Honey, I would’ve taken you home whether you made me dinner or not,” I say with a wink.

She laughs and it sounds like the most perfect melody. We make it to the store and take our time wandering around while figuring out what to have for dinner. We decide on chicken Caesar wraps, something easy but delicious. We head back to my car and I load in the groceries while Rosie takes the cart back.

As I see her rounding the corner, her grin meeting mine, I remember I didn’t tell her about Steve coming in today, about Scott and I banning him from the bar. I know I have to, but I don’t want to ruin her day. She seems to have so few peaceful ones.

But I need her to be safe.

I debate telling her the whole drive back to her place, as we unload the groceries, and as she starts plating dinner. I just don’t want to ruin the mood.

But her safety comes first to me. As I’m loading the last plate into the dishwasher, she turns to me with her glass of wine in hand, looking so beautiful, so relaxed that I know I can no longer leave this perfect woman in danger.

I cross the room and hold her in my arms.

“Steve came back into the brewery today,” I say, holding her chin up so her eyes meet mine. “I think he came to get back at me, but I know he still has it out for you. Scott banned him from the brewery, but I don’t trust him not to show up again.”

Her eyes begin watering at the news. “Oh, honey, please don’t be sad. I’ll look out for you, I promise.”

“I’m not sad,” she says, voice quivering. “I’m angry. This man has gone out of his way to make my life as difficult as possible this year and I’ve had enough of it.”

“He’s an insecure piece of shit and we’ll get him to leave you alone, one way or another,” I nearly growl the words. How dare this small, slimy man make a woman as perfect as Rosie feel this way.

“I just tried so hard to make him feel included, feel part of the team despite how unwelcome he’s made me feel. I’ve had enough of it. Thank you for banning him, it means a lot to me,” she says, reaching a hand to my face and caressing my cheek.

“You mean a lot to me,” I say, lifting her up and pulling her mouth to mine.

Time to show her just how much.

Chapter Five

Rosie

The kiss is searing, much dirtier and messier than our ones last night. Wade pulls my tongue into his mouth and nips it before tangling it together with his own. It makes me feel like I’m on fire and I can feel myself writhing where my core meets his waist. He holds me tight and it makes me grateful for how strong—howthick—his body is. I move a hand into his black curls and laugh as his beard tickles my neck.

I love this.

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