Page 26 of Stranded with the Mountain Man

ROSCO

Three days away from my mountain feels like a lifetime.Three days of tense negotiations with the Kings, of Tank's constant presence, of sleeping with one eye open in the Saints' clubhouse.Three days of wondering if Deena's still waiting or if she's gone back to her world without me.Again.

I guide my bike around potholes as I climb the mountain road, every mile bringing me closer to home.To her, if she's still there.The Kings finally backed down after we showed enough force, the territorial dispute resolved for now with minimal bloodshed.Just bruised egos and a new understanding that the Saints aren't to be tested.

My body aches from tension, from sleeping on an old couch, from memories that being back at the clubhouse stirred up.But it's done. I've repaid my debt to Tank, and now I'm free to return to my solitude.

Except solitude isn't what I want anymore.Not since Deena crashed back into my life.

The cabin comes into view as I round the final bend, and my heart rate kicks up when I spot her rental car in the drive.Shestayed. Relief floods through me, immediately followed by uncertainty.Just because she didn't leave doesn't mean she forgives me for walking out.

I cut the engine, letting momentum carry me the last few yards. No sense announcing my arrival with a roar.As I dismount, Bear comes bounding around the side of the cabin, barking his greeting.I crouch to receive his enthusiastic welcome, rubbing his ears as he leans his massive weight against me.

"Missed you too, boy," I tell him, scanning the property for signs of Deena.

The cabin door opens, and there she is, arms crossed, expression unreadable.She's wearing one of my old flannels again, the sleeves rolled up, her hair pulled back in a messy bun.Beautiful and guarded, like a wild thing ready to bolt.

"You're back," she says, voice carefully neutral."I was starting to wonder."

I straighten, dusting off my jeans."Said I would be."

"You said a lot of things." She doesn't move from the doorway, maintaining the distance between us.

Fair enough. I cross to my bike, pulling my duffel from the saddlebag."Everyone okay here?"

"We managed." She steps aside as I approach, letting me enter without touching."Bear's a better guard than you might think."

Inside, the cabin is immaculate.My work boots are lined up neatly by the door, dishes put away, even the blanket on the couch is perfectly folded.She's been busy. But there are signs of her presence all over too.

"You stayed," I say, dropping my bag by the hall.

"Seems that way." She follows me in, keeping several feet between us."Roads cleared yesterday."

"But you're still here."

She nods once, arms still crossed like armor."I am."

I try to read her expression, to gauge if this is just stubbornness or something more, but she's shuttered herself against me.Can't blame her, after the way I left.

"How was the... business?" she asks, the slight hesitation making her feelings about the MC clear.

"Resolved." I head to the kitchen, needing water after the dusty ride."Kings backed down when they realized they were outmatched.No one got hurt."

"That's good." She follows, but stays on the opposite side of the counter."Earl said there was some kind of stand-off at the county line."

Of course Earl would know. Probably has the whole town buzzing about it.

"Nothing serious." I drain the glass, setting it down harder than intended."Look, Deena--"

"You don't need to explain," she cuts me off."You made your choice clear when you left.I've had three days to process it."

"Process what, exactly?"

"That this--" she gestures between us "--is a temporary diversion for both of us.You've got your mountain isolation and occasional MC obligations.I've got my career and research waiting in Atlanta.We had some fun, scratched an old itch, but we're not--"

"Stop." I round the counter before she can retreat, close enough to see her pulse jump at her throat but not touching."Is that really what you think?"

"What am I supposed to think?" The careful neutrality cracks, frustration seeping through."You slept with me, then the next morning called it a mistake.Then you took off the moment your biker buddy snapped his fingers, after telling me how you'd walked away from that life."

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