Page 19 of Stranded with the Mountain Man

Her expression falls for a fraction of a second before she masks it."A mistake?"

"You're leaving in a few days.You said it yourself--your life, your career, everything that matters is in Atlanta." The wordstaste bitter, but necessary."What's the point in stirring up old feelings that won't change anything?"

"Maybe they already have." She steps closer, and I force myself to hold my ground."Maybe I'm not the same person who left.Maybe you're not the same person who stayed."

"That's exactly my point. We're different people now."

"Then why does this--" she gestures between us "--still feel the same?Why does being with you still feel like coming home?"

The question hits like a punch to the gut.Because it does. Because having her here, in my space, wearing my clothes, has awakened something I've spent twelve years trying to extinguish.

"It's just muscle memory," I say flatly."Nostalgia. It'll pass."

"Is that what you keep telling yourself?" Her voice sharpens with frustration."Because you've been looking at me for four days like you want to devour me whole, Ross.That's not nostalgia. That's not muscle memory."

"It's a bad idea." I step back, needing distance."We've been down this road before, Dee.It ended with you driving away and me picking up the pieces."

Pain flashes across her face."That's not fair."

"Isn't it? You had your dream school, your big career.What did I have? A half-built garage and a fucking engagement ring I never got to give you."

The words hang between us, heavy with old hurt.I hadn't meant to tell her about the ring.Not now. Not ever.

Her eyes widen, lips parting in shock."Engagement... what? You never said--"

"Because you never gave me the chance." I drag a hand over my face, suddenly exhausted."You made your choice, Deena.You chose your future over any future with me.And now you're back, temporarily, and I'm supposed to what?Fall at your feet because you decide you might want me again?"

"That's not what I'm doing." She takes a step toward me, then seems to think better of it."I don't know what I'm doing.I just know that being here, with you--it feels right in a way nothing has in years."

"For now," I counter. "Until the roads clear.Until your precious sabbatical ends.Until the next big research opportunity calls you away."

"You don't know that."

"Don't I? The girl I knew was ambitious.Driven. Determined to make her mark in the scientific world.That doesn't just disappear."

"No, it doesn't." Her voice softens."But priorities change. People change."

"Not enough." I turn back to my workbench, picking up a chisel.A clear dismissal. "We're stuck together for now.That's all this is. That's all it can be."

I don't look at her, but I can feel her gaze burning into my back.Several long seconds pass before I hear her soft exhale.

"For someone who builds things meant to last," she says quietly, "you're awfully quick to tear down something before it's even had a chance to stand."

The workshop door closes behind her with a soft click that somehow carries more finality than if she'd slammed it.I drive the chisel into the wood with more force than necessary, ruining the joint I'd spent hours perfecting.

"Goddammit," I mutter, throwing the tool aside.

Outside, clouds gather on the horizon, threatening more rain.More days trapped together. More chances to forget why letting her back in is the stupidest thing I could possibly do.

But as I look at the half-finished crib with its mountain wildflowers carved into the wood, I wonder if it's already too late.

The axe splits the log with a satisfying crack.I set up another, swing again, the physical exertion burning through the restless energy that's been building since my confrontation with Deena this morning.She's been avoiding me all day, burying herself in her plant samples and research notes at the kitchen table while I've been out here, turning perfectly good firewood into kindling.

Bear watches from the porch, head on his paws, occasionally whining when I swing with particular force.Traitor. He'd rather be inside with her, but I needed his company more than she did.

I'm setting up another log when I hear the cabin door open.Footsteps cross the porch, too light to be Deena's.I turn to find a small woman with silver hair standing beside Bear, scratching his ears.

"Mrs. Havers." I straighten, wiping sweat from my brow with my forearm."Didn't hear you drive up."

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