Page 8 of Grump of Misty Mountain

“I couldn’t agree more.” My grandfather had been in Vietnam, and my grandmother would make excuses for him when he was in one of his downward spirals. I’m thinking he could have used, if not therapy, then a place where he felt safe with others who knew what he’d experienced.

“But I will not be going next Saturday, no.” I gave her a quick hug along with a suggestion we meet up in the future, then left.

Well, what do you know? Seems like I just decided I wouldn’t mind having a little fun—with Finn.

FIVE

FINN

It had been almosta full week since my world had not just been rocked, but had righted itself from the random swells of anxiety or deadline pressure. I’d received my edits the day after talking to Sami at the falls, and I’d locked myself away for three days straight to go over and sign off on my final manuscript.

Writing had been the only thing that had saved me after I left the service and kept me from losing myself to PTSD, and full-blown depression was seeing a counselor and writing down my experiences. Which led me to playing around with writing some fan fiction based on some of my favorite thriller and suspense authors.

I counted myself lucky every day that I’d discovered an outlet that let me not just live a productive life, but help other vets transition into civilian life. Like one of my best friends, West Stafford, and his crew were doing on the Triple R back in my hometown of Pineville, Idaho. He’d rehabbed and added a second level to his uncle’s old hunting cabin into a centerfor veterans and former military personnel as a place to rest, reclaim, and reinvent themselves.

It was encouraging to hear the excitement in his voice again when we spoke about all the things he had planned and the experts he’d found to help with counseling and career guidance. He and his partners were also planning on building separate cabins for themselves once the first phase was completed.

Eventually, I would visit and give an in-person talk with the men who came to the retreat about the steps I took to heal myself and not just send them free books to read during their downtime.

And maybe, just maybe, I’d be bringing Sami with me to show her where I grew up. Because the longer I thought about her being the one for me, the more I couldn’t wait to have her in my life permanently.

And today, I was taking the next step in making that happen. Usually after I hit send on the final version of my manuscript, I celebrated by going into the closest city and treating myself to dinner at a steak house. This time, I had a better idea.

And now I could focus all my attention on her. I planned on asking her out for dinner. Or better yet, offer to make her dinner at my place. Today was Monday again, and I had the perfect excuse to show up at the cafe without coming up with another lame story.

My body was on a low simmer as I drove down the mountain. It had been ever since that first encounter. What I hadn’t recognized at the time, when Sami’s hands had been on me as she frantically tried to clean me up, was that her nearness and concern had set off something powerful within me.

Something beyond the sexual attraction that had instantly gripped me. It was a new level of alpha protectiveness that had nothing to do with my military background and everything to do with an inherent knowing she was mine. And I had to keep anyother single male in a twenty-mile radius from discovering what a treasure she was.

An hour later,I strode into the Pine and Petal, all set to flirt my way into Sami’s heart. Instead, there were at least three customers ahead of me and someone else had followed me in. Not exactly the best time to tease some more sweet blushes from her.

Ms. Clara gave me a quick wave as she moved from one table to the next, order pad in hand. “I’ll be right there, Finn. Just have to bring out some more product for the case.”

“Take your time. I came in for some coffee. One of those fancy lattes.” My gaze found Sami standing behind the espresso machine. I wasn’t sure if she’d seen or heard me, so busy with the foam thingy that steamed the milk, I think. Today, her shoulder length locks were pulled up high on her head, with wavy tendrils framing her face and my fingers suddenly itched with a need to pull the strands free and run my fingers through the silky chocolate softness, then I’d pull her into me and take a long taste of her summer berry-colored lips.

“Hey, Finn.” Sami saying my name hit me squarely in the middle of my chest. It was all I could do not to lift my hand and rub it to ease the ache. She affected me that quickly. Every time.

“Hey, there. I decided I’d liked to give that honey coffee another try.” Reminding her of my ruined jacket was unavoidable, but I needed a good reason to be here since I rarely deviated from my schedule.

A flash of uncertainty appeared in her eyes before she recovered with a small smile. “Sure. I’m just about finished up with this order, and then I’m all yours.”

Her neck and cheeks went red at her words and what do you know? I didn’t even have to try. She was already blushing. Man,I had to get my hands on her before I did something really stupid like…well; I guess ordering a latte counted as stupid. At least for me. Shit, I really was a goner if I was willing to drink something with lavender in it.

“Okay, Mr. Campbell. You sure about this? Can you afford two ruined jackets?” Sami’s eyes sparkled and the right corner of her mouth quirked up as she started making my drink. So, she enjoyed pushing my buttons. Well, joke’s on her, she could push all my buttons anytime she wanted.

“I’m sure. I have faith that this time you won’t spill a drop.” The sudden image of her taking my hard length between her luscious lips and sucking me until she indeed swallowed every drop of my seed filled my overactive mind.

I watched as Sami’s eyes widened and her cheeks darkened. Had she just imagined the same thing?

Man, I hadn’t consciously meant the comment as innuendo. Scanning the other customers’ faces, I looked for any indication my words had caused a similar reaction. But no one was paying any attention to me. Seems I was the only one who’d turned my words into a fantasy of Sami on her knees. But maybe Sami had as well. If so, it would be just one more reason to like her.

“I promise. And if you don’t like it, you don’t have to pay for it. Especially since you won’t let me pay for your dry-cleaning bill.” Her expression had become business like and friendly once again.

“Deal. And forget about the jacket. The stain just adds more character to its already beat-up legacy.” A sudden idea hit me. A surefire way to get her to let me make her dinner. At my house. And if things went well, the night would end with her in my bed.

“How about we make a little wager on whether I like it or not?”

Sami’s eyebrows lifted, and another one of her blushes appeared. Man, I loved seeing her all flushed.

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