Page 10 of Sheltered By the Mountain Man

The gash in his thigh is longer than my hand. Most of it isn't too deep—only enough to draw blood. “This part looks bad.” It's a gouge about an inch long. Definitely more than a Band-Aid can handle. “I think you need stitches.”

Mason looks out the window where rain is falling in heavy sheets. It looks like dusk outside, even though the sun isn't supposed to set for another couple hours. “Don't think we're going anywhere in this. It's supposed to get a lot worse before it gets better.”

Does that mean...?

“You might be stuck with me, sweetheart.”

Um... okay. It could be worse, right? I could still be lost in the woods. Instead, I’m in a cabin with a half-naked man who needs my help. A warm, solid, thickly muscled man.

Focus, Bella!Step one: Clean this wound. Step two: Figure out what to do next.

I reach for the antiseptic wipes in the first aid kit. “Sorry if it stings.” His thick thigh clenches under my hand as I wipe the blood away. He doesn't hiss or grunt, just silently watches me, eyes low and unreadable.

“I've never given myself stitches,” he says.

I pause mid-wipe. “Have you givenanyonestitches?”

“A couple times. It's better to be on the sewing end than the receiving end.” His eyes crinkle but I sense an undercurrent to his tone. Like he's trying to laugh off something that hurts more than the gash. He must read the confused look on my face, because he adds, “In the military.”

I glance at the few pictures on the table by the door that I noticed when we came in. The cabin doesn't have much in the way of personal decor, so the photos seem significant. Mason stands with several groups of men in them, all in military uniforms of one kind or another.

I want to ask about the photos, but his expression has closed off. I swipe another antiseptic wipe on his thigh, getting the last bit clean. “I don't think I could keep my hand steady enough to put stitches in, knowing I'm causing someone more pain.”

A smile flickers over his mouth. “Use a couple of butterfly bandages,” he says. “I'll put some med-glue on it after I shower.”

“Will that be enough?”

“It has been before.”

Right. I'm starting to suspect he has far more medical training than a lowly library clerk with too much time on her hands. I put a few bandages on the wound and cover it with gauze. “There. Let me get some ice for your ankle. Then I should probably call someone. Let them know I'm not wandering lost in the woods, in case anyone realizes I didn't come back with the hiking group.”

Mason grabs my wrist before I can head to the kitchen. “What do you mean? Why wouldn't they notice you were missing?”

“Oh.” Shoot. Why did I say that? “I... didn't really know anyone in the group. I'm not much of a hiker, so I was in the back. Anyway, I accidentally got lost. That's when I heard Nitro barking and found you.”

“Bella.”

I reluctantly meet his gaze, afraid to see pity there. When I finally look, there's only concern.

Mason's jaw works, as if he's holding something back. “I don't know why you were up here alone or why you think you wouldn't be missed, but you saved me from some nasty exposure to the elements. Thank you.”

I give him a tiny smile and fetch him a bag filled with ice.

He takes it, then reaches for my hand. His thumb strokes over the tender skin of my wrist, sending a pulse of awareness through me.

“We're both muddy, and you're stuck here for the time being. I'll call mountain rescue to tell them you're safe. Why don't you get a shower and warm up. Grab some clean clothes from my dresser. I'll get the fire going, and we'll go from there.”

Mason is so big, soclose.He's gorgeous, and tender... and it's overwhelming. I should help with the fire or wrap his ankle. Instead, I take the escape he's offering and retreat to his room. I'm shivering, muddy, and feel so gross. A hot shower would be heavenly. But first...

Digging my phone out of my pocket, I'm relieved to have a couple bars of signal. I dial Harmony, one of my closest friends. Thankfully, she answers on the second ring.

“Hey, girl. Did you go on that hike, or did it get cancelled because of the weather?”

“No. I got a little… off trail,” I say, voice wobbly. Honestly, this whole day is so unbelievable, I don't even know what to tell her. “I’m fine! I just wanted someone to know where I am.”

She goes quiet for a second, then says, “Bella, whereareyou?”

I glance at the closed bedroom door. “In a cabin, with a... a very large, wounded man.”

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