Page 19 of Married in Misty Mountain

Once word got around Misty Mountain that the new girl up and married Mountain Man Hurley, everyone became super invested.

Jack handed over gift certificates to a local spa as his wedding gift to us and told Shenna she could take today off. I grumbled about the spa day initially, but I admit I didn’t hate my first mani-pedi. I especially didn’t hate sitting beside Shenna and watching her get pampered.

But I would have preferred going about our everyday lives. At the very least, I’m anxious to move Shenna’s stuff into my house. But it seemed rude not to let the town lose its collective minds just this once.

After the mani-pedi, a driver picked us up and whisked us off to a winery, where we were given a tour, a complimentary wine tasting, and a ride on horseback around the grounds. Again, not my thing, but I enjoyed watching Shenna become more and more relaxed as the afternoon wore on.

She was so uptight the other day when we ran into each other at the store. A little spoiling is all it takes to get her to smile at me. I make a mental note.

I only feel a little bit bad that none of this smiling is because of me, but because of everyone else’s thoughtfulness.

The whole town being invested in our marriage is one thing. Knowing they care about our wedding night is a whole other thing. This is why I don’t tell anyone my business. Not that I would turn down a free night in the honeymoon suite at the Hollow Tree Inn. Nor would I turn up my nose at a crackling fire, complimentary champagne, and a massive fruit platter.

While Shenna does her ten-step nighttime skin routine in the bathroom, I examine the massive charcuterie that Hank sent over from the Rusty Elk. Kind of a waste to send me all that meat, but hopefully, Shenna won’t let it go to waste.

This is why I don’t tell anyone my business. I can’t stand the thought of everyone gossiping about us. Why can’t people just be interested a normal amount in each other’s lives?

This thing between Shenna and me is only a marriage of convenience, and I don’t want any of the town’s excitement to put any pressure on us.

But as soon as Clara had processed that Shenna and I were married, she called her friends who own the Hollow Tree Inn, and we were given a complimentary one-night stay.

Shenna exits the bathroom with her hair pulled up in a high ponytail and her face looking freshly washed and dewy. Her toned, tanned legs look amazing in her long tee shirt and socks.

I have to laugh.

“What’s wrong? Were you expecting lingerie?”

“No. I called it.”

“Called what?”

“Nevermind.”

Shenna rolls her eyes, hops onto the bed, and grabs the remote.

Why does my throat dry up like the desert when I watch her do the most mundane things? And where is that champagne?

“Sorry to disappoint you. It’s not like I’m trying to seduce you or anything,” she says, her eyes trained on the screen as she clicks through channels.

I hover near the bathroom door and stare at her. Damn, she’s so pretty, and she has no idea. “You don’t need to try.”

“What?”

Shit. I said that out loud. “Nothing. I hope you don’t get that vibe from me after everyone sticking their nose into our marriage all day.”

Shenna laughs. “You’re talking crazy. I think people are just happy for us. I don’t think they mean anything else by all these gifts.”

I take the charcuterie and gently place it on the bed beside her. “You should eat something.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Eat.”

“Fine!”

I smirk. That’s my wife.

The last thing I see before darting into the shower is Shenna’s lips wrapped around a little cocktail sausage, and I try to bite back the audible groan that escapes from my throat.

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