Page 3 of Crazy for the Mountain Man

CHAPTER TWO

Brielle

“Wait,let me get this straight. This Greek God looking guy rushes into the pharmacy with his hand sliced open and gushing blood and he proceeds to pass out on the floor?”

“Yep. Believe it, girl.” I sipped my wine and tucked my legs under me on the couch. My best friend and roommate, Marcella, sat on the opposite end, a bowl of chips in her lap and a wine glass in her hand. I’d gotten home about an hour ago after my adventurous evening at work and needed to fill her in on all the deets.

Marcella and I moved to Appleridge together a couple of months ago after finishing college. We’d had our fill of the city and wanted the slower, easier life. When opportunity knocked with an open pharmacist position, the rest was history.

“So, you called an ambulance?”

“Yes. The doctor in the urgent care clinic came rushing over and worked on his hand while I tried to wake him. I didn’t want him to have to go to the hospital alone.”

“No? You couldn’t let the big, strong mountain man go all alone?” Marcella made googly eyes at me, and I stuck out my tongue.

“And you wouldn’t?”

“Ha! Maybe…. but this is about you, not me.” Marcella popped a chip in her mouth.

I smirked. “Okay, sure. You’re just afraid to admit it. I don’t know, I honestly felt bad for the guy. He passes out at the sight of blood. Couldn’t even look at his own injury. Besides, how would he get back to his truck if no one was there to pick him up?”

“Do you hear yourself right now? You sound like a lovesick puppy. Where’s my best friend?”

I sighed and stood up to fetch more wine. “Aren’t you tired of being alone? We’re going to hit thirty soon girl. We aren’t getting any younger.”

“Bite your tongue! We still have two solid years in our twenties. Plenty of time to settle down or whatever.” She brushed away my statement with a wave of her hand. Marcella could pretend all she wanted that she wasn’t hoping for her soulmate to come along and sweep her off her feet, but I knew better.

She wanted it. So did I.

We’ve both wanted it since we were little girls, whispering to each other who our crushes were in elementary school. Planning our dream weddings when we were only twelve. Acting out all our dreams and fantasies with our barbie dolls.

And nearly dying from happiness when we both scored our first kiss at a middle school dance. Then, actually losing our shit when we did get our first kiss.

“Okay, to each is own.” I filled her wine glass and then filled mine before placing the bottle down on the coffee table and settling back into the couch cushions. “I don’t know, Mar, there was something about him. Like an invisible thread trying to tieus together. He was pretty damn grumpy too. But I found it endearing. Isn’t that weird?”

“No. You’re just really fucking horny.”

I burst out laughing. “No shit. But you know how grumpy men can be. There are layers under there girl.”

Marcella shook her head before gulping down some wine. “You’re watching too muchDr. Philagain.”

I grabbed a handful of chips. “You’ll see how handsome he is when I bring him over one day.”

“As long as I don’t hear any sex noises, we’re good.” Marcella smiled over the rim of her glass. “You know I need my beauty sleep.”

I rolled my eyes in a teasing manner. “Oh, trust me, I know.”

The next morning,while working a shift at the pharmacy, I wondered how Rhodes was doing. Specifically, how his hand was doing, and if he needed any help with changing the bandages. Marcella thought I was crazy, but I couldn’t help it.

I had a little crush on the sexy, gruff mountain man. So what?

It wasn’t like I was expecting a proposal of marriage or anything. Even though, like I told Marcella, I wasn’t getting any younger and neither was she.

The day seemed to drag, my mind elsewhere and when my shift finally ended, I flew out of work like my ass was on fire. Marcella was working an evening shift at the garden center in Apple Falls, a small-town neighboring Appleridge where she’d recently taken a job, which meant I had our little cottage to myself for a while.

The plan I simmered on all day was put into action the moment I slid into my car. With a stop at the grocery store, I was home thirty minutes later with everything I needed.

After a quick shower, I got to work cooking a few meals for Rhodes, easy casserole type dishes he could freeze and heat up in a pinch. While they were baking in the oven, I took my time getting ready, adding some extra touches to my makeup and hair, choosing my best pair of leggings and sweater, the spring mountain air a little on the chilly side.

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