Page 4 of Wild for the Mountain Man

His blond head nods but he keeps those bright blue eyes fixed on me and I clear my throat, too stunned to think beyond the fact that I have a family.

Well, it’s Jesse’s family. But something about that feels all wrong when I think it.

The redhead glares harder at me and snaps her dainty fingers in my face. “Hey, buddy! Who the….heck are you and why are you banging on my door at this ungodly hour of the morning.” Even the trail of freckles on her dainty little nose are glaring at me. She’s something else.

My lip quirks. I’m guessing she’s not a morning person. It is only seven in the morning so she maybe hasn’t had her coffee. I know if I haven’t had mine, I’m a complete asshole until I do. And being in the Army I saw a lot of early mornings. I learned my lesson to always be prepared.

Which is why I made the stop I did.

I hold up a bag from the little bakery in town and then a drinks carrier. “I brought breakfast and some coffee. A couple of different kinds for you to choose from since I didn’t know what you like. Do you mind if I come in and talk to you for a minute?”

“I don’t care if you’re bringing me ten million dollars in gold bars. You’re not coming in my house until I know who you are!” Her hazel eyes swirl with green and gold sparks and she’s a vision right now, her beautiful eyes narrowed and her lush body ramrod straight. My heart slams into my ribs and I can’t quite catch my breath. There’s just something about this woman. Something that says she’s….important. I push the thought from my mind.

“I’m sorry. Forgive me. That’s insufferably rude of me. I know who you are but you don’t know me.” I juggle the carriers and hold out my hand which she ignores with another glare. “My name is Adam Redfern and I’m Jesse’s older brother. Sam’s uncle.”

Her eyes widen and she pales, one hand reaching for the door and hanging on so tight that her knuckles turn white as alabaster marble.

“Oh no,” she breathes and then slams the door right in my face.

Well, that’s interesting indeed.

3

LIVVY

Dread coils in my gut as I rest my head on the thick door and try to breathe deep. Sam wriggles on my hip and I let him go, setting him on the floor. He immediately runs, whooping through the house like his whole world hasn’t been rocked. Mine has though.

No way in hell would any of Jesse’s relatives show up here unless there was something bad coming.

Like they’ve finally decided that even an illegitimate grandson is better than none.

I heard about Adam from Jesse. He never had anything nice to say about him. Said he was arrogant and a know it all. A stick in the mud.

So what would that guy be doing at my door this early in the morning unless he wanted something. Especially with coffee and donuts to bribe me with.

Well, if he wants my son it’s gonna be over my dead body and not with coffee and donuts that’s for damn sure.

“Hey, Livvy. I’m sorry. Maybe I should have called first but I didn’t have your number. I’m not here to hurt you or Sam…I just wanted to talk to both of you. Maybe take you out to eat tonight. Get to know you.” There’s a pause and there’s something soft in his voice when he speaks again. “Please,” he whispers. I can barely hear his gruff voice through the thick door but it’s enough.

Shock ripples over me. That’s something that Jesse would never say. I’m sorry or please were foreign words to him. I should have realized that meant something.

“I don’t know anything about you. Why would I want to spend any time alone with you, especially with my son?”

“How about we go out to a restaurant out of town tonight? That way we don’t get interrupted by half the town stopping by to say hey while we’re trying to eat. I know a really nice little restaurant a couple of towns over. Do you like Mexican?”

“Tacos!” My son runs by me, squeals and pushes at the door. Groaning and rolling my eyes, I pull the door open and glare at the big, dark man standing there patiently, deep brown eyes focused and fixed on me and Sam.

I roll my eyes at him and sigh. “Well, you’ve managed to say the magic words to Sam so I guess we can have dinner with you.” I point at him. “But don’t make me regret it. If you try anything…?”

“I swear to you, scout’s honor, I’m not gonna hurt either one of you. I just want to get to know you better.”

Curling my lip, I open the door and let him walk in, my breath coming out in sharp, staccato bursts as he walks past me. The room feels like it’s getting smaller and I can’t breathe without smelling his aftershave, a pine and citrus smell that tickles my nose and settles in my lungs like it belongs there. Like Christmas and an orange grove met and married. It suits him. Fresh, clean and masculine.

He turns and takes off his beat-up brown leather jacket and hangs it beside the door and my mouth goes dry as the Sahara. His bulging biceps are covered with dark tattoos, a swirl of ink and bronzed skin.

I’ve never been a big fan of tattoos considering my waste of space brother has about a bazillion but there’s something about this guy’s that makes my whole body come to life especially my long-neglected girly parts.

I haven’t been touched by a man since Jesse and I was figuring that’s how things were gonna stay.

---