Page 8 of The Mountain Man's Runaway Bride

“That sounds important.”

He lifts a shoulder. “It’s mostly supplies. Packages. People on occasion.”

“You’re like a wilderness Postmates.”

That earns another quiet laugh. “Something like that.”

We pass his workshop and a small, but well-constructed greenhouse, which he continues to casually—and briefly—answer my questions about. He points toward another small building with smoke curling from the chimney. “That’s the sauna.”

“You have a sauna?” My eyes grow wide.

“It’s a perk for guests.”

“But not for you?”

His eyes flick to mine, sharp and unreadable. “Sometimes.”

We fall silent again, and I fill my lungs with a healthy gulp of Alaskan fresh air. I had no idea it would be this exhausting playing a game of twenty questions.”

I almost jump when he speaks again. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What do you do?”

I suppose that’s a fair question. And one that’s easy to answer. If a little boring. “I work in member support for a nonprofit. It’s remote, which is nice, because I can work in pajama pants. I answer a lot of phone calls and emails. Mostly I help people log into their accounts and check their balances.”

“Sounds…”

“Boring?”

“I was gonna say helpful.”

I nearly trip over my feet. Axel the Asshole never described my job that way. He kept telling me I should get a corporate job that paid a “glorified call center rep” better. He said it was because I was capable of more.

Never mind that I like working somewhere mission oriented.

“Well. It pays the bills. And I don’t have to wear a bra.”

His mouth twitches again. “That sounds nice.”

“Plus, I get to hang out with my cat all day,” I offer, to keep the conversation going. “Her name’s Lacy.”

“And where is Lacy right now?”

“She’s staying with my best friend while I was supposed to be honeymooning.”

At that, his brow creases. “You miss her?”

“The cat or my friend?”

He gives a half grin. “Both.”

“As much as I love my friend, I miss Lacy already. There’s probably a ninety-percent chance I’ll end up crying sometime this week because I miss her.”

“Tell me about her.”

He doesn’t have to ask twice.

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