Page 4 of Mountain Man Protector

THREE

ADDISON

A week had goneby since I kissed Ridge. I’m still kicking myself for the unprofessional behavior right before I fled the lodge as if my hair had been on fire. But really, what red-blooded woman could blame me for succumbing to that wicked gleam in his eyes right before I practically begged for another of his devastating kisses?

And that one kiss? It had been full of knowledge and promise.

No, my hair hadn’t actually been on fire but my body as I drove away and long after. On. Fire.

Thank goodness Ridge had no idea what that kiss had done to me.

Because if he ever did, lord help me.

I had chanced a look back at the lodge before I drove away. He’d followed me, then stood on the porch, hands in his pockets and a wicked, knowing smile on his handsome face.

But that hadn’t been the half of it. And when he’d said my name for the very first time? It had been like a full-body caress as the sound fell from his lips, becoming an addiction. Bliss and anxiety had warred as he gave me the option to reject him.

Even knowing how dangerous it would be to allow him to break through my defenses, allowing him back in physically, also meant allowing the possibility of being hurt again. And yet I did it, anyway. Against all my training, all my lived disappointments, the chance to be kissed by him again, every well-placed barrier had meant little. Could I work at the lodge where he’d always be around, and where my good sense would be constantly tested?

Because I wasn’t sure I had it in me to put myself back together if…no, not if, when things between us went south.

But then he’d kissed me, because I chose him, let him sneak under my radar, and all bets were off. Every nerve ending had been magnetized, begging to connect against his hardness even as I willed my hands from grabbing onto him. If I did, I feared I’d never want to let him go.

I needed more time to let all this settle. Time for Ridge to come to terms that no matter how good our night together had been, it wouldn’t be repeated. Even if he was the first man who could make me change my mind about forever.

And now I was back where he lived and worked. West had called me a couple days ago and asked if I could make time for a local EMT and firefighter who was struggling over a recent incident. A fatal incident where his friend and fellow firefighter had lost their life.

The session with Paxton had gone well. Beginning anyone’s treatment plan always made me feel that I’d made the right choice in becoming a therapist. That I was fulfilling my purpose in life by giving my patients the hope and the tools they needed as I guided them toward healing.

Working with the stoic, but open, first responder further chased away any doubts I carried about being here. I looked forward to this opportunity with the newly formed non-profit. I’d learn to deal with my feelings about Ridge and do everything I could to not let our past affect our relationship going forward.

And I couldn’t help but feel lighter after guiding Paxton through some steps to work on until our next session. I stayed after he left, making notes and working out some ideas on adding different tools I could offer when someone cleared their throat. The pen I’d been using flew out of my hand as my body jerked, then tensed for a split second, believing it was Ridge. So much for remaining unaffected.

“Hi. I’m Lars Olsen. If this is a bad time….” Okay, not Ridge.

My muscles thankfully went lax, and I released a quick breath. I couldn’t respond this way every time I heard another man’s voice. Maybe I should go find Ridge and let him know, again, that nothing further was going to happen between us.

“Not at all, Lars. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Come in.” Tidying the papers I had spread out on the coffee table, I waved him into the recliner across from me. “I’m Addison London, but I’m sure you knew that. And please call me Addy.”

The third owner of the center walked in, his steps surprisingly light for a man as large as Lars. At close to six foot five, he looked like the quintessential mountain man. Longish beard, muscles covered in flannel with a perma-frown etched onto his if not classically handsome but definitely attractive face. That was until he smiled. It wasn’t wide, but it changed his features and I couldn’t help the feeling that I was seeing a side to the gruff former ranger he didn’t let most others see.

His gigantic frame filled the chair, but he didn’t settle back, instead he perched. His hands rubbed the top of his legs while his gaze roamed the room. “This is nice, relaxing even. I haven’t been in here since the furniture was added.”

Nodding, I waited for him to ask me what seemed to weigh on him. For me, I used body language as my first indication of a client’s mood and although Lar’s wasn’t a client; it was a habit I didn’t really try to shake when I met someone new. When it appeared he didn’t know where to begin, I asked, “West tells me you’ve done most of the carpentry and finish work on the lodge?”

His wide shoulders relaxed and his eyes lit up. “I have. After getting out of the service, I went back home for a bit and worked with my uncle, who’s a master carpenter and reacquainted myself with the skills I learned before I entered the Army. Then a couple years ago West hit me up with this idea, said Ridge was on board and did I want in? Easiest decision of my life and now I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

“I agree. I’m glad I moved back here after finishing my degree.” A short but comfortable silence followed, then Lars abruptly stood.

“Okay, so again, nice to meet you. Looking forward to all you can do for our er, clients or guests.” Lars held out his hand.

“I would say they’re both. Perhaps what you all have put together here will make anyone who stays here feel welcomed and comfortable.” I had a feeling there was more he wanted to discuss, but didn’t want to push it.

Lars rubbed the back of his neck, then sheepishly said, “I, uh, had another reason for coming in to see you. I hope you don’t mind, but I need some help, or rather, advice.”

“I’d be happy to help. How long has it been since you served?”

“Oh, it’s not about that…although, I guess we all could benefit from talking more about our tours. No, it’s about, uh, well, there’s this woman, and I uh, oh, hell. I’m not sure this is your kind of thing, but they put me in charge of finding a person to run the housekeeping and general upkeep of the lodge and when I kept putting it off, Lauren hired her sister and you’ve met Lauren, right? Wait, you were at her party, never mind….”

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