Page 10 of Mountain Man Protector

“Hi.” Stepping out of my car, I tightened the strap of my oversized purse over my shoulder. I held it like a lifeline. The evidence was safely wrapped inside, along with my toothbrush and a change of clothes. Just in case I got sick again.

“Hi back.” Ridge stepped down, took my hands into his and leaned in as if to kiss me, but paused. His eyes narrowed, and the scowl I’d found so sexy appeared on his face as he took a long look at me. Squirming from the intensity of his stare down, all I could do was wait.

“Have you been sick? You look worn out.” Concern laced his words.

Wow, first my friends now him. I thought I’d managed to hide the paleness that had become a near constant with makeup. Guess not. “Yeah. In a way. Can we go inside?”

“You cutting things off already? Is that why you wanted to meet me here and not at my place?” Ridge continued looking at me as if I was going to dump him right here, but I shook my head. “No, I just…wanted a neutral spot, I guess. To talk.” Pasting a fake smile on my face, I released his hands and walked around him up the steps and into the lodge.

Nothing had changed since the last time I’d been here, but of course everything had. And I still didn’t have a clue how to tell him. The door clicked shut, but I didn’t turn around. Walking over to the enormous fireplace, I held out my hands to chase away the chill. I pretended an interest in the floor to ceiling centerpiece of the room that was original to the space. Made with local stone, a new ornately carved mantel had been installed. I remember West saying Lars was the carpenter of the group, so I assumed it was his handiwork.

“You going to talk to me while you stare into the fire, Addy?” Ridge’s soft-spoken question made me smile. A genuine smile this time. “I love this mantel. The carving of all the different native trees and the color of the stain is striking. Lars’ work is beautiful.”

“I’d tell him, but he didn’t make it. I did.”

That got me to turn around. “Wow. It’s gorgeous, Ridge. Have you ever thought of setting up a business and?—”

“You’re not here to discuss my woodworking skills. Why’d you take off again, then ignore me for two days, Addison? I thought we had something good, hell something great starting between us?” Ridge’s scowl was still firmly in place and the longer I stared at him, the more my stomach rolled.

I dug into my purse, found a mint, unwrapped it, and popped it into my mouth. This shouldn’t be so hard. He’d seen me naked, for god’s sake, so why did I suddenly feel so damn vulnerable?Because you want him to want this baby, idiot. And you. Not just your body.Great, now the hard truth reveals itself. Where was it a day ago when I was weeping on the phone with Zoe and Mika? Well, it really didn’t matter. Truth was truth. Full steam ahead. “I’m really sorry about all of that. And I hope you can understand why when I tell you it’s because I’m… uh…I need to go to the bathroom.”

Racing out of the room and into the hallway, I barely made it. The sounds I made were unmistakable and completely embarrassing. I mean, who wants the man you love to hear you retching your guts out? And then he was next to me, holding my hair back and lightly rubbing my lower back. Did I say embarrassing? Mortified fit better.

Sighing, I let him help me to the sink. Tucking my hair behind my ears, I splashed cool water on my face. Ridge was right there and handed me a towel. Our eyes met in the mirror and instead of a frown, his features looked a bit stunned before he turned me around and held me close.

“How long have you known?” No accusation laced his voice, just curiosity.

“I suspected after we woke up and made, uh, had sex. After I went to the bathroom and you went to check on Beatrix, I threw up. Then for sure, the next day when I took three pregnancy tests.” His hands clenched tighter around me when I said “pregnancy,” but then he kissed the top of my head and let out a long sigh.

“Why didn’t you call me right away? I would have come over, no matter what the time was. I should have been there for you.” I opened my mouth to answer, but he angled me to his side, bent down, and lifted me in his arms.

“What are you doing? Put me down, I can walk, Ridge.” He ignored me as he strode through the great room, through the double sliding doors to the deck and down a set of stairs I hadn’t known were there. I didn’t have to ask where he was taking me.

I leaned my head on his shoulder and took in the surroundings. Unlike last time, neither of us was in a hurry to get to his place and get naked. Well, not until my stomach settled, and I took a shower.

I took my time scanning the area around his cabin, admiring the structure. Large tamaracks and Ponderosa pine stood sentry on either side of the home. He had a similar porch on the front, like the lodges, just smaller in scale with knotty white pine posts. The decorative front door was probably his work now that I knew he’d made the mantle.

“You okay?”

“I’m better, thanks. Just taking it all in. It’s so beautiful up here and you’ve all done impressive work on the lodge and your cabins.” My stomach had settled. Hopefully that would be it for today. I snuggled in closer, his warmth seeping into me. My nerves had settled, especially since he hadn’t turned tail after I got sick, and when I’d announced I’m pregnant.

“You think so?” His face split into a boyish grin and oh, my. If we hadn’t already made love, he’d be getting very lucky later.

Stepping over the threshold, he continued to hold me against him as he bypassed the couch, the open kitchen, down the hallway where he had an office, a guest room and into his bedroom. “Ridge, don’t you think we should talk in the front room? Really, I’m fine. I don’t need to lie down.”

“You just worry about settling in and I’ll get you something to drink and maybe some dry toast if you think you can handle it. I have some club soda, I think.” Ridge bent down, took off my shoes, then picked up my legs and placed them on the bed.

“Is this okay, or do you want to get under the sheets and comforter?” I appreciated his attention, but this was a bit much. “Look, I’m fine. We need to talk about this and I’m not sure me lying down on the bed is the best place.”

“Addy, let me take care of you, please?” The way he was looking at me did me in. It was like I was the most precious thing in the world, and he was determined to protect me. I may have fallen all the way in that moment. His near black eyes shone bright with something new. Something that wrapped around my heart, melting layers of protection I’d erected since college.

Something that felt suspiciously like forever. And something that also scared me. I nodded and whispered, “Okay. I’d like some club soda and I have crackers in my purse if you could bring them?”

So, he wanted to take care of me. I’d let him. For tonight. But I had a sinking feeling that the baby made him think I’d changed my mind about relationships. And as much as my heart wanted everything his eyes had promised, my head knew better.

The hurt from my last relationship may have faded, but could I change years of believing that I was better off alone?

“Addy?” He returned with both items, but my eyes had grown heavy as I blinked at him. He sat down and brushed some stray hair from my eyes. Concern and an emotion I wasn’t ready to name blanketed his strong features.

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