Page 11 of Mystery Mountain Man

Mimi jumps, and I quickly cover her with the sleeping bag.

"Yes, hold up," I call out, purposely using a deeper voice than normal. If anybody stumbles upon Mimi naked, I'm liable to go full Rambo on them, so I'd prefer to avoid a bloodbath and make them think I'm a possible threat. I've always been a big guy. Taller than most guys, and strong from working the farm, but I've never experienced this level of protection or possessiveness over anyone before.

The guy at the door knows my name, so I'm assuming it's a ranger or someone looking for me, rather than the owner of the shed we borrowed for the night. I couldn't check in with Barrett last night, and since I'm on company business, I figured I'd have some explaining to do. There was no cell service once the storm started.

I quickly get my pants on, still damp and cold, but drier than they were last night, and then I shove my bare feet into my hiking boots.

"Are you Clinton Mitchell?" the guy asks when I open the door to the shed, and I nod. "I'm Ranger Novak. A Mr. Barrett Billings called the station when he didn't hear from you. You doing okay?"

"Yeah, we found this shed to get out of the storm. I'll leave a note for the owner and let him know how he can contact me if he finds any damage."

"We? Who else is with you?" Ranger Novak takes out a pad of paper.

"Mimi Watson." Mimi's soft voice floats out from the tent.

"Ah, good. I had a call from a Pierce Ross. I found her car at the base of the trail in the parking lot, and I've been looking for both of you. Two birds, one stone." He grins at me. "Everybody okay?"

Who the fuck is Pierce? Was that the guy she said was her boyfriend?Shit.

Novak eyes me as I clench my jaw, giving him a sharp nod when I realize I haven't responded to his question. "You know how to get back to the trail from here?"

"Yes, sir. I'll get her back to her car," I assure him tightly. And then watch her drive away from me and back to fucking Pierce.

Novak nods. "Alright, I'll give Billings a heads-up that you're on your way back."

I nod. "Thank you, Ranger." I close the door, glancing at the tent as Mimi's face pops out of it with a little giggle.

"Do you think he heard anything?" She grins at me.

I shake my head, preoccupied. I want to ask her about Pierce, but I have no idea how to bring it up. Instead, I grab her clothes and hand them to her. I start gathering the rest of our meager supplies.

"Thank you," she says softly, a little sadly, and I shake my head. Maybe a clean break is what we need. I've never told anyone I love them before.

"We should go. I need to check in with work." I grab the first sleeping bag and start to roll it up.

"Okay," Mimi says, climbing out of the tent. She pulls her socks on one at a time. All I can picture is her wearing those thigh-high rainbow socks and nothing else as I bury my face in her pussy.

Fuck.

The hike back to her car is quiet. In our little tent, in her arms, I could say anything. And now, in the daylight, with the Pierce-guy in the picture, I can't find the words.

She said she loved me. Did she mean it? Can I hold her to it? If I convince her to come back to the hotel with me, can I get her to say it again?

When we arrive at her car, she says, "Get in. I'll drive you wherever you need to go." She locks eyes with me, but all I can do is grunt and nod.

I only have about a ten-minute ride to say something. Anything. Instead, I remain silent. Mimi clears her throat a few times, but doesn't speak either.

The ride is over when I point out Ethan's driveway. Her eyes widen as she gazes out the windshield.

"My boss's friend's house," I manage to say.

Mimi nods and then smiles. "Thank you, Clint." She blushes when I turn to her, and then clarifies, "For saving me from the storm."

I nod. "You're welcome." And then, like a robot, I get out of the car. Hauling my bag out of the back, I shut the door.

My heart is pounding, and a horrible sensation stretches into the depths of my bones. I am missing a moment here.Themoment. But I can't get myself to speak up.

I woke up this morning madly in love with Mimi, and I can't figure out how to tell her. And now, she's leaving. We didn't even exchange phone numbers.

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