Page 5 of Crushing on the Mountain Man

I turn to look over at Knox who has packed away his tools. He points out the door. “Tomorrow the tourists arrive. It’s crazy to be this hot with the lake right there. I’m calling it a day for both of us. And today, you're getting your ass in the water.”

I laugh. It’s something I do a lot these days with Knox. Laugh. A simple thing that has been missing from my day to day life for so long.

“You’ve got 5 minutes to change and then I’m throwing you in.”

I look down at my shorts and t-shirt. I did pack a swimsuit, of course I did. But I didn’t know at the time I’d have to wear it in front of the hottest guy in the world.

“I’ll meet you down there.”

Knox gives me a skeptical look. After refusing to swim with him so many times I have no doubt he is worried I will just lock myself in the cabin. But it is too damn hot. And working so closely with Knox, he has become a friend.

Sure, I wish he didn’t have to see me in all my chubbiness. But who cares. Soon I will be gone from here and we will probably never see each other again.

And so, ten minutes later I walk down to the lake in my one piece swimsuit, flip flops and oversized shirt that is practically a dress, towle over my shoulder.

Knox looks like some sort of Adonis, standing there in the sunlight, tanned skin stretched over muscles, his hair glistening where the sun rays touch it, his big grin on his face.

I take a deep breath in and let it out as a long sigh. Some lucky girl will one day get to call Knox hers. It’s not likely she will look anything like me, but she will be one lucky woman.

“We should go up to the rocks tomorrow and see if you’re still as brave as you used to be.”

“No, no, it’s enough that I’m here. I’m not nearly as reckless as I was back then.”

“You can still swim though?”

I nod. “It’s been a long time.”

“Well, after you.” Knox holds out his arm towards the end of the jetty.

I worry at my lip. If I go first he is going to see all my wobbly bits. But if he goes first he will see it all from the water anyway.

“What’s wrong?” Knox is looking at me with a mix of concern and care.

“It’s silly. It’s just you are so fit and standing there looking like that” I wave a hand at his magnificent torso. “While I’m, well, I’ve put on a few pounds.”

It’s crazy, but saying it out loud, that I am so embarrassed to be seen in front of him. It makes me feel like crying all of a sudden. The emotion welling up in my chest to choke me.

My mother is always on at me about my weight. How I’ll never get a husband looking how I do. And she must be right because I never have had a boyfriend. And she always shakes her head at the clothes I wear but nothing fits right. I know she wishes I could be more like my perfect little sister. Brianna has curves too but in all the right places. I just have blobby, jiggly fat.

“Brandy.” I look up to see Knox standing close to me. The gentle touch of his hand on my arm. “I’ve been with you all week. I know what you look like. And I think you are beautiful.”

It’s just one of those things that people say. He doesn’t mean it and it actually makes me feel worse.

“Is that why you won’t swim? Do you know how crazy that is? The water doesn’t care what you look like. And you used to love swimming. Surely, once you're in there, you don’t care what you look like either?”

I look up into Knox’s eyes. Full of compassion. But not the pity or laughter I expected to see.

He reaches slowly for the hem of my shirt. Lifting it upwards. In that moment the world seems to shrink down to just he and I and the gentle sound of the water lapping at the jetty. I lift my arms and he pulls the shirt off. Standing back to look at me I feel my face go bright red as his gaze roams over my body.

I catch my breath as he leans in and puts his lips to mine. A kiss. Soft. Gentle. Barely anything but it means everything to me.

“What was that for?” I whisper.

“Because you are beautiful.”

I shake my head. An inbuilt reaction. Knox puts his hands on my arms. Warmth spreads out from his touch.

“You tell me I am more than just this body. Why can’t you see how amazing you are? I don’t give a fuck what you look like. You are amazing.”

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