Page 17 of Protected By The Mountain Man

“What did you want to do?” I asked when her words ran out.

“Art. I just liked to draw and paint and make things pretty.”

“And do you get to do that now?”

“Some of the time. My job is in marketing and I get to do some graphic design work occasionally, which feels like an art project. But a lot of the other tasks have nothing to do with art. I never want to hear the term social media engagement ever again as long as I live. But there are things I get to do that I love, too.”

“Are you going to stay there?” I asked, fearing her answer. Every second I spent with her, I was falling harder and harder. But she lived in Chicago, and that was a world away from me.

She surprised me by laughing and saying, “No. They’re going to fire my ass soon.”

“What?”

How could she say that with a smile on her face?

“Yeah. The company is going through a merger and the whole marketing department is going to close down.”

“Are you worried about that?”

“No. I’m looking at it as a life reset. I get to choose something different. It’s exciting.”

“You amaze me, Mia.”

“Why’s that?” she asked as she dipped her nose onto my chest and breathed in deep, like she was trying to memorize the scent of me.

“You don’t seem to be afraid of anything, except for a pack of pigs.”

“Are you afraid of anything, West?”

Shit.

That was digging too deep.

“The only thing I’m afraid of is not finding the woman for me. I’ve done what I want in life. I’ve seen the world. Made a tiny stockpile of cash. Now I want to share lazy days on the front porch with a wife. I’m… nearing forty. I should have hadthat part settled a long time ago. I want kids. I need a little-me running around acting like a hellion. And I don’t know if I’ll ever get that. It hurts.”

Her head lifted up, and in the dark of the tent I could feel her eyes studying me. “Are you seriously telling me you’re looking for awife?”

“Uh, yeah.”

She laughed again and said, “Don’t ever set foot in Chicago and make an announcement like that. One-hundred thousand woman would try to lock you up and claim you as theirs.”

“The men there aren’t looking for commitment?”

“No. They’re looking for a bang for the night and not much more. You could be on one of those reality dating tv shows, like theFarmer Wants a Wife.”

“But I’m not a farmer.”

Mia laughed and stroked her hand down my chest and onto my belly, dangerously close to the waistband of my shorts.

“Okay, theMountain Man Wants a Wife.”

“I don’t believe that’s a real show.”

She did that smelling thing again, as she stroked my belly. I was so hard for her, I was about to burst.

Her voice was like silk. “Maybe it’s not a real show, but maybe itshouldbe. You know any other mountain men looking for a partner?”

“Sure. I’ve got some buddies.”

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