Page 24 of Saved By The Mountain Man

She sighed and then walked over to me, wrapping her arms around my waist.

“You don’t look happy.”

I kissed the top of her head, trying to school my features because she didn’t need me upset. My issues with her dad were just that, my issues. She had her own problems to work out with him and I’d be here to help her, but I couldn’t do it for her.

“Don’t overthink it, Vixen,” I told her, smacking her butt. “Since your dad killed the mood, shall I go make us breakfast?”

She tilted her head as I pulled away but nodded, following me to the kitchen.

“Want me to help?”

“If you like. I’m not a fancy chef or anything.” I gathered some eggs while I handed her some ham and veggies to cut up.

“Do you do this to all the ladies?” I looked at her over my shoulder, causing her to laugh. “I had to, Hugh. You’re far too serious all of a sudden.”

“Not serious. Just trying to get some food in our system. I mean, we did work it off. And I have no doubt we’re going to need it.”

“Plans for the future there? Ravish me over and over again.”

“No, but I have no doubt a confrontation is on the horizon.”

She stopped cutting and looked at me, a hand planted on her hip.

“You think my dad is going to find me just like that, just from a brief message?”

“Oh, I have no doubt he will, Brandi. None whatsoever. I also have no doubt that he will show up here.” I whisked the eggs, trying not to look at her because I knew exactly where this was headed.

It wasn’t that I wanted to pick a fight, because I didn’t. But she was also naïve if she thought her dad was just going to let everything go at a simple text message. That he wasn’t on his bike this morning, getting ready to come find her.

No, he wasn’t dumb. He had an inkling where she was. He just didn’t know about me.

“How in the world do you think he would find me? I have no tracker on me, on my bike, or on my phone.”

“Do you honestly believe that?” This time I turned to look at her, watching her expression.

“I had my phone wiped clean.”

“Look, I don’t like to give that man credit at times, because he’s on my shit list. But he’s not dumb, so don’t think he is. He’s sly, smooth, and a dirty, underhanded asshole. He would have had a tech guy put in a tracker in such a way that it was never seen on your phone. It wouldn’t be some app, or something traceable, but maybe through a message, or his phone number.”

“My dad…he’s not…”

I watched her flounder as she thought about that. I wanted to tell her that I was lying, that I didn’t think he would, but I knew better. Because I knew him. If you belonged to him, he kept tabs on you.

The moment I was cut out of the gang was the moment he turned his back on me, not caring. But that didn’t mean I didn’t know his tricks.

“Don’t underestimate him,” I warned her.

“I’m not. I just didn’t think about it. But I can still handle him. He won’t do anything to me.”

I couldn’t quite pinpoint why that comment lit my fuse, but it did. Did I think he would hurt her?

Maybe not. But did I trust that? No, as well.

“Don’t do that, Brandi.”

“Do what, Hugh?”

“Think just because his blood flows through your veins that he wouldn’t try something. That he wouldn’t hurt you.”

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