Page 5 of Enticed By the Mountain Man

I hesitate. There’s not really any reason to stay, although heisstill using my phone, and I don’t want to stand out in the wet weather to wait.

Justin quickly realizes he can’t open the door with his bandaged hand, and his other is holding my phone, so he gives back the key. I unlock the front door and go inside. Justin follows.

A long hall leads to an open-plan living and dining area with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out to the lake.

There’s more of the mid-century furniture, with a leather couch facing the water, and a dining table near the back corner. I don’t see a TV anywhere, and I wonder if that means he doesn’t own one.

I figure I should make myself useful while I’m here and fetch the first aid kit so Justin can treat his injuries.

He’s still on the phone, although I can’t work out who he’s talking to.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to make the opening tomorrow. My car is in the shop, and I’ll scare all the customers if they see me in my current state.”

I mouth the wordswhere is your first-aid kit?and Justin points in the direction of a cupboard above the fridge in the kitchen. I go over and stand on tiptoes to reach it.

I manage to get the door open, but I’m not tall enough to retrieve anything inside. After struggling for a moment, Justin is suddenly behind me and reaches up to pull down the box. His chest lightly presses on my back, catching me off-guard.

I abruptly turn around, only to find myself staring directly at the aforementioned chest. With only a couple of inches between us.

Why does this feel so strange?

Justin must suddenly realize how close we are, because he hurriedly steps back and puts the first-aid kit on the kitchen counter.

“I have to go, but I’ll email you tonight with all the details,” he says before hanging up the phone and giving it back to me. “Thank you for that. I should be able to stay in touch with everyone from my laptop now until I get my phone back.”

“If you need to use mine again, you’re more than welcome to,” I say.

“Thanks, Carrie. I don’t know what I would have done without you today.”

The earnestness in his tone makes my heart skip a beat. I don’t know how to respond, so I point to the first-aid kit. “You should put some ointment on your face to avoid infection.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” he says, waving his non-bandaged hand dismissively.

“But it might not be. Here, let me do it, and then I’ll go home.” I try to hide my nervousness behind a brisk tone.

“You don’t have to. This isn’t part of your job…”

“It is if you’re still paying me overtime.”

He smiles. “As I said before, you’ll definitely be receiving overtime today. Maybe even a bonus.”

“I’m happy with whatever is fair. No need to go above and beyond.”

His face turns serious. “You have always gone above and beyond what is required of your job, and I appreciate that. I hope you realize just how much.”

The way he says those words makes my heart skip another beat.

Why does it sound more like a confession than professional admiration?

FOUR

Justin

There’s something about having Carrie in my personal space that makes me want to throw three years of restraint out the window.

I’ve never actually brought a woman I’m romantically interested back to this house, and I’m glad Carrie is the first.

Yes, I am romantically interested in her.

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