Page 10 of Cherished By the Fearless Mountain Man

I raise an eyebrow.“That bad, huh?You think I’m going to croak within the next hour?”

She doesn’t laugh.Fuck.Am I seriously in worse shape than I thought?

“No, you’re not croaking on my watch, Brock.But…” She squares her shoulders.“It’s not standard procedure to stay overnight with patients.Not like this.I lied because I was worried something would go wrong if I didn’t stay.I knew you’d say no if I was honest.”

“Let me get this straight.You lied to stay and keep an eye on me?”

She blinks, looking scared.Shit.Does she think I’m going to reprimand her or something?I’d never do that to her.

“Willa, stay.Seriously.”

“Seriously?”

I nod.“You already went through the effort of bringing in that extra bag from the car.It would be a shame to waste that effort, right?”I joke.“So yeah, stay.I don’t mind.”

“You’re not mad?”

I suck in a sharp breath of air.“I could never be mad at you.”

“Thanks.”

“You don’t have other patients tonight?”I ask.

She shakes her head.“Just you.”

“All right then, Willa.Guess I’m all yours,” I say, unable to keep from smiling like an idiot.

We both look at each other for a couple of seconds, neither of us sure of what to say or do next.I can see the cogs turn in Willa’s head.

“I’m making us dinner,” she says and heads to the kitchen without waiting for my reply.

Thirty minutes later, she’s whipped up a pasta.It tastes amazing, and I clear my entire plate.But then, we don’t know what to do.It all feels so domestic.

“You want to watch a movie or something?Or do I have to undergo additional medical exams before you clear me to turn on the TV?”I joke.

She laughs and rolls her eyes at me in amusement.“A movie sounds perfect.”

“Any preferences?”I ask, handing her the remote after turning on the TV.

She sits next to me and scrolls through the offers on the streaming services I pay for.Mere minutes later, the opening credits of a movie roll by.

I don’t know what the fuck we’re watching or which actors star in it, though.All I can focus on is how close Willa is sitting to me.So close that I catch her floral scent.So close that I feel her body heat, warming me like a damn fire on a cold mountain night.

It could also be the fever that’s warming me, of course.

Before I can second-guess myself, I slide my arm over her shoulders.She doesn’t stiffen or swat my arm away.Instead, she snuggles closer, and it feels like she was made to fit right next to me.My breath hitches, but I keep my eyes on the screen, pretending I’m watching the damn movie.

She lets out a soft, contented sigh, and something inside me shifts.Maybe it’s the fever, maybe it’s being this close to her, maybe it’s hearing her sigh happily and wanting to hear more of it.Whatever it is, I’m not about to fight it anymore.I’ve wanted her since the day she walked in here.Since we shared cupcakes from Sweet Peak Retreat.Since I saw her gorgeous laugh light up her face the first time we met.It’s been amazing, but it’s not enough.I want more.

I want it all.

I want her.

And the funny thing is, I’m not nervous.I’m fearless.Because if my instincts are right, I just know Willa wants this too.

I shift carefully, mindful of the stabbing pain in my leg, but every second I hesitate feels like wasted time.I can’t wait any longer.I turn toward her slowly, letting my hand slide from her shoulder to cup her jaw.Her eyes grow wide as they meet mine, but she doesn’t look offended or disgusted.She looks hopeful.Happy.

I arch an eyebrow as a question, and she gives me the tiniest of nods, a puff of air escaping her lips.She licks them, and I lose all constraints.I lean in, and our lips meet with an intensity that steals the breath right out of me.

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