Page 10 of Heart of the Mountain
A second later, she blinks and returns to her usual, bubbly self. “How long have you been out here? At least a few years to set all of this up.”
I nod. “A few years.”
“Thanks for that very specific answer,” she says sarcastically. “Where did you live before?”
“In town.”
“What made you move?”
I have to look away from her as memories of that horrible day flood my mind. I should have been there. My dad would still be alive if I weren’t so selfish.
A soft, warm hand covers my balled-up fist, infusing peace and light back into my soul.
“It’s okay,” Sadie whispers. “We don’t have to talk about it.”
I close my eyes, letting her hushed tone and gentle touch soothe the jagged edges of my soul. For the first time since scooping her up in the forest last night, the chatty woman is silent. She lets me have my space, which I appreciate more than she knows.
The moment becomes too much, too vulnerable, too intense. Sadie must sense my chaotic thoughts and slips her hand from mine, letting me turn away from her.
It’s not that I don’t want her here… It’s that I like her being here. I might even need her to be here with me, forever. And that’s a truly dangerous thought.
I clear my throat after a moment of silence, straightening my spine and squaring my shoulders. I’m about to grab the eggs we need for breakfast so I can get Sadie out of here before I get even more attached, but then Sadie lets out a pained yelp.
I spin on my heel, searching for her. The woman is on the ground, clutching her ankle. I rush over to her, horrified when she gasps and covers her face, as if bracing herself for an attack. Jesus, it fucking hurts seeing her react that way.
Kneeling in front of her, I hold my hands out to show her I’m not a threat. Sadie drops her arms immediately, looking a bit embarrassed. “Sorry,” she says, avoiding eye contact.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I remind her.
“Of course not,” she agrees, her smile fixed in place as if nothing happened. Goddamnit, this woman is pulling all kinds of protective, possessive feelings out of me, and she’s not even trying.
“Let’s go,” I say before gathering her up in my arms once more. Is it crazy that I’ve missed holding her? Yes. Undoubtedly, yes. “You’ve had enough excitement for one morning.”
“I’ll have you know that I’malwaysup for an adventure,” she replies. I don’t doubt that for a moment.
“MaybeI’vehad enough excitement for one morning,” I mutter under my breath.
“Did you say something?”
“Nope,” I grunt. I don’t know what I’m going to do with this woman, but the more time I spend with her, the less I want her to leave. It bears repeating; I’m so fucked.
5
SADIE
Cutter carries me inside his cabin for the second time in as many days. I melt into him, savoring every moment of this closeness.
Something happened out there next to the greenhouse and the field of wildflowers. Cutter got lost in a memory, a tragedy so deep and dark that he still hasn’t processed it. For a split second, the iron wall around his heart cracked, letting me see the fragile soul he keeps locked up so tight.
I’m not the only one harboring secrets up on this mountain. As much as I know I need to get back to town and report to work, I ache to stay here and find out everything about this man.
Cutter deposits me on the couch, where he proceeds to cover me with no less than three blankets. I giggle at his serious expression as he adjusts the pillows and fluffs them up, putting one underneath my sore foot and two more behind my back.
“I’m really okay,” I tell him. “I was clumsy and tripped over my own two feet.”
Cutter looks at the work boots he gave me to wear, narrowing his eyes into slits. I swear he’s angry at them for being too big and causing me to fall. This man. His grunts and growls say one thing, but his actions tell a different story. He’s protective,thoughtful, and a good man. I sensed it the moment he found me in the woods, and everything afterward has only proved my initial assumption.
“Breakfast,” he says gruffly. I smile and nod, eagerly awaiting the omelettes he promised.
