Page 32 of Mountain Man's Valentine
11
Valoria
When I woke up, the first feeling I had was of complete and utter bliss - the kind of happiness that is only possible when you feel like you lack nothing. When you feel like every need and want is fulfilled, but that you still want and need more of the same.
That’s thegoodkind of longing. It’s the longing for everything in your life to stay exactly the same, because everything is already perfect.
And I can’t believe that I have this.
I yawn and stretch as I watch Cole start down the hallway to the kitchen, and I pause for a moment.
Yeah, I can’tbelieveI have this.
What did I do to deserve this?
I roll my neck, working out the kinks in my shoulders, but I realize I don’t have any. I’ve just had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in months.
And as I’m about to follow Cole and grab my cup of coffee, I notice a thin ray of light shooting across the hallway, coming from Cole’s office.
I want to look inside. Just a peek. I know he said there was nothing interesting behind this door, but I’m stillcurious.
Pushing the door open, I peek around the corner, and the first thing I see is ahugewindow, and a gorgeous view of the mountains.
Walking through the door, I go over and gaze up through the window, touching the crystal clear glass. It is not cold to the touch. The thick, bare tree branches just outside the window are dripping with pristine, melting snow.
I can see that today will be warmer than yesterday. I can feel it.
I sigh contentedly. I just want to go get into that hot bath. And I hope Cole will be joining me.
As I begin to turn to leave his office, I pause when my eyes pass over his desk.
The room is dark, the morning light just illuminating the dripping branches outside and filtering through onto the floor of the office. But shining brightly is a series of four large TV screens mounted on one wall.
I can’t believe I didn’t see them before - they are massive, and they are bright, and they are so...conspicuous.
Conspicuous. Obvious.
I take a step closer, dipping my bare toe onto the dark wooden floorboards in front of me. I take another step closer, slower now.
Because the TV screens show the woods. The snow. The icy terrain surrounding Cole’s home.
And my heart stands still for a moment.
I get closer, my cheeks flooding with heat.
Is...is this how he saw first saw me?
Through some security cameras? Over a TV screen? Was hewatchingme?
I get closer, and my fingers come slowly to my lips as I feel them begin to quiver, matching the beat of my heart.
And as I get closer, I see the terrain I traveled before I saw him. The tree I hid behind, it’s as clear as day. The virgin bullseyes still nailed to the tree trunks that I stalked, that I peered at through my paintball gun.
He was watching me. Hesawme. But why didn’t hesayanything?
In getting swept up in him, I never even asked what he was doing out there. I didn’thaveto. I thought he was on his own property, minding his own business, and thatIwas doing something wrong.
Confusion rushes through my head, and my thoughts swim. He did nothing wrong. And in fact, my lips begin to pull at the corners when I think about him looking at me, seeing me, and knowing that he had to come and save me.
