Page 24 of Single Mom's Mountain Men
Yeah. I want you laid out on that table with your legs wide open for my tongue.
Jesus Charlie, what is wrong with you?
I close my eyes admonishing myself for that thought. I shake my head to answer her question and then decide to get the hell out of there before I make a complete fool of myself.
“Charlie?” She calls but I don’t turn back, letting the door swing shut behind me. I inhale deeply, needing the fresh air to clear my head. I try not to think of the fact that I probably made an ass of myself back there. This is why I don’t talk to people. Because I apparently don’t know how to act like a normal human being, especially around pretty women like her.
I sigh.
I head down to one of our workshop sheds. I see Mitch inthe distance with the log loader. He'll be transporting most of the recently cut timber to the lumber mill fifteen miles from here, for debarking and drying. Today, I'll be planing and grading the prepared pile, by far my favorite part of woodworking. To be honest, owning a timber business wasn't my dream, and it still isn't. It's not necessarily something I want to do forever, but any mention of me leaving drives Mitch up the wall, so I try to avoid talking about it.
Contrary to what Wes thinks, I'm not scared of my brother.
But I don't like upsetting him either.
When I reach the shed, I don my protective gear and grab my tools, getting to work with little hesitation.
I’m so deep in the zone that I don’t hear anyone coming until something touches my shoulder.
I spin around so fast that I hear her gasp as she backs up.
My heart is still stirring and her eyes are wide, her hands gripping a plate.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” She holds up the plate of bacon and biscuits. "I just thought you might want some breakfast."
Shit.I barely hear what she's saying, my mind still swirling.I could have hurt her.
“Call out next time." My voice is tighter and gruff than normal, from the tension. “Don't just sneak up on me.”
I see a spark of anger or perhaps hurt in her eyes. Then she nods primly. “Noted.” She places the plate of food on a table and then walks away with her back straight.
Great, and now I’ve just made an ass of myself again.
I think about it the whole morning, about my mistake.
I don’t feel good about snapping at her even though it came about involuntarily. She’d already been stressed enough, and she was nice enough to make me breakfast thismorning even after my weird behavior in the kitchen. And then I was short with her on top of it.
I should go and apologize. Make this right.
I sigh and drop my tools, taking off my apron and gloves and setting off back to the kitchen.
I know Patty's still in there because I see her through the windows, talking to someone.
And as I get closer, I see that the someone is Wes.
She smiles at something he says and it turns into a bright laugh.
I pause, green-eyed jealousy stirring its ugly head.
I suppose I should have expected this. Wes is a lady's man and he’s way better at talking to women than either Mitch or me.
Perhaps, it's better to let him handle it and let him smooth things over. I would probably just make it worse.
CHAPTER 9
Patty
Itry not to let Charlie’s attitude get to me but as I head back to the kitchen, irate questions pepper my thoughts.
