Page 11 of Glacial Mountain Man
"Relaxed is good." I set down the carving knife and wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, pulling her back against my chest. She melted into me, and I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I like relaxed."
"Mmm." She leaned her head back against my shoulder. "I like this. Us. The way we work together."
The simple words hit me harder than they should have. In thirty-six hours, this woman had turned my quiet, solitary world upside down, and somehow it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
"We do work well together," I said against her hair. "Who knew disaster could lead to something this good?"
"Best disaster of my life." She turned in my arms, rising on her toes to kiss me softly. "Thank you. For taking me in, for taking care of me, for making this feel like?—”
The doorbell rang.
We both froze. Nobody used my front door. Hell, most people didn't even know who owned this cabin.
"Expecting someone?" Candace asked, her eyes wide.
"No." I released her reluctantly. "Stay here."
I grabbed a shirt from the back of a chair and pulled it on as I headed for the door. Through the window, I could see a tall, older man standing on my porch, snow dusting his gray hair and wire-rimmed glasses.
I opened the door. "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for my daughter." His voice was crisp and authoritative. "Candace Murphy. Her car's in your driveway."
Shit. Her father.
"Dad?" Candace appeared beside me, tugging at the hem of the T-shirt she was wearing. My T-shirt. Which barely covered her thighs and made it pretty obvious what we'd been up to.
Her father's gaze swept over her, taking in her bare legs, the oversized shirt, and her mussed hair. His jaw tightened.
"Dr. Murphy," I said, extending my hand. "I'm Tank Williams. Your daughter's been safe here during the storm."
He studied my face for a long moment before shaking my hand. His grip was firm, assessing.
"Safe,” he said. “I see."
"Dad, it's not what you think—” Candace started.
"It's exactly what he thinks," I interrupted, earning a sharp look from her. "But it's also more than that."
Dr. Murphy raised an eyebrow. "Is it?"
"Come in," I said, stepping back. "It's freezing out there."
He entered, his sophisticated vibe making my cabin feel smaller somehow. His gaze swept the space, landing on the couch with its rumpled throw and the kitchen table we'd made love on just twenty-four hours ago.
"How did you find me?" Candace asked.
"You texted us that you were safe with someone named Tank Williams, remember? Your mother was worried sick, so I called around town until I found someone who knew where Tank Williams lived." He looked at me. "I tracked down Luca."
"Luca," I said, nodding. "Of course he'd know how to find me."
"Luca was very helpful," Dr. Murphy continued, his tone turning cold. "He also mentioned you have quite the reputation with women in town."
"Dad." Candace's cheeks flushed.
"It's okay," I said quietly, meeting her father's stare. "Dr. Murphy, I understand your concern. If I had a daughter, I'd want to know she was safe too."
"Safe." He repeated the word like it left a bad taste in his mouth. "My daughter shows up missing for two days, and I find her wearing your clothes in your cabin. Safe isn't the word I'd use."
