Page 7 of Her Mountain Boss
I hear his heavy footsteps approaching the kitchen, and I keep my back to him, pretending to be engrossed in my spice jars. I don’t want him to think I was eavesdropping. But every single nerve ending in my body is tuned to him, and I can feel him standing in the doorway, his gaze on me. He brushes past me, and I can smell him, that cedar and pine and smoke scent that makes me feel completely discombobulated.
“Hello, Sophia.” His voice is a low rumble, and my back arches involuntarily. I turn to face him, fighting to keep my expression neutral. But I can feel the heat in my cheeks, the shaky tension in my limbs. Maybe he won’t notice that I’m honestly a bit of a mess around him.
He stares at me, his blue eyes flashing with something I can’t read. I bite my lower lip in an effort to keep myself from asking who he was talking to, and his gaze drops to my mouth. For a moment, the world stands still. There’s electricity in the air around us, a tension that’s almost palpable.
At least, that’s how it feels to me. He might feel nothing at all. But the way he stares at me, the way he says my name…it doesn’t feel like nothing. I’m not an expert, but it feels like the polar opposite of nothing.
And I know I’m not going to be able to leave that alone.
He clears his throat, looking away. “Heather said you did an excellent job on the front desk yesterday,” he says, and I lean back against the counter.
I smile. “She was an excellent teacher.”
“And you’re a quick learner, from what I’ve been told.”
I tilt my head. “I’m eager to please.”
At that, his gaze snaps back to mine, his icy blue eyes now sparkling with warmth and something else. Something that my intuition—because it’s sure as hell not my experience—is telling me is lust. He’s staring at me again, his shoulders rising and falling slightly as he breathes. My body goes haywire under his stare, my nipples beading to hard, aching points, every nerve ending in my body unfurling, stretching, snapping with electricity. He’s standing several feet away, but I feel his gaze like a touch. I’m all tingling skin and butterflies in the tummy from that stare.
God, I want him to do so much more than stare, and I’m really starting to think he wants to do more than just look, too.
“Do you need anything, Sophia?” His voice is low, a gravelly hint to it now, and of course, my thoughts wander off to the dirtiest corners of my mind. Images of him pressing me against the counter, caging me in as he kisses me, slowly and thoroughly, explode through my brain, making me blush. I lickmy lips and blink quickly, trying to push the thoughts away. Later, when I’m alone with my toys, I’ll allow myself to go there.
“Is everything in your cabin okay?” he asks when the silence stretches on for just a beat too long.
“I’m good. The cabin is perfect. Very comfortable and cozy. And the food in the staff dining lounge is so good. Everything’s good. I’m good.”
Oh my god, stop saying good.
I clear my throat and swallow, forcing my mouth to stop moving. But then, the corner of his mouth quirks up, a tease of a smile, and I’m talking again.
“I have to say, Ford, I’m really impressed with the resort. You’ve done an incredible job with it. I know I’m not an expert by any means, but we did have to do a lot of case studies while I was getting my hospitality degree, and this resort is the best of the best, both in terms of guest experience and staff experience.”
His eyebrows inch up his forehead in surprise, and a flicker of something deliciously soft crosses his features. He instantly looks ten years younger, the lines in his forehead and around his eyes easing. “Thank you,” he says quietly, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. I can’t tell if I’ve made him uncomfortable or he’s pleased. “That’s, uh…” He clears his throat and tries again. “It’s been a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”
Gus leaves the kitchen again, muttering something about heading to the walk-in freezer in the basement. And then it’s just me and Ford, alone together in the quiet kitchen. My mind immediately bounces back to the phone call I accidentally (okay, sort of accidentally) overheard. Before I can think better of it, my curiosity takes over. Curiosity, and okay, fine, jealousy.
“Does it get lonely?” I ask in a rush, exhaling the words. “Living here and dedicating your life to the resort? It must not leave much time for…for…” My face goes hot and I bite my lip.
Ford’s eyes narrow slightly, as if he’s trying to read me. Figure me out. “You asking if I’m single, Sophia?” His voice is so, so quiet, like we’re exchanging secrets. Talking about forbidden topics. And given who he is, maybe we are.
I bite my lip again, nodding. “Yeah. I…I guess I am.”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Why do you think I want to know?” I toss back. Is this flirting? Am I doing it?
He takes a step closer, his eyes not leaving mine. “I am,” he says, his voice low, gritty. “Been single for a long time.”
I can’t ignore the way my heart does a little happy dance at his admission.
I edge closer to him, and he takes another step, stopping an arm’s length away. I can feel the heat radiating off his body, can smell the woodsy scent of him. He leans in slightly.
“And what about you? You got a boyfriend waiting for you back in the city?”
“Why do you want to know?” I ask, smiling up at him.
“Why do you think I want to know?” Yes. I think this is flirting. I’m flirting, and he’s flirting back. I’m not crazy, and I don’t think this is one-sided. Right?
