Page 2 of Kissing the Mountain Man
Did I say this man was trouble? He’s deadly with all that charm and that stupidly sexy dimple. I don’t think I’ll be able to resist him for very long.
Do you want to resist him?
This is just harmless flirting. He’s only in town for one day, and most of that time will be spent in the competition. It’s not like he’s going to fall hopelessly in love with me, declare his undying love, and beg me to marry him after knowing me for only a day.
Ugh, I need to stop reading those instalove romance books that give the reader unreasonable expectations of men.
“That’s what I thought.” I turn to walk away, knowing I need to stop whatever is happening between us before I fall too hard, too fast for someone I can’t have a future with. “I need to get back to the truck. Good luck in the competition.”
“Speaking of good luck.” He places both hands on my face and looks into my eyes. I can’t help but stare back at the desire I see there. “How about a kiss for that good luck?”
I’d always dreamed of sharing my first kiss with the man I married, but this feels too raw and powerful to prevent it from happening. It’s okay, I remind myself, there will be other firsts I can share with my husband, as I lean forward, meeting him halfway.
“Good girl.” He murmurs right before tilting my head and capturing my lips in what seems like a hesitant kiss for someone who talks the way he does.
All thoughts of his hesitation disappear from my mind as his tongue flicks across the corner of my lips, making me gasp in surprise. He uses that surprise to his advantage as his tongue enters my mouth again with a slight hesitation until we find a rhythm that has me grabbing onto his shirt to pull him closer. Time feels frozen as our tongues collide in a frantic dance.
A familiar voice loudly calls from nearby, “The sign-up is almost over, so if you still need to register, you might want to take your tongue out of my sister’s mouth and sign up.”
We jump apart at Junie’s words. Damn her for spoiling what was the best feeling I’ve ever felt.
I bet he could make you feel really good in other places too.
Most people have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other—I swear I must have two devils and no angel because the things I want this mountain man to do to me after only one kiss have got to be unholy.
“Come watch me compete.” There’s a desperation in his voice I haven’t heard before—like he can’t be away from me.
My heart beats faster. “I-I need to help with the food truck.” I stutter. This is all happening too fast. I need to step back and take a breath.
He glances over my shoulder at the food truck with a smile. “I think they’ll be fine without you.”
I spin around just in time to see Charlotte and Brynnlee, who must have arrived for her shift, both smiling and alternating between waving and making a shooing motion.
“Fine,” I say, causing him to smile.
“My name’s Ridge.” He gives me a quick kiss. “I want to make sure you know what name to call out.” With a slow, sexy wink, he starts to walk away.
The double meaning isn’t lost on me, and I feel my cheeks heat up. “My name’s Autumn,” I call out, earning me one more of those gorgeous, dimpled smiles as he walks backwards toward the sign-up tent, never taking his eyes off me.
What mountain man doesn’t have a full beard? One that would hide that tempting dimple. Sure, he has that sexy five o’clock shadow, which I actually prefer.
“Hey, sis,” Junie’s super sweet voice is not lost on me.
“It’s no big deal. He’s only in town for one day.” Even as I say those words, my heart drops. I finally meet someone who makes my heartbeat faster and slower at the same time, and he’s not an option for the kind of future I want.
“Suuuuure.” She drags out the word, making it clear she doesn’t believe me. “Now, let’s go watch our men compete against each other, and you can tell me all about how the first man I’ve ever seen you interested in isn’t a big deal.” She loops her arm through mine and leads me to the stands and to the one man I can’t afford to fall for.
two
Ridge
“W
hen are you goingto tell Autumn that you plan to stick around Temptation Ridge?” For someone who doesn’t talk much, all my friend Bay wants to do is talk right now, while I’m trying to focus on winning the competition and impressing Autumn, since I’m not technically a real mountain man.
I come from old money. You know the kind—where you’re so wealthy that your family has museums and historic buildings named after them. It never bothered me before, since I workedhard to build my own reputation without relying on family connections.
Enlisting in the Army right after high school was my first act of self-discovery. It’s where I met Bay and how I got involved in his project, which aims to create a place for wounded veterans to call home, whether during their recovery or for the rest of their lives. With its private and semi-private cabins, people can choose how much contact they want with others.
