Page 8 of Mixed Up with the Mountain Man
"I love you." The words come out rough, honest. "I know it's fast, I know it's crazy, but I'm falling hard for you, Emma. Stay. Build your bookstore here. Build a life with me."
Tears glisten in her eyes. "I love you too. It terrifies me how much I love you."
"Then it's settled." I pull her closer, holding her tight. "You're staying."
"It's not that simple. I have an apartment lease, a life in Vancouver—"
"Which you were already planning to leave behind." I tip her chin up, making her look at me. "This is just changing your destination."
Before she can respond, the building's door opens with a loud creak. We spring apart, Emma hurriedly fixing her clothes while I step protectively in front of her.
"Hello?" A man's voice calls out. "Anyone in here?"
"Back here," I call, recognizing the voice. "That's Tom Murphy, the building owner," I murmur to Emma.
A balding man in his sixties appears, smiling when he sees me. "Leo! Heard you might be bringing someone by to look at the place."
Small towns and their gossip networks. We've been here thirty minutes and somehow Tom already knows.
"Tom, meet Emma Hartley," I say, my hand finding the small of her back. "Emma, Tom Murphy. He owns the building."
"Pleasure," Tom says, shaking her hand with enthusiasm. "Juniper mentioned you might be interested in opening a bookstore. Lord knows we need one. Haven't had a proper bookshop since old Mrs. Patterson's place closed five years ago."
"It's a beautiful space," Emma says, her professional mask sliding into place despite her still-flushed cheeks.
"Take your time looking around. I'll be outside making some calls." Tom heads for the door, then pauses. "Fair warning—if Leo MacKenzie brought you here, the whole town's already planning your housewarming party."
After he leaves, Emma turns to me with wide eyes. "Does everyone know about us already?"
"Probably." I'm not even slightly sorry about it. "Silver Ridge has an efficient communication system."
"And you're okay with that?"
"Emma." I frame her face with my hands, making sure she understands how serious I am. "I want everyone to know you're mine. I want them planning our housewarming party and our wedding and everything else that comes with building a life together."
"Wedding?" Her voice comes out squeaky.
"Eventually." I press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "When you're ready. But Emma, I need you to know—this isn't temporary for me. You're not a weekend fling. You're everything."
The tears spill over then, but she's smiling through them. "Take me home."
"Home?"
"Your cabin. Our cabin." She rises on her toes to kiss me softly. "Take me home and show me again why leaving Vancouver is the best decision I'll ever make."
five
Emma
Webarelymakeitthrough the cabin door before Leo has me pressed against it, his mouth devouring mine with desperate hunger. I can still taste the remnants of our earlier encounter at the bookstore, but my body is already responding to his touch like I haven't been thoroughly satisfied twice today.
"Bedroom," I gasp against his lips.
"Too far," he growls, lifting me easily. My legs wrap around his waist as he carries me to the couch, laying me down with surprising gentleness for someone so large.
In the fading afternoon light, he looks like something from a fantasy—all hard muscle and masculine beauty, his eyes dark with want as he strips off his shirt. I reach for him, needing to touch, to feel his skin against mine.
"Patience," he rumbles, catching my hands and pinning them gently above my head. "Let me take care of you."
