Page 8 of Her Mountain Man Neighbor
She lifts her hand in an awkward little wave, and I swear my heart fucking melts.
She’s so adorable.
I watch as she turns and walks down the porch steps, her jeans hugging her rounded ass in a way that forces me to suck in a breath. I should shut the door and go back inside, but something stops me. My mind drifts back to yesterday at the river. I’ve been running over it again and again since then, thinking about what would have happened if I wasn’t there. Rivers can be deadly—I know that better than most. Hell, even just the short walk between my cabin and Holden’s is full of potential dangers.
I feel something urgent wash over me, the desperate need to protect Grace. Guard her. She hasn’t been here long enough to learn the dangers of the forest yet. Anything could happen while she’s walking around by herself. I don’t let myself think. I don’t question whether it’s right or wrong. Instead, I automatically follow Grace down the porch steps and into the trees, keeping my eyes locked on her retreating figure. She’s several yards ahead, too far away to hear my footsteps against the dead leaves. But I stay close enough to keep her in view, my heart hammering in my chest.
Am I seriously stalking her through the forest right now?
The woman I promised myself I’d keep my distance from?
But I don’t stop. Adrenaline keeps me moving, and when she reaches Holden’s cabin, I hang back. She stops on the doorstep for a second, wiping her feet on the mat. I stare at her through the trees, my gaze lingering on her thick curves, her shimmeringhair. She doesn’t look back as I watch her disappear inside, and my shoulders relax as the door closes behind her.
Grace is safe.
That’s all that matters.
I head back to my cabin, trying not to think about how much this girl has taken over my mind. Inside, the cupcake container is waiting for me on the side where I left it. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I open it and take one, biting into the soft frosting. It’s pretty damn good. I picture Grace mixing up the ingredients, baking them in the oven just for me, and the mental image fills my chest with warmth.
Dammit, she’s so sweet.
Grace is the first ray of light in my life for over twelve years. I’ve gotten so used to being alone, isolating myself from the world and trying to forget what happened to my brother. Trying to forget the worst mistake I ever made. Hell, I’ve been married to my own damn misery, and I deserve it. I really do. Happiness isn’t meant for guys like me, and I accepted that a long time ago. But Grace is turning everything upside down. She’s making me want things. Wanther.
It’s intoxicating, but I know these thoughts are crazy. I’m deluding myself. To Grace, I’m just the grumpy neighbor next door: the recluse who barely talks. Bringing over cupcakes was just her being friendly. That’s the sort of person she is—bright, happy, kind—the total opposite of me. I’m making this into something it’s not, exaggerating shit in my head.
With a grunt, I set down the half-eaten cupcake, dragging a hand over my grizzled beard. This has to stop. These thoughts, feelings, the ache in my chest when I think of her. It’s asking for trouble…for heartbreak. Broken men like me don’t get the girl. We don’t get happy endings. We ruin everything we touch, tainting every good thing, making it crumble to dust beneath our fingers. It’s time for me to come back to the real world and leaveGrace alone. If she’s light, then I’m darkness, and the best thing I can do is stay the hell away.
5
GRACE
“You’resure you don’t want to come, Gracie?” Mila asks, pulling on her coat by the door.
“I’m sure,” I tell her. “Honestly, I’ll be fine. You two go have a good time!”
Mila looks hesitant. She’s going to Cherry Hollow with Holden, and they’re getting dinner at some fancy Italian restaurant. They sweetly invited me along, but I don’t want to intrude on their dinner date. It’s about time they got a break from my third-wheeling for a little while.
“You promise to call if there are any problems?” Mila asks. “I’m nervous leaving you here all alone in this weather.”
The rain started about two hours ago and hasn’t slowed down since. It lashes against the windows, hammering like bullets against the glass. But I don’t mind. It makes me feel cozy, listening to rainfall when I’m warm and safe in Holden’s cabin.
“I promise. But you don’t need to worry, I’ll be fine. It says the rain is going to stop soon anyway.”
My sister finally relents. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
“Help yourself to anything in the fridge,” Holden says, grabbing his keys.
“Thanks.” I smile at him. “Have a great time!”
Holden slips his arm around my sister’s waist, holding a giant umbrella with his other hand. They say goodbye to me before heading out into the pouring rain, and I see a flash of headlights through the window as they drive away.
Once they’re gone, I turn back to my laptop. My eyes are fuzzy from staring at the screen so long, scrolling through job sites. It’s frustrating as heck—every job seems to need years of experience. How am I meant to get experience if every job expects me to have it already?
Keep looking,I tell myself.You’ll find something amazing. Just one more page.
It sure doesn’t help that my mind keeps drifting back to Lucian; I have to force myself to refocus on my screen every two seconds. I’ve been thinking about him all day, remembering how he looked this morning in his dark jeans and flannel shirt, muscles bulging beneath the fabric. He’s so mysterious, so closed off, but that only makes me want to know him more. He loosened up a bit when we started talking about Midnight, and it was so adorable to watch him with her, a giant grump melting at the sight of his cat.
God, he’s so cute.
