Page 19 of Aim High Mountain Man
“I don't think you're complicated. I can see when talking is something you want or when peace seems a better option. I can see when you need to vent and when you don't. And that's prettysad to say when I've known you for such a short time when others could probably know you more.”
She glanced at me over her shoulder, a smirk playing along her lips.
“Maybe, oh I don't know, we just belong together.”
I couldn’t help but lift a brow at her because I really didn’t know what to say.
Part of me really loved the idea of her being in my space, and that was so uncommon. In fact, I’m sure that would probably floor a lot of people.
But at the same time, I was just coming to grips with everything, just learning how to cope. Although, she was a major part of that.
I was told that a doctor could help me, but maybe I didn’t need that.
Maybe I just needed someone who understood me, how I felt, but in a different way. Who had their own isolation and didn’t really want to live that way anymore.
I turned her around, letting my heart talk now rather than my mind. I cupped her cheeks, pulled her closer, and grinned.
“I think, Ms. Ridge, you might be right, I do think we belong together.”
With that, I kissed her. Not deeply, not passionately, but just with my heart. My lips brushed hers, featherlight but full of emotion, before they settled along hers.
And the expression of stealing one’s breath, yeah, that totally happened.
She wasn’t my first kiss, of course, like I doubt I was hers.
But it’s the first kiss that felt real, that felt powerful.
It was the first kiss that I felt jumpstarted my heart, and it’s the last kiss I ever wanted to have with someone.
We stayed that way for countless moments, just kissing, just breathing in the same air, and it was perfect.
It was romantic.
It was something I wanted from here on out.
Screw knowing her for such a short time.
Screw knowing that she was almost sixteen years older than me.
Screw the fact that she had a life someplace else.
I wanted her here, with me, for all time.
She said she could pack up; she could work from anywhere.
I had more than enough space for her if she wanted.
She finally broke the kiss, her nails running along my back and spine, and somehow, over the course of the last twenty-four plus hours, she captured my heart.
“Do you know,” she started quietly, her eyes locked with mine, “how unique you are. And how amazing and seen you make me feel?”
“I swear, Johanna, you need to be seen. You’re too damn perfect not to be.” I swallowed hard because it was now or never. “I want you to move in with me, stay with me. I think we’re just perfect for each other.”
Chapter 7
***** Johanna *****
My flight was leaving the following morning, and I wanted to call and cancel it.
