Page 7 of Aim High Mountain Man
Not that I would tell him that.
“I must look horrible,” he mumbled while he wiped at his eyes and nose.
“Not at all. I think you needed to let that out, Chance.”
“I know I did. No one has been able to break me open like that to let it out.”
I put my hand on his leg, giving it a slight squeeze.
“I’m glad I could help. When I first got the call, I couldn’t do anything for two weeks. It was just Johnnie and me. When he left for camp, I had to find friends to help me just live because my world had been all about him. And those friends were there when he died, pushing me to go forward.”
“You never found someone after Johnnie’s dad split?”
“You know I was eighteen when I had him right?”
“Of course,” he said, shifting to lean back against the wall.
“Well, men don’t look at a woman with a child at that age. So, no, after his dad left, there wasn’t anyone. And when he enlisted, I dated, but it still wasn’t like they wanted to settle down. I scared off so many men because they found out I had a son. Especially one who was in the military.
“Eventually, I just kind of stopped. They either hated the fact I had a kid or thought I was an easy piece of ass. Neither sat well with me. I never told Johnnie about that. He would have found them and strung them up by their balls.”
I don’t know why that came out, but it made him laugh. I smiled as some of the tension left him, feeling like things would be okay.
“Anyone who wouldn’t want to be with you, is the biggest dumbass ever. I mean, sure, you’re hot, with a killer body for having a kid, but you’re smart, and it’s evident where Johnnie got his humor from.”
I couldn’t stop the blush at his words for they had twisted me up.
Sure, I might have heard them before, but the way he said it, it was different. He didn’t say just to get in my pants. I mean, I was almost twenty years older, there wouldn’t be a reason for him to try that.
“I guess I should get the box and head out, huh?” I offered, knowing he needed his space. I didn’t need to invade it anymore.
I stood up, popping my back, then froze. It had gotten completely dark on me. Which sucked because no uber driver was going to be making their way up here and I didn’t feel too safe walking down the road.
“Shit,” I muttered, and Chance looked at me, before looking out the window as well.
“When did it get that dark?” he grunted as he carefully stood.
“I guess we got so wrapped up in memories and tears that we lost track of time. The last uber driver I had couldn’t make it up the road, even though I told him what I needed. Do you happen to have a bright enough flashlight so I can walk down to meet them at the bottom of the hill?”
“Are you crazy? You think I’m going to let you meet some stranger this late at night, and just have a flashlight? Beyond that, there’s wild animals out there, I don’t need you getting mauled to death.”
I crossed my arms over my chest; a brow lifted in complete amusement.
“You are aware that I am older here, right? Technically, I’m old enough to be your mom. I don’t need someone to baby me.”
“Not baby, just worry. And yes, I know you are. You’re still a MILF, though.”
My jaw dropped, sure I hadn’t heard him right. I mean, no, he really couldn’t think of me like that. I mean, okay, fine he might have dropped a few kind words, but I know I heard that wrong.
And I was not about to ask him to repeat it.
Instead, I was going to ignore it.
“Fine, smarty pants, what do you suggest I do?”
“I have a guest room, Johanna. You’re more than welcome to use it.”
Of all the things he could have offered, that was the last one I ever thought I’d hear from him.
