Page 7 of Haunted By the Mountain Man
"Just curious. The way Walt said it. There was fear there. Real fear."
"Walt's afraid of a lot of things that exist only in his mind."
"Maybe." She pulled out her phone, frowning at the lack of signal. "Is there ever any cell service up here?"
"No. I have a satellite phone for emergencies and a walkie talkie."
She scowled, probably realizing she was alone on a mountain with two men she didn't know, no way to call for help, and an uncomfortable place to sleep.
"Having second thoughts?" I asked.
"About the content opportunity? Never." But her hand tightened on her phone. "About my personal safety? I'm reserving judgment."
"Smart." I moved closer, using my size deliberately, watching how she responded. Some women found my height threatening. Others found it attractive. Raven's pupils dilated slightly, her breathing quickening, but she didn't back away. "You should leave."
"Should I?"
"Staying here could be dangerous." I leaned down, close enough to smell her shampoo—something floral and completely at odds with her gothic appearance.
“That’s what my subscribers are hoping for.”
I frowned. That didn’t sit well with me. “You put yourself at risk for a bunch of strangers?”
“You’re putting yourself on the line for Walt.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
"This mountain is mine. The lodge is mine. And for the next week, you're mine to watch. Mine to protect."
Her breath hitched. "Just like Walt?"
"Not exactly." I straightened, putting distance between us before I did something stupid like find out what her lips tasted like. "You're in my territory now. That means I'm responsible for keeping you alive. Even if you're too reckless to be scared."
"I'm not reckless."
"You trespassed on private property to film an abandoned building. That's the definition of reckless."
"That's the definition of my job."
"Then your job is dangerous." I moved back toward Walt's area. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow I'll show you the areas you can film. But tonight, stay in the west wing. Door stays closed. Don't wander. This building is falling apart. There are weak floors, exposed nails, rotted boards that'll give way if you step wrong." I met her eyes. "And because Walt wanders at night. If he seesyou, gets confused, thinks you're someone from his past, he could get agitated. Dangerous, even."
"Dangerous how?"
"He's confused, not violent. But in his mind, he sometimes relives that fire. If he thinks you're in danger, he might try to 'save' you. Drag you outside in the cold. Or if he thinks you're an intruder..." I let the implication hang.
Raven nodded slowly. "Understood. West wing. Door closed."
"Good girl,” I said, more possessively than I'd intended, but I was glad I did when I saw desire flash in her dark eyes before she looked away.
"I'll need to set up night vision cameras," she said. "For the Halloween special. Nighttime footage is essential."
"Fine. But set them up during the day, and don't check them after dark. Last thing I need is you wandering around with a laptop screen lighting you up like a beacon."
"Noted." She hesitated. "Shane? Thank you. For letting me stay. For trusting me with Walt."
"I don't trust you yet." The honesty felt important. "But I'm willing to give you a chance to earn it."
