Page 169 of Mountain Grump
Stopping before her, I grip Tilda’s chin and tip her head back. Then I bend down, stopping when our lips are just inches apart.
Holding her gaze, I lower my voice. “Onlyyoucan prevent forest fires.”
A puff of air leaves her parted lips.
I set the bowl of oatmeal in her hands. “Now eat your breakfast.”
Chapter 87
Tilda
My fingers clutchat the bowl.
Sorry, Ranger. But there is definitely a fire. In my pants.
Without looking, I put a spoonful of the oatmeal into my mouth, needing to wet my suddenly dry throat.
Fresh fruity sweetness bursts across my taste buds, and I jerk my attention away from Ethan’s jean-clad ass down to my bowl.
“What is this?” My question is garbled as I talk with my mouth still full.
“Wild strawberries.” Ethan sits and picks up his bowl.
“From where?” It’s a dumb question, but I can’t stop myself.
Ethan tips his head to his right. “Found a patch over that way.”
I look in that direction, pausing my spoon midway between my face and the bowl. “Oh.”
“I kept the cabin in sight. And I left the door closed.”
I blow out a breath. Ethan once again says exactly the thing I need to hear. “Sorry. I know I’m being a scaredy-cat. This wholenature thingis still new to me.”
“You’re not ascaredy-cat, Firecracker. It’s good to have a healthy respect for thisnature thing.”
I give him a half smile. “Thanks.” Then I use my spoon to scoop out a tiny strawberry and eat it. “This is really freaking amazing.”
When I look back up, Ethan’s looking at me like he wants to ask something.
“Yes, Berry Ranger?”
He smirks. “Is there a reason you don’t swear?”
I open my mouth, then shrug. “I swear.”
He purses his lips, like he’s trying to remember a time.
I poke at a strawberry with my spoon and sigh. “My family swore a lot.Swearsa lot. And I’m not likeoffendedby it. But when I was younger, I just… didn’t pick up the habit. And I guess it stuck. I don’t even really think about it anymore.”
Ethan’s expression is so serious that I know he’s thinking the worst.
And I’d like to tell him they didn’t swearatme. That they didn’t call me afucking waste of space. Or astupid asswhen I didn’t do well on a test.
I’d love to tell him that.
But I won’t lie to Ethan.
“Do you want me to stop swearing?” he asks with complete sincerity. And that’s what does it.
