Page 10 of My Santa Mountain Man
She was wearing makeup today, potentially in an attempt to hide the faded bruises that covered her cheek.
She shook her head. “Oh, it’s not what you think.”
I shifted my stance, spreading my legs and standing taller. “Just give me a name, Poppy. And I’ll kill him for you. No one deserves to be treated like that.”
Poppy’s eyes went wide. “No, really, uh, that’s very kind of you, I think? You’ll have to kill a piece of wood though, because I… had a little mishap while I was fixing a hole in the old sewing room.”
How could she know it used to be a sewing room?
I stood there flabbergasted as I tried to process her words. “A hole?”
She smiled up at me, but it was a small smile compared to the one she’d given me a few weeks ago. I could tell she was struggling out here. “A raccoon kept getting in somehow. And I moved an armoire that was in the second bedroom down the hall. Behind it, I found a hole in the wall, up high. I think the raccoon was crawling through the hole, and into the armoire. I found a nest inside it, made out of old rolls of fabric. I almost feel bad kicking it out into the winter weather, but I can’tlivewith a raccoon in my house. That would be crazy.”
“Yes. It would be.”
I had no words. I wanted to ask her if I could see the fabric. If I could hold it. If I couldhaveit.
It might not even be my mom’s. But if it was…
I didn’t have anything that had belonged to my mother. Not even a picture.
But I didn’t ask. Instead, I pointed at the tree.
“What’s your game plan, Poppy?”
She grimaced.
“I don’t know. I didn’t even realize it was down. Last night there was a big storm, and I heard all kinds of rattling sounds and a loud thump. But I had no idea the oak had come down. Iwas on my way to a Christmas party right now. I guess that’s not happening.”
And that was the problem with people. She should have been sorting her shit out here, not going to flirt with men at someparty.
I couldn’t help but notice that she had some pink lipstick on her mouth, and her hair was done up nice. And I bet the men on the mountain wereallgoing to miss her if she didn’t make it to that party.
Chapter 7
Poppy
This was a worst-case scenario.
I definitely wasn’t going to make it to the Christmas party at Charlotte and Ryder’s place.
But even more than that, everything Corbin had said a few weeks ago was still true.
I didn’t have a chainsaw or a way to move this tree.
And I didn’t have a satellite phone to call anyone to come help.
Checking my phone, I saw that this was one of those no-reception moments that were entirely too common on this side of the mountain.
I was going to have to rely on this sexy, oversized grouch to help me out.
“Can I use your phone? I can call some friends to come take care of the tree.”
The fact that it had fallen had moved it up the timeline of priorities.
It was now at the top of the list. And if I could get in touch with them, I knew the guys at Charlotte’s party would come out here and make short work of it.
He waved his cellphone in the air. “I don’t have any reception either.”
