Page 50 of Trapped by the Mountain Man

My heart kickstarts and doubles down.

“Hannah,” I whisper, my voice choking.

She twists quickly in the bed, kicking the covers off as her eyes snap to mine. “Colt… Colt, you’re here?”

A smile touches her lips and that’s all I need. I burst forward, dropping to my knees, grabbing her hand and holding it to the tears streaming down my face.

“Hannah, I’m an idiot.” I kiss the back of her hand, threading my fingers through hers while squeezing so tightly. “I should never have done it… I shouldn’t have. You’re right – I’m a coward. I don’t know any other way, it’s who I am.”

“Colt,” Hannah sobs, a yank of her arm guiding me to the edge of the bed.

My vision is blurry, my chest heaving beneath the emotion flooding over me.

“I can be a better man, Hannah.” I draw breath, hooking her eyes in mine. She’s so damn beautiful. “Iwilldo better. When you’re around, life is magical. I’m happy when you’re with me.”

Hannah stills for a second, her cheeks flushed a soft pink color. I’m sitting at the edge of the bed, shaking with raw emotion that I didn’t know I was capable of.

“Colt,” Hannah says softly, guiding my hands to her face. “Do you know what kept me going down that mountain? Do you know what put the fight in my belly, forcing me to takejust one more stepover and over again?”

I shake my head.

“You, Colt.” The tiny corners of Hannah’s mouth curl in a tight smile. “You kept me going. That big, mountainous heart of yours. You taught me how to be strong and to look after myself. You gave me the freedom to grow and the tools to flourish. You showed me what it means tolive.” She shuffles down the bed so her face is inches from mine. “Forget what you did before that, everyone makes mistakes. I know your heart was in the right place, and maybe…” She grins a half-smile at me. “…maybe next time just ask if you want me to stay.”

I swallow back the lump in my throat. I don’t even think about correcting her with the fact that Ididask her. Only about a million times. Instead, I let the only words that matter leave my mouth.

“I love you, Hannah.”

“I love you too, Colt,” she says.

I lean across and press my lips to Hannah’s. Our fingers intertwine and our mouths lock. A spark of pure love and devotion that I know will last forever ignites between us, sealing our unbreakable bond for eternity.

I pull back and drop my forehead to hers. “I can’t believe you made it down the mountain, baby girl.”

Hannah chuckles. “I can’t believe it either. But the nurses said these cuts will scar, so I’ll always have proof I’m more mountain than you are.”

I frown. “Hey! I was called Bigfoot today, so you can retract that statement.”

Hannah’s brows waggle suggestively. “I don’t know about Big-foot…”

She pulls me in closer, her tongue invading my mouth. I wrap my arms around her, determined to never, ever let go again.

My best friend. The love of my life and now, mine forever.

EPILOGUE

Hannah

SIX MONTHS LATER

My boots crunch on the floor of the forest and I find Colt at the edge of the springs. He’s shirtless, a thick smattering of hair across his chest. I cross the moist path that’s well travelled now – our dedication to turn our favorite spot on Falls Creek Mountain into a magical, secluded escape is beginning to take shape after weeks of work.

I settle down beside Colt, passing the bottle of water in my hand and leaning in for a peck on the cheek.

“It’s looking good,” I say, looking behind us to the small wooden shelter Colt has been working on.

Colt nods, a grin lighting his handsome face. “I should be finished tomorrow.”

Cool air fills my lungs as I settle down to catch my breath. I’m getting fitter. Ever since I moved in with Colt and left my day job, the intense lifestyle of living on the mountain has consumed me. It’s hard work, day in day out, providing everything we need to survive.

---