Page 14 of Auctioned to the Mountain Man

“You looked at my personal email? How did you even do that? Why would you do that?”

He doesn’t answer me, though. We’re at the main intersection in town, and Ben turns toward the distilleries. I point the opposite direction. “I live that way.”

“I know where you live.”

I shake my head. “Of course you do. Where are you going? Take me home.”

He keeps driving, seemingly unfazed. “I’m taking you home with me.”

I laugh. How can I not? This whole thing is crazy. “I’m not going home with you.”

“Yes, you are.”

I wave my hand in his face. “Uh, hello. No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. I have eight million reasons saying you are.”

I gulp. I never thought…. I didn’t think that he actually wanted to follow through on this. “Ben, surely you don’t think—”

“I’m not going to force you to sleep with me. You don’t have anywhere to be until Monday. Stay with me.”

Fuck, I want to. I want to stay with him more than anything, but does that make me weak? He only wants me for one thing. But he did pay eight million dollars to get it. I look over at him and can’t help but wonder what’s going on in his head. He could have literally had me for free. “None of this makes sense.”

He shrugs and keeps driving up the mountain. “It will.”

I put my hand on his forearm and feel his muscles flex under my palm. He’s affected by my touch. “Why? Give me one good reason… Why should I?”

There’s torment in his eyes. “Because I messed up. That day I met you, I fucked up. I want to make it right.”

I cross my arms over my chest. I can feel myself softening to him, but I’m trying to keep my wits about me. “Fine, you want to be forgiven? You’re forgiven. You could have saved eight million dollars and just picked up the phone to apologize to me. You don’t spend that kind of money to make something right, Ben.”

“Will you go with me or not?”

I bite my lower lip. “I’m not fucking you.”

His eyes drop to my lips before looking back at the road. “That’s your decision. I would like for you to stay, Maggie.”

I should demand he take me home, but I don’t. Instead, I turn and sit straight in my seat and look out the side window. “Fine,” I mutter. “I’ll go home with you.”

I don’t have to look at him to see his reaction. I can see the smile on his face through the reflection of the glass. I hope I’m making the right decision.

Ben

She agreed to come home with me. I thought she would refuse me, so I press on the gas a little harder to get us home faster.

She’s quiet the rest of the ride, and when I pull into my driveway, I try to look at my cabin through her eyes and imagine what she’s seeing. To me, it’s my sanctuary, but what will she think about it?

I’ve only ever had my brother and sister here, so it’s hard to know how someone else would see it.

I grab her bag, and she gets out of the truck before I can come around to help her. She doesn’t trust me. I can’t see it by the way she’s glaring at me, and I can’t say I blame her. I pushed her away, and I invaded her privacy. I’m going to have to earn her trust back.

As we walk toward the cabin, I’m watching her as she looks up at the one-story house in front of us. She likes it. Her eyes are sparkling, and there’s a soft smile on her face, letting me know she approves. I don’t know why it means that much to me, but it does.

I open the front door and show her around the cabin. It’s an open concept, and I point out the different rooms. She’s quiet as she takes it all in. I walk across the room to the door that leads to the guest room. I would love if she would share a bed with me, but I know I’d be pushing it. “This is your room.”

She reaches for the bag that’s in my hands, and I let her take it. She walks into the room and slams the door in my face.

I scrub my hand across my face. Fuck, I need a drink.

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