Page 11 of Grumped By the Mountain Man

Chapter Four

Ayla

My heart sinks when I hear Jaxon close the bathroom door. Of course, I’m a little upset he didn’t invite me in, but that’s not the only reason.

Is Jaxon secretly seeing someone? It isn’t just the kitchen supplies that I know he doesn’t have an interest in. It’s his downstairs bathroom that has vanilla ice cream and peach cobbler soap. Sure, men can buy peach cobbler soap, but men like Jaxon didn’t.

He was the type to use a bar of soap for everything including his hair. It took ages for him to agree to an actual shampoo and conditioner, yet he was buying dessert-scented soaps?

I can’t believe that he has all of this stuff to just stare at. Maybe that’s why he’s always hiding in his cabin. Maybe he has a secret woman despite his words to the contrary. Maybe she bought peach cobbler soaps and baked for him.

I spin around and eye the beautiful island. It’s like my dream kitchen popped into existence and for one crazy second, I thought maybe he had all of these things for me. But when I remember his coldness at my unexpected arrival and his frustration at Cali and Emmy’s meddling, I know I’m wrong. I know I’m just drifting into Delusionville, just like I did when I thought we could pick right back up where things left off. But Jaxon’s made it clear he wants nothing from me.

Grabbing my camera I push past the thoughts and get to work. Jaxon’s doing that polite thing again. That thing that tells me my time’s limited. He probably wants me out as soon as he’s done showering.

Mochi’s the best assistant, trailing behind me from room to room as I fiddle with the decor and lighting. Every time I snap a photo and ask his opinion, he tilts his head appropriately as if contemplating how best to respond.

The shots are pretty easy to take, despite the place not being prepped. Jaxon’s super tidy and I remember how much he likes to clean. He said it was a de-stresser just like his woodworking, although that created tons of dirt on the flip side. I told him we’d make a great team because I love to cook and ignore the soaking dishes for three days afterward.

I inwardly sigh at the word ‘team’. I’d really meant ‘couple’, but it was clear Jaxon didn’t see that. What does he see when he looks at me now? I could’ve sworn I saw lust bloom in his eyes when I nearly tripped and grabbed onto him, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

Maybe our spark is just gone. Well, on his end.

A lightning bolt of pain stabs through my heart at the thought. That’s why I told Jaxon I was unsure about my plans. I do want to stay in the county, but seeing Jaxon around town would be a painful reminder of what never was.

When I finally finish taking photos of the kitchen and living room, I enter the hall and freeze. “Mochi, which door is forbidden?” There are two doors down the hall on the right.

Mochi tilts his head at me but doesn’t respond.

I jog back into the living room to call up the stairwell for Jaxon but I can still hear the shower running.

I’d already taken a zillion photos of everything else. The stairs, the pantry, the rafters, heck even the hardware on the cabinet doors, and close-ups of beautiful wood grains on the floors. Whatever is inside this room, is the last thing I need to shoot.

“He must mean the last door,” I tell Mochi as we journey back into the hallway. “Why have a forbidden room in the middle of two on-limit rooms? That doesn’t make any sense, right?”

Mochi seems to agree as we reach the second door and step inside.

I don’t know what I expected to find, but a baby nursery wasn’t at the top of my list. The room is staged like it belongs in a magazine. Tucked in the corner under a canopy is an expensive-looking wooden crib. Opposite it, is a toy box full of hand-carved foods to play with in the wooden kitchen beside it. It looks like Jaxon hasn’t finished building it yet as the oven is missing. That’s when I remember all the tools outside beside that wooden box and a sheet of plexiglass. Is that what he’s building? A toy oven?

I open the red fridge and eye an empty plastic pitcher and a tray of wooden sushi. I can’t believe I’m jealous of a toy kitchen, then again it’s far nicer than the one I left behind in my old studio apartment in Los Angeles.

I touch a shelf of hand-painted cars as I head for the circular crib. It’s downright stunning. The bars aren’t plain but carved with cute little woodland fairies and animals.

“Damn, the number of hours this detailing must have taken is insane,” I tell Mochi over my shoulder. Inside the crib is the only old-looking thing in the room. A massive grizzly bear, made of patches of plaid and flannel.

“Mochi... Is this made of Jaxon’s old shirts?” I ask, turning to show him the patched grizzly but instead, I meet a broad chest.

“I asked you not to come in here,” Jaxon says quietly. He doesn’t seem angry... he seems disappointed, embarrassed even.

Immediately I put the bear back in the crib.

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