Page 10 of Grumped By the Mountain Man

Sympathy blooms in her eyes. “Are you lonely here?”

I avoid her gaze again and I grab a napkin to wipe my mouth. I shake my head. “Never lonely. I have the forest and Mochi for company.”

“Mochi’s the best company. Dogs always are. That’s why I forced you to go to the pound in the first place.” she says peering at Mochi’s solemn face beneath the staircase.

So she knew how lonely I was back then too. I guess I’m not as good at hiding it as I thought.

“But it’s not the same as human company though. Or a woman.”

We make eye contact before I look away. “I’ve done without for a decade. What’s a few more?”

Her flirty smile drops as she fiddles with her camera and bites her lip. I want nothing more than to pull it out with my teeth and nibble on it just like I wanted to do three years ago. I’d been fantasizing about kissing her ever since the wedding.

Clearing my throat I adjust my straining cock in my jeans. I need to take care of it ASAP in the shower.

“I’m going to finish what I started in the lake but in the shower,” I say, pushing away from the counter. “I hope downstairs will suffice, because upstairs is still just a shell. And sorry for any mess. If I knew you were coming, I would’ve made things a little more aesthetically pleasing.”

“Downstairs is more than enough and I don’t think you could make the place any tidier,” she says, gasping as she walks into the butler's pantry.

I remember her gushing about a butler’s pantry in some nineteen-twenties murder mystery show we watched. Did she notice the inspiration? I know that time period is her favorite, so I made everything a modern version of it.

“Jaxon, your style is downright impeccable.”

You mean your style is. I’m not nearly as creative as she thinks.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I love it.” Ayla spins to face me, another sunshine grin plastered on her face. That’s what she is. Sunshine personified. “Don’t let me hold you up.” She gestures to the stairs. “I’ll get started.”

I’m about to head for the hall when a thought strikes me.

Crazy.

Obsessed.

Unhinged.

Pausing mid-stride, I turn to her. “Ayla?”

“Hmm?”

“Just don’t bother with the room down the hall on your right. It’s full of junk.”

She nods. “Off-limits, I got it.”

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