Her Older Mountain Man - Page 3

“I’ll decide that for myself,” I say. I stand up and grab a clean washcloth, wetting it with cool water before sitting down next to her to wipe her clammy face. She leans into the contact, and her hand creeps up to rest on top of mine as I hold the cloth to her cheek. The simple gesture shakes me to my core. We don’t know each other, but she trusts me.

She breathes heavily for a minute while I wipe at her face, and I’m relieved to see the color return to her cheeks and lips. But the dark, bruise-like shadows under her chocolate brown eyes eyes remain, and I can’t completely shake my concern. She’s not just sick, she’s tired and sad. She needs help.

“Are you okay?” I ask. “Do you need to go see a doctor? I can drive you into town.”

She sighs and shakes her head. “Thank you, but no,” she says. She looks down at the floor. “I’m not sick.”

I cock my head. “I don’t agree. You seemed pretty sick to me just a minute ago.”

“I’m not sick,” she repeats. “I’m pregnant.”

My body goes rigid. What thefuck. Who is this woman? Why isn’t anyone taking care of her? And what does Luke Barnes have to do with this? I need an explanation, pronto. I rise to my feet and hold out a hand to help her up.

“Come on,” I say. “Let’s get you back into bed, and then I want to talk for a few minutes.”

I wrap an arm around her and usher her back into the bedroom, tucking her under the duvet before I sit down on the mattress next to her and grab her hand. She gently tries to pull it back, but I hang on, thumb gently stroking her knuckles. I need her to know that I’m right here with her, and that I have her back.

“What’s your name, angel?” I ask her.

“Colette Helvey,” she replies. “Are you Owen Morningstar?”

My name in that musical voice causes my dick to tighten up, just a little, but I will it back into submission. “That’s me, angel. Colette.” My eyes narrow as I get to my next question. “Is there someone to help you? A husband or a boyfriend?”

A tear slips out of her eye. “No one,” she says. “Not anymore.”

I reach out and wipe the tear away. “Was it Luke Barnes?” I ask.

She nods miserably. “He’s…he said he’s not ready for fatherhood. He kicked me out of our apartment and rented this place for me for a month. Then I need to find a new place and a new job.”

That little fuck,I think savagely, but when I respond to Colette, I keep my tone gentle. “We’ll figure it out, Colette, okay? Don’t worry. I want you to stay here for the day and get some rest and let me take care of you.”

She eyes me curiously. “Why are you helping me?”

I want to choke out Luke Barnes for making her feel this alone and unwanted. I lean down and give her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

“Because I want to,” I say. “You’re safe. Rest.”

“Okay,” she says softly. Her eyelids are already drifting closed, and I can tell that she just doesn’t have it in her to fight with me. I sit for another minute, and it doesn’t take long before she’s asleep again.

Colette sleeps for hours, until mid-morning, but I’m awake and wired. For the rest of the day, she lays on my couch, watching streaming TV, napping, and politely picking at the huge pile of snacks that I push at her every couple of hours.

It’s late in the afternoon, and we’re binge-watching some something together. Her blanket-covered feet are propped up in my lap and I gently rub them as she laughs. My heart squeezes in my chest. This has been one of the best days of my life, I think. She’s still sad and anxious, but I can see her warmth and sweetness so clearly. My lonely heart wants to stretch toward her like a flower to the sun. Not just anyone.Her.

She’s going to be a wonderful mother,I think.

“I should head back to my place,” she says, stretching her arms above her head as the credits roll.

“You don’t have to.” I try to keep my tone casual as I rub her perfect little feet. “We can grab some stuff for another night and you can stay here if you want.”

She shakes her head as she rises to her feet. “That’s a really nice offer, but I want my own space for tonight, I think.”

Colette collects her keys and phone from the coffee table, and I decide not to push it. I walk her to her car instead. Our pace is slow as we draw out our conversation. I think this might be the most I’ve talked to anyone in a long time, and it feels great. I’m like a bear out here in the wilderness, content to hang out in my den and do my own thing, but this little angel is turning me inside out.

I open her car door for her and bent down for one last second as she gets buckled in and ready to go.

“Don’t be a stranger,” I tell her seriously. “Come visit me whenever you’re bored or lonely. I’m pretty much always here.”

She bites her lip. “Thanks for everything, Owen.”