Searching for the Mountain Man - Page 6
“I have to get back outside,” I said.
It was sudden, it was abrupt, but I had to get away from her. If not, I might lose the battle to keep myself over here and not directly in front of her with my arms around her.
Her mouth fell open again. Was that hurt I saw in her eyes? Yes, I’d definitely hurt her.
I had to get out of here. I had to get out of here now.
“Let me know if you need anything else,” I said.
And with that, I was out the door, zooming around her like she was any other woman. Like she wasn’t the first woman in years to wake me from this numb state I’d been in.
5
ELISIA
Iwas in a small town hours from home, and I had no way to get around. Rideshare wasn’t even an option.
Yes, I’d actually snuck and taken a peek at the app I’d used a lot in college. Not a single driver available anywhere near this town.
My car had been towed to a local repair shop, where the guy would probably take one look at it tomorrow morning and say it had to be shipped off to an auto body shop. But that wouldn’t help me tonight.
As volunteers started wandering toward the parking lot, I looked around. I’d talked to quite a few people today, but I didn’t really get to know anyone. Well, no one but that gorgeous Rob guy whose truck had slammed into my car. After how rude he’d been to me in the trailer, though, no way was he going to?—
“You ready?”
The male voice behind me interrupted my thoughts. I squeezed my eyes closed, knowing exactly what I’d see when I turned around. As before, Rob was standing behind me, but this time when I turned, there was no camera between us. We were face to face.
I wanted to kiss him. I’d wanted it from the second I saw him, but when we were close together in the trailer alone, it had been almost impossible to resist. Until, that was, he’d stormed out of the trailer, leaving me standing there, wondering what the hell had happened. Had I done something wrong?
“Ready for what?” I asked, but I had a feeling I knew the answer.
“To go back to the retreat center,” he said. “I figured you’d want to shower before dinner.”
The diner nearby had donated lunch, and dinner was being provided by the retreat center. Feeding the volunteers was a way to thank everyone for working for free all day.
I’d spent the morning shooting footage, but in the afternoon, I’d become one of the volunteers. Now I was dirty and tired, and I just wanted to eat and fall into bed. Preferably naked with this guy.
Whoa. Where had that thought come from? I was a virgin. I wasn’t just going to jump into bed with some random mountain man, no matter how looking at him made me feel inside.
“Are you going to dinner?” I asked.
“I’ll drop you off, then head back to my cabin and take a shower,” he said. “I’ll be there by six.”
Volunteers were passing us on either side, and I was all too aware of the looks we were getting from people who either knew him or had worked with us over the course of the day.
We were being put together as a couple. I could feel it. And I didn’t mind it one bit.
“I’m sure you could shower at the retreat center,” I said.
There had to be a room they’d loan him. But then he’d need a change of clothes, and I doubted he had one in his truck.
“Are you offering to share your shower with me?” he asked.
My mouth fell open again. That seemed to happen a lot around him. Was he flirting with me? Considering the way we’d left our last conversation, I was surprised he was even speaking to me.
“I’m just teasing you.” He pointed toward the parking area. “I’m parked this way.”
He took off, leaving me to rush to catch up with him. His strides were at least double the length of mine. So even walking at my fastest, keeping up with him was a challenge.