Chapter Five
Thorne
I close the door to the back room and lean against it, letting out a long breath. My heart’s pounding like I just hiked up the mountain at a dead run.
Oh, you’re wanted alright. Just not by the sheriff.
What the hell was I thinking? I practically told her I wanted her, then I stood there waiting for her to say something back. The silence stretched between us until I couldn’t take it anymore and bolted like a coward. I run a hand through my hair and force myself to move toward the storage shelves. The star. I came in here for the star topper. I should focus on that, but my mind won’t cooperate. All I can think about is the way she looked at me. Did I scare her? Is she out there right now, wondering how to politely tell me she’s not interested? Is she plotting an escape route to get out of my cabin and back to her rental?
I find the box with the star and grip it tighter than necessary. Here’s the thing that’s killing me: I know she’s only here for a week. She has a whole life back in the city. Why would she even consider throwing it all away for some mountain man she just met?
But God, when she talked about wanting a homestead, about escaping the city and growing her own food, it was like she was describing my exact life. My exact dream. And the way herface lit up when I mentioned my five acres? I’ve never wanted anything more than to show her every inch of that property, to tell her it could be hers too if she wanted it.
If she wantedme.
I’m terrified of moving too fast and scaring her off. But I’m equally terrified of wasting the limited time we have together. What if I play it safe and let her walk away without her knowing that she’s the first person in years who’s made me want to share this life with someone?
I take a deep breath and head back to the living room.
“Found the star.”
My words aren’t even cold when the lights flicker.
“Storm’s getting worse. We should probably get some candles ready, just in case.”
“Just in case of what?” she asks, but the power decides to answer for me.
The lights go out completely, and Naomi gasps. “Thorne?”
“I’m right here. Don’t move. I’ll get us some light.”
I navigate to the kitchen drawer where I keep the emergency supplies. I grab a lighter and a bunch of candles and light them.
“I can start the generator if you want,” I offer, though part of me hopes she’ll say no. “But this is cozier, don’t you think?”
She nods. “This is perfect.”
We get back to decorating the tree. It should be awkward after what I said earlier, but somehow it’s not.
“So what’s the rest of your dream?” I ask as I hang a wooden snowflake on a branch. “Besides the homestead.”
“Honestly? I want simplicity. I want to wake up and know what my day will look like. Tend the garden, feed the chickens, maybe work on some art projects I’ve been putting off. I want to make things with my hands. Bread, chutney, maybe learn to quilt.” She laughs. “I know it sounds like I’m romanticizing pioneer life.”
“It doesn’t sound romantic; it sounds real. That’s exactly what life up here is like. You go to bed tired, but it’s a good kind of tired. And you own your time.”
Her eyes light up. “Owning my time sounds amazing. Right now I feel like my life owns me.”
I hang another ornament, pondering how to phrase what I want to say next. “You know, it doesn’t have to stay a dream. You could actually do it.”
“Maybe someday. After I figure out how to leave my job without disappointing everyone who invested in my career. After I save up enough money. After I find the right place.”
“Or,” I say carefully, “you could start with one small step. Visit places like this more often. See if you actually enjoy living in an isolated town, or if it’s just a fantasy.”
She meets my eyes, and I can see her swallow. “What if I already know I like it?”
“Then there’s no reason to wait,” I say and hand her the star. “Will you do the honors?”
She reaches up to the top of the pine, but it’s a huge tree. Without asking, I put my arms around her waist and pick her up so she can reach the top.
