Page 51 of The CEO and the Mountain Man

“Maybe?” he sighed, forlorn as a Jane Austen heroine. “Miguel is justamazing.”

One of the things I hated as a teenager was having my feelings dismissed just because I was young. The fact that a young relationship didn’t have a high probability of working out didn’t mean that the feelings were any less intense. Or real.

I always promised myself that I would never treat River’s feelings like they weren’t important.

“What’s amazing about him?” I asked, hoping he would tell me.

River sat at the little café table, looking off to the side as he wrapped his hands around his mug. “He reads a lot. And he’s smart. Got his GED, like I did.”

“I heard he had it rough growing up.”

River nodded. “Yeah, but he doesn’t let it keep him down. And he’s really funny.”

“Oh, that’s awful,” I said, quite seriously.

River’s mouth dropped open. “Why would you say that?”

I joined him at the table. “How’re you gonna maintain your grumpy punk exterior when the guy you like has a sense of humor?” I delicately sipped my coffee. “It’s tragic, really.”

River drummed the table for a few seconds, then flipped his hand over, giving me the bird.

“I like the nail polish,” I said, reaching for his hand.

His matte black polish had been replaced by a sparkly gray.

“Me too.”

“Did Miguel do your nails for you?” I asked, still holding his hand.

River’s expression turned dreamy. “He did. After…” His eyes widened. “Scratch that.”

I threw my head back and laughed. “So, what you’re saying is that Miguel’s postcoital-care routine includes manicures.”

River dramatically lay out over the table, thunking his forehead on the glass, barely avoiding sending his coffee mug flying.

“They’re gonna make me Windex that, you know.”

He banged it a few more times for good measure before sending me a humored glare. “I never should’ve said anything.”

“Hey, we’re learning all sorts of new things about each other. Your dad … Not as straight as you thought.” I lifted my hands in awhat are you gonna do about itkind of way. “And my son loves sweet men with cool hair and good taste in nail polish.”

“It’s not love,” he said, a little too quickly.

“I know. We’re just here for a few days.” I scrunched my nose. “But we both sound so wistful, we’d be in big trouble if this lasted any longer.”

River nodded. “Big trouble.”

I reached out and squeezed his hand once more. “Then let’s enjoy ourselves as much as we can. I could probably use another hour or so of sleep, but after that, what’s on the schedule?”

“It’s another pool day today,” he said.

“Meaning that you and Miguel are going to sneak off into the woods again?”

“Probably.”

“Don’t terrorize Beau.”

“Why? Because you need him for later on?”