Page 16 of Claimed By The Mountain Man

“No, first time. This is actually my first date.”

Her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline. “Ever?”

“Yeah, I just—I never met anyone I wanted to take out before. I was always more focused on school or the Marines. Then I got out, and well, now we’re here.”

“Oh.”

“What about you?” I’m dying to know if there are any ex-boyfriends I have to compete with.

“This is my first date too.”

“Really?” I ask hopefully.

“Yeah. No one in school was ever interested in me. I was always, you know—” She waves a hand at her curves.

“Hot?”

She laughs, shaking her head. “No! Chubby.”

I frown. “You’re gorgeous. Don’t say that about yourself.”

Scout bites her lip and looks down at the linen tablecloth.

“Hello, and welcome to Palmer’s,” our server greets, appearing at the table. “Can I get you two something to drink?”

“Just a water for me,” Scout says.

“Me too.”

“Of course. Are you ready to order, or would you like a few more minutes?”

“I think we need a few minutes,” I answer.

“I’ll go get started on those drinks,” he says, leaving us alone again.

I raise an eyebrow at Scout, nodding for her to go on.

“Where was I? Oh, right. Anyway, even after school, I was too busy surviving to think about dating. I worked two jobs, sometimes three, and I was so tired when I went home that I just passed out.”

“Well, now you get to experience life, so what are you going to do?”

“I’m not sure. I mean, I need to find a new job, or two, and a new apartment. I probably need to find some roommates to afford that. And⁠—”

“What do you want to do?” I stress.

She pauses. “I… I’d like to go back to school and get my degree. I’d like to become a teacher. I’d like to make a difference in kids’ lives. Is that stupid?”

“No, not stupid at all, Scout. You can do it. I know you can.”

“What about you?” she asks, obviously trying to change the subject.

“I’m not sure what I want to do,” I admit.

Besides being your man.

“No inklings of what’s next?”

“I have a few job offers. Some of them seem interesting, but I don’t know. I’m torn between enjoying semi-retirement and doing something with my life.”