Page 17 of Claimed By The Mountain Man

“Enjoying semi-retirement is doing something with your life,” she corrects.

The server returns with our drinks and we both order the filet with mashed potatoes and a side salad. Once we’re alone again, we fall into easy conversation. We talk about everything. Favorite subjects in school, movies and TV shows we love, music, everything.

Hours pass as we eat and learn more about each other. By the time I pay the bill and we stand to leave, I’ve fallen even more in love with Scout. She’s perfect. My dream woman.

Scout smothers a yawn as we head out to my car, and I tuck her against my side, scanning the parking lot.

“Thanks for dinner. I had a great time,” Scout says, pausing to look up at me as I unlock the car.

“Me too. We should do it again.”

“Okay,” she says almost shyly.

I move my hand to cup her face, giving her time to pull away. She doesn’t. Instead, Scout leans into my palm, her eyes searching mine.

“Can I kiss you?” I ask.

Her lips part, and for one agonizing second, she says nothing. Then she gives me a small nod.

I bend slowly, watching her the entire time. Her eyes flutter closed just before my lips brush hers.

The kiss is soft and careful. Nothing more than a gentle press of my mouth against hers, but it sends a jolt straight through me. My heart pounds against my ribs as I force myself to stay in control. I’ve imagined kissing Scout more times than I can count, but none of those fantasies came close to this.

She’s warm and sweet, and she’s kissing me back. Her fingers curl into the front of my shirt, holding on as I tilt my head and kiss her again. This time, she rises onto her toes to meet me.

A low sound rumbles in my chest before I can stop it.

Scout pulls back, her cheeks flushed. “Was that okay?”

“More than okay,” I assure her.

Her shy smile nearly brings me to my knees. “I’ve never done that before,” she confesses.

I stroke my thumb over her cheek. The possessive part of me thrills at the knowledge that no one else has kissed her. That I’m the first man to taste her lips or make her look this breathless.

I shove those thoughts down before they can ruin the moment.

“Neither have I,” I admit.

Her eyes widen. “Really?”

“Really.”

“So we’re both terrible at it?”

I laugh, resting my forehead against hers. “I don’t know. I thought we were pretty damn good.”

“Maybe we should try again to make sure.”

I stare at her, wondering if she has any idea what those words do to me.

“Yeah,” I say roughly. “Maybe we should.”

This time, Scout closes the distance between us. Her kiss is tentative at first, but when my hand slides from her cheek to the back of her neck, she melts against me. I wrap my free arm around her waist and draw her closer, careful not to frighten her. She fits perfectly against my body, as if she was made to stand right here in my arms.

The kiss deepens, and the rest of the world disappears. There’s no empty parking lot. No danger lurking in the shadows. No father searching for her or men who might try to take her away from me.

There’s only Scout. Her soft lips, her fingers gripping my shirt, the quiet little sigh she makes when I kiss her once more before reluctantly pulling away.