Page 4 of Grumpy Mountain Man

Magnus

I let out a bark of laughter. The sound is foreign to me but it rumbled up out of nowhere. Ginny’s good humor and spirit is infectious. I’m still trying to keep myself from encouraging her. But the girl needs no encouragement. She is determined to get me talking to her. And it’s the strangest thing, but I find myself wanting to respond. What it would be to sit and talk and laugh and get to know this amazing lady.

But after five years up here on my own, it’s not an easy thing to just let down my walls. I sit opposite Ginny, feeling awkward, as she chatters about her research and her studies. As she talks, the empty feeling in my gut grows. I can’t answer her questions about what I do because I am just living. Just existing. I chop wood for the fire. I fix things around the property. I cook myself meals and eat them here at the table on my own. I have money from my old life.

In my old life I was always busy, always a meeting or a function or a deal to be made. I had the big house in town. The beautiful wife. The expensive car. But was I happy? Am I happy now? I don’t know the answer. All I know is that I am fascinated by Ginny. How excited she gets when she talks. How fucking sexy it is when she brings her fork up to her mouth, savours her food, and then lets the fork rest on her bottom lip for a moment. It’s enough to drive a man crazy. But I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. I feel an electric buzz in my body. An energy building. It’s new and exciting. And damn scary.

Feeling the urge for some fresh air, I stand up. “The rain is easing a bit. I’ll go out and get some wood.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, you don’t have to.” I say gruffly.

“It’s no bother.” She says with that damn grin that makes me feel all warm and happy inside. Damn it. I don’t need some woman in my life, especially one who talks non stop and makes me feel all warm inside.

Outside it is still raining hard. My yard has turned into a mud pit. I have a wood pile off to the side and make a run for it. Getting to the wood shed before Ginny, I look over to see her running through the rain and the mud. And she is smiling. No, she’s laughing. She reaches me and grins up at me, water droplets on her thick eyelashes and running down her chin. “It’s like being a kid again, jumping in puddles.”

I turn away and start grabbing wood. Hoping she doesn’t hear the groan that escapes me. Damn it, I like her. I feel it in my body. I feel it in my heart. But I have spent so long determined to be on my own. To never let myself fall for a woman again. I don’t think my heart could take it. I was hurt once. Once was enough.

And yet when I look at Ginny I can feel a crack in the defences I have put up around my heart. But I don’t want those defenses to fall down. I don’t want to let anyone in. I will just have to ignore her the best I can. Ignore the bright spark in her eyes. And ignore that damn smile that makes me feel like laughing. I can’t even remember the last time I laughed. And here is this girl who laughs at running through mud puddles.

I am in deep trouble. But I am going to keep my distance from her.

A big crack of lightning nearby has us running back to the cabin, our arms full of wood. This time time I kept pace with her. As she reaches the door she turns, I get a quick flash of her grin and then she is falling.

Looking down, she is in the mud. And damn if she isn’t laughing. Is there nothing this woman won’t laugh at? In the rain, in the mud, on her ass. Laughing.

Reaching down I take her hand and help her to her feet. “Are you okay?” I ask.

She smiles and nods, looking up at me through thick, dark lashes. Her face gone pale with the cold. Her rosy, adorable lips grinning up at me.

I reach out to smooth away her hair off her face. And then a splatter of mud. Our eyes locked. Was it cold a moment ago? Because all I feel now is the heat between us. Her soft skin under my touch. I run my thumb across her lower lip. Mesmerized by how soft and plump it is. Holy mountains I want her. Thought barely registered. I just know what I want. What I need. Lowering my mouth to hers. I claim her mouth in a kiss. A kiss that just for a moment all my barriers are down. Raw. Hungry. My hands on her arms, gripping at the wet wool.

I pull back. “I’m sorry.” I feel like an idiot. You don’t just kiss a woman you just met. A woman who is just sheltering from the storm.

“No…I…” Her eyes wide, she leans into me a bit. Oh thank the heavens she feels it too.

Wrapping her in my arms I pull her close. Kissing her again. Slowly this time. Searching. Exploring. But the heat between us rises up like a wild fire. The kiss turns more urgent. Passionate. Needing. Gripping at each other. Pushing her up against the wall. My body leans into hers. She melts into me with a sign. My hand in her hair. Her hands on my chest, pulling at my clothes. And a little moan when I push my thigh between her legs.

It’s raining hard but neither of us care. I feel like I’ve been kept apart from her all my life and now she is here. Now she is mine. All of that joy. All of those smiles. I need her. All of her. Body and soul. I could stand here and kiss her forever. But I’m also painfully aware of a greater need. I am so fucking hard for her. Moving against her. Kissing her with a hunger and yearning I didn’t know I had.

Chapter 6

Ginny

There is something so joyful about running through the rain. And there must be something in the air up here because I've been feeling reckless ever since the cabin door opened to reveal Magnus standing there looking grumpy.

Falling on my ass is the last thing I want to do, but that is what makes it so funny. This whole situation is crazy. Of all the doors to knock on, Magnus is tall, handsome, sexy. Green eyes and a chiseled jaw line. Longer dark brown hair that looks like he hasn’t had a proper hair cut in years, but on him it works. Adding to the wild mountain man image. If it wasn’t for that hair and the grumpy stare, he could be in a magazine or be a famous actor with a face that pretty.

But more than his looks, it is exciting talking to Magnus. He has a kind gentle side to him that he tries to hide with all his gruffness. A little rough around the edges. But arguing with him has my heart racing. Much more exciting than talking to some older professor where I would just nod along with his ideas. Arguing with Magnus is helping me form my own ideas about happiness.

And physical happiness? Well, I’ve been feeling everyone of those symptoms.

When he pulls me up from the ground, I can feel the heat coming off his body. Even in the rain I can pick up his scent. Much better on him than on the sweater. But it is those eyes that have me frozen in one place. Leaning in to be kissed by him. And oh my!!! It feels like floating. Made more magical by the rain. The world could fall apart and I don’t care. All I need is his mouth on mine, his arms around me. His touch. This muscular, strong body.

“I think we better get in the shower.” His voice is a deep, sexy hum against my ear.

“We’re not in the shower now?” I ask with a grin.