Page 8 of Snowbound Mountain Man

I've got the rest of the loading of my truck to think about now.

By the time we're on the road, Juniper is snuggled up comfortably in my passenger seat. It's the strangest thing seeing a woman her size swallowed up by the seat at my side. It's a wonder she didn't ask for help to get into the cab, not that I wouldn't have jumped at the opportunity to help her.

Her attention is on the window next to her. "Does it always look like it's about to snow?"

"During this time of year?" A laugh escapes me. "Yes. Normally, people don't leave their cabins often enough to have to worry about the heavy snowfall."

"Don't tell me that everyone acts like bears, where they get enough supplies to last through the season." When I don't deny her claim, her head tilts to look my way. "Wait, really?"

"Can't speak for my neighbors, but personally, I try to. It's smart, and if it means I don't have to put myself at risk when it gets bad, then I'm happy to hoard all of my goods." It's a practice I've done for the last decade living up here, and I haven't run into any issues. This is the first week I've been more active during the colder season in a long time. "Surely, you're used to Montana weather."

She nods. "In Lincoln Heights, we've got beautiful snow plows and people who shovel sidewalks. I don't think there's ever a time when I feel like I'll be stuck."

Lincoln Heights, huh? So she's been less than an hour away this entire time? I could drive there and back, getting her where she needs to go if the occasion arose.

Stop considering asking her to stick around.

"So you're a city girl then?" Cocking a brow, I'm forced to stifle a smile when she huffs. "Greg only had so much to say about you, you know? You could tell me a little more."

My words seem to have the opposite effect on her as she turns her attention back to the window. Unfortunately, with the state of the path I'm on, I can't afford to look her way to figure out what she could be thinking.

"What did he tell you about me?" Her voice comes so soft, it feels like she's got her fingers around my heart and is twisting it hard.

"Only good things," I reassure. "He always spoke so proudly of your achievements. Every time your social media page got updated with a new photo, he'd show it to me so happily. The man was proud of you, Juniper. He told me you did everything on your own."

Now that I think about it, he'd only ever brought up her bakery. Sometimes, he'd dredge up old memories paired with his ex-wife, too. Always good memories. He'd smile every time he brought either of them up, but there was always a sadness lingering behind that curve of his. I had an idea about his situation, but never pushed by digging deep into his past. Not when he was trying hard to live his life for what time he had left of it.

"He never told me what kind of person you really were," I add, hoping she'll fill in the blanks for me. "I'm interested in finding out what he didn't know."

Her hands curl on her lap as she nods. "It's not his fault he didn't know. I cut him out of my life because..."

"The drinking?" I offer, causing her to turn and look at me with widened eyes. "He was in rough shape when he moved up here all those years ago. If it means anything, he came up here to sober up, but decided to stick around after getting to experience the peace that comes with excluding yourself the way we do."

I'm not the type of person to judge, but I respected him for putting in the effort he had to kick the bad habit. I guess I didn't think it was bad enough for that to be the reason Juniper never visited.

She remains silent for the longest time, sitting on the information I've given her until we reach the base of the mountain. It's only when we reach a red light that I ask her if she's doing alright.

Juniper nods her head, but she lets out a sigh. "It sucks that it took me leaving for him to do something drastic enough to move to a mountain. Makes me wonder how a conversation between us would've played out if I had tried to reach back to him."

"Before you came here, did you ever want to?"

She grimaces and shakes her head. "I didn't even know what he's been up to these last few years. I assumed he hadn't changed and didn't want to get sucked back into his toxic behavior."

Reaching toward her, I pat her thigh. "Don't beat yourself up then. Just know, I don't think he's ever held it against you."

Dragging my fingers away before I accidentally let them linger, I clear my throat in hopes she doesn't feel awkward about the topic and my movement.

Instead of becoming uncomfortable, she gives me the gentlest of smiles. "Thanks, Hunter. Even if I wasn't here for him, I'm glad he had someone during his recovery. He was lucky to have you."

The light turns green, but it takes me a moment to push down on the gas pedal.

"He's not the only one, Juniper." Fighting the urge to keep my mouth shut before I say too much, I don't have the strength this time around. "You've got me too."

I risk a glance her way to see her biting her lip. She's trying to contain something behind that smile. Unsure of what to make of it, I head toward our first destination with more questions than answers, and a problem that is only seemingly growing.

The feelings for her that I can't seem to squash.

Chapter five