Page 2

“Well, enjoy,” she offered, topping up my mug.

“Thank you …”

“Rosie,” she finished.

“Rosie? Like Rosie’s diner?”

“Yep. This is my place,” she declared proudly. “I’ll let you enjoy your food. Just holler if you need anything.”

“Will do,” I promised as I stabbed my fork into the pile of fluffy eggs.

She left me to my breakfast. The moment I tasted the eggs, I moaned. All thoughts of the waitress with curves that would send any man insane and a smile that could change a man’s life evaporated. All that existed was me and my breakfast.

It was hands down the best meal I’d eaten in as long as I can remember.

I was halfway through when Rosie appeared beside me.

“Well? What do you think?” she asked, eyeing my plate.

“Marry me?” I blurted out without thinking.

Rosie’s eyes went wide, not that I could blame her. I’d lost my damn mind. Between her heart-shaped face, perky tits, ass that I wanted to slap, and her food, I was a goner.

To her credit, she didn’t scream or have me thrown out. Instead, she laughed, an adorable giggle that only made my situation worse. “Oh, honey, I don’t think you could handle me,” she offered, before patting my shoulder and walking away.

If the food hadn’t tasted so good, now would’ve been the time for me to get up and run. Run far and run fast. It had been months since I’d been buried balls deep in a woman, and I hadn’t missed it. Life has thrown me enough curveballs lately. I wasn't interested in the complications a woman would inevitably bring. But all of a sudden, this woman had me second-guessing my vow of celibacy.

Keeping my eyes down, I focused on finishing my food so I could get out of here in one piece. As soon as I was done, I threw some cash down and rushed out the door.

The moment I climbed into my truck, I banged my head back against the seat.

“Cody, you’re a dickhead,” I chastised myself.

I couldn't believe I’d just asked someone to marry me. Sure, I hadn’t meant it, but still …. Who does that? She probably thinks I’m some kind of crazy person. With my bushy beard, I definitely looked like one.

I shook off the crazy and shoved my truck into gear. The sooner I got my shit together, the sooner I could get back up the mountain and away from temptation.

Chapter two

Tillie

“Oh my god, Tils, did you see the way he was staring at you?”

“He wasn’t,” I dismissed as I scraped plates into the trash before loading them into the dishwasher.

“Oh, he was. He wanted to eat your biscuit for breakfast,” Emmy attempted to convince me.

“You’re terrible,” I accused.

“Come on, Tillie. You’d be crazy if you didn’t notice him. His hands were massive and his shoulders, oh. Don’t even get me started on that beard.” Emmy stared at the ceiling with hearts in her eyes.

“Beard?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve never had beard burn on your thighs?”

“Why the hell would I want that?”

“Oh, honey. You’re missing out. There’s nothing better than having a man like that devour you, then leave you with a little reminder for the next day,” Emmy told me with a wink as Ryan, our cook, dinged the bell and set the plate of pancakes on the counter.