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I shake my head vehemently. “No, Ava, not at all. I like talking to you.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “You do?”
“I know I’m not always great at showing it.” I sigh, running a hand through my beard. “I’m a grumpy old man sometimes, even if I don’t mean to be. But yes, Ava. I like talking to you. You don’t need to keep apologizing. You’re not the problem. I am.”
“I don’t think you’re an old man.”
I chuckle. “You agree with the grumpy part, though?”
“Maybe just a little bit.” She grins, her eyes teasing.
“Fair enough.”
We look at each other for a beat too long before I force myself to get up. “I better go and get the backup generator up and running. Make yourself at home, okay? You can go wherever you want in the house.”
I force a smile, trying to make sure Ava knows everything’s okay. Sure, maybe I’ve been alone for a long time, but that’s no excuse to be an asshole. I need to snap out of it and stop being so cold and reserved. Ava’s like a ray of sunshine, and she deserves better than my grumpy behavior.
“Thanks, Nash,” she says, smiling back at me, her eyes lighting up. “I really appreciate it.”
I have to resist the urge to pull her into my arms. To press those soft curves against my body and never let go. I still can’t really believe this beautiful girl is here in my house. But she is. She’s here and she’s fucking perfect. So, it’s time for me to pull myself together and treat her the way she deserves while she’s with me.
Even if I know it won’t be forever.
5
Ava
I watch as Nash heads out of the room, his hulking frame barely making it out of the doorway. When the power went out in the vacation cabin, I never expected that Nash would offer for me to stay here. Every time I see him, he gets a little warmer toward me, like he’s really starting to open up. It fills me with a giddy excitement that leaves me too restless to stand still.
Nash said I could go anywhere in the house, and I intend to take him up on his offer. I can’t resist a free pass to nose around this enormous mansion—maybe it will help me to learn more about this mysterious mountain man. I get off the couch and start to wander through the endless wood-paneled corridors, marveling at the expensive furniture and dazzling chandeliers that adorn nearly every room I see. It’s beautiful, but there’s something a little sad about this place too. It’s so empty. So much of the house is clearly unlived in—many of the rooms look like untouched showrooms—and I can’t help but think of how lonely it must get to live all alone in this giant mansion, even if it is grand and impressive.
Finally, I peek inside a room that looks a little more occupied. It’s a study, with an old wooden desk and a fireplace that was clearly lit recently. Scattered across the desk are dozens of scrunched-up pieces of paper. I frown at them, scanning each one until I find a sheet that isn’t blank. The only words on the page are “Dear Lincoln.”
Lincoln. I wonder who that could be.
On the desk are a couple of framed photos. A woman in her fifties grins out at me, her green eyes shining, the same color as Nash’s. There’s also a picture of two young men, barely into their twenties. With a jolt of surprise, I recognize Nash. He looks so different—nothing like the rugged mountain man I know today. He’s young and clean-shaven without the muscles or the scowling expression. He’s actually smiling at the camera—a proper smile—his arm draped around the boy next to him who can only be his brother. They look practically identical, except his brother looks to be a few years younger.
I know I shouldn’t keep on snooping, but there’s a stack of letters on the desk, and I can’t help scanning the one at the top of the pile.
Dear Mr. Nash Stirling
I am writing to thank you on behalf of the Crave County Cancer Trust. Your most recent donation of $500,000…
My eyes go wide as I look at the sum.
Holy crap.
I quickly flick through the other letters. They’re all from the Crave County Cancer Trust, thanking Nash for his various donations over the past ten years. I gasp out loud when I see a sum of $1 million listed on one of the letters.
I guess there really is more to this grumpy mountain man than meets the eye.
Still reeling from my discovery, I nearly jump out of my skin when I hear the doorbell ring loudly through the house. Nash is still occupying himself with the generator somewhere, so I tentatively head toward the ringing noise and open the door, figuring it’s probably a delivery or something. But it’s not a delivery. It’s a pretty brunette. Instantly, I feel a prickle of jealousy. Nash might not be married, but maybe he has a girlfriend after all.
“Oh!” the young woman says, her eyes widening when she sees me. “Hello. I didn’t realize Nash had visitors.”
“Hi,” I wave feebly at her. “Um, sorry but Nash is kind of tied up at the moment.”
The woman raises her eyebrows. “Tied up?”
