Holy shit, did she know that was my favorite or is it just a coincidence? She would have seen what I ordered at the bar…so did she buy this just for me?
No. No way. I’m overthinking again.
“So…” Grace sits back down and steeples her fingers. “Tell me why you’d call this place a dump when it’s very clear that it’s the most important thing to you, Dean?”
Her insanely personal question numbs me.
I’m not about to pour my heart out to this stranger. But maybe I can use it as leverage to get to know why she’s really here. “Tell me why you’d come to Bear Creek Cabins instead of the fancy resorts only an hour away, Grace Finch?”
“I already did. I want the solitude.”
Liar.
She must sense that I don’t believe her because she drains her glass. “I’m going through something and need space from everyone in my life. Any of the…fancy…resorts in this area will have people I know staying there, and I don’t want to see anyone. There. Happy?”
Not hardly, but it’s better than nothing. And going off the flush of her cheeks and the way her body language has shifted, I’m inclined to believe she’s telling me at least some of the truth.
Grace cocks her brow and folds her arms. “Your turn.”
I’m too embarrassed to admit to this princess, who probably has more money than God, that I’m barely able to keep my business afloat and have turned to thirst trapping for grocery money.
“Thank you for the meal, it was delicious. Have a nice night, Grace.”
I shove my chair back and storm out of her house, not even bothering to lace my boots after stuffing my feet in them. I need to get out of here before I look like a failure to the prettiest woman in the whole wide world and embarrass myself further.
“Dean!” she calls out from the doorway, and I look over my shoulder at her.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for coming to my rescue earlier… and for the sauce.”
My bruised pride perks up a little. “No problem. If you need anything else, just call. I’ll come as quick as possible.”
“Well, I hope that’s notalwaysthe case… Mountain Wood.”
My feet stop moving.
My heart skids to a stop.
What. The. Fuck. She knows my handle? Did she watch my videos?
Embarrassment doesn’t even begin to describe the heat coursing through my body right now. But her tone wasn’t taunting me… she was toying with me.
Grace shuts her door with a soft click, leaving me on the lawn, speechless.
Is she playing a game with me?
“Okay, sugar. You want to play, let’s play.”
Chapter 6
Grace
The sun rises over the mountain behind Dean’s house. It crests the peak, spreading light through the cloudless sky that, coupled with the evergreens and bare trees, makes everything look tinted in pale grey. White puffs of air blow out of my mouth as I watch the world wake up from my porch with a hot mug of coffee in my hand.
The steam tickles my face, thawing the tip of my nose.
It’s freezing out. The bite of winter stings my lungs enough to make me feel alive. The snow from last night barely dusted the grass. Sadly, it’ll probably be gone before lunch. And the winds that came with it have basically blown the rest of the leaves off the trees. It’s a very different gorgeous landscape today.
