Chosen for the Mountain Man (Mountain Man Mail Order Bride)

3. Max

CHAPTER 3

MAX

I can't believe she's here.

MsWrite28 , Ciara Owens, the digital goddess I've been talking to for the past two weeks, materializing in real life right before my eyes.

The moment I saw her standing next to her car, my heart started to hammer in my chest like a rookie about to go on his first tour.

She's even more breathtaking in person—that strawberry blond hair, those gray eyes. I'm struck by how...young she looks. Not in a bad way, just...not at all what I expected. Besides, in how she carries herself there's a certain strength and resilience. It’s so attractive. And I can’t get that sweet blue-green sundress with tiny daisies she’s wearing out of my head. How the fabric clings to her breasts just enough to make my mouth water and how the hem flutters against her thigh making me wish I could follow it with my fingertip. It’s part of the reason I needed to get to the shower, and… take care of some… ahem …business …before getting back out to her.

Without a massive hard-on.

We’ll see how long that lasts.

The last thing I want to do is scare her off.

Once I throw on a clean T-shirt and shorts, and steel myself against the onslaught of temptation, I return to the main room to find her perched on the overstuffed arm of my recliner.

“How do you like the place?” I ask, trying to play it cool.

Her gaze travels down my body, as if she’s assessing me. Then she bites that lush lower lip.

She’s killing me.

“It’s charming and comfortable…and not surprisingly, neat and clean,” she says. “A lot like you.”

I chuckle and feel my cheeks turning red.

“Speaking of surprises…”

Her brow goes up in anticipation.

“I thought we could have a picnic lunch out at my favorite overlook. Why don’t you change into something you can hike in, and we’ll head out?”

“Oh,” she says, but there’s something in her eyes. A wariness.

“We don’t have to. I mean, if you don’t trust going out on the trail with me?—”

“No, I’m fine, Max,” she interrupts. “I’d love to go on a hike with you. A picnic sounds lovely.”

I grin. “You’re sure?”

“Absolutely,” she confirms, and stands up. “Give me ten minutes to change.”

She walks by toward the guest room and touches my arm. It flexes involuntarily, and I struggle not to pull her to me. Damn, this woman has me reacting like I’ve never seen one before.

Later, I’m leading us through the familiar forest paths, unable to take my eyes off her. The sun dapples her face through the leaves, highlighting her freckles. I’m finding it easy to talk to her. As if we've done this a hundred times before.

“I found this spot during one of my long afternoon walks earlier this year after the snow had melted. The view is so worth the hike.”

“You take a lot of long walks?”

“Most recently after Ro went off to live with Duke.”

I’d told her about our parents' accident ten years ago, and how I’d left the Marines to come take care of my sister, Ro, who was only sixteen at the time. Between my cleaning business that I began shortly after that until just last year, it had been me and Ro on our own.

“Is that why you decided to move out here all by yourself?” she asks.

I shrug. “Needed a change of pace after Ro moved out. The quiet, the fresh air... it's good for the soul.”

She nods. “I can see that.”

We finally reach the spot—a clearing that overlooks a stunning vista of the valley below. A gentle stream runs nearby, the water crystal clear and sparkling in the sunlight.

“Wow, Max,” Ciara breathes, stopping to lean against a tree as she looks out at the view. “This is... incredible.”

“I like to think I have an eye for beauty,” I reply, gazing over at her.

She chuckles. “Stop it.” She comes over to nudge my shoulder as I kneel down to spread the blanket out.

I grin and unpack the basket of food. “So, you said your sister was worried sick about you meeting me,” I say, remembering her mentioning it earlier.

“Hallie's always worried about me. She gets it from my parents. Not sure where they got it from,” she admits, her voice trailing off.

“You’re twenty-eight , and incredibly smart and responsible. You’ve got a great head on your shoulders. What do they have to worry about?” I hold my hand out to help her down onto the blanket.

Ciara hesitates, then shrugs. “No clue. They’re having a hard time accepting that I’m an adult.” She quickly adds. “And have been for a long time.”

She sits on the blanket next to me. “Oh wait!” Then she rolls to the side to pull her phone from her back pocket. “I promised Hallie a selfie of us, so she knows you didn’t kill me.”

“Oh my god,” I groan. But I scoot closer to her. She smells like flowers and dewdrops, and I barely resist tasting the soft skin under her ear.

“Ready?” she asks, holding the phone out and smiling.

“Yup,” I answer, and she presses the button on the side.

We take a few, making silly faces for some of them.

She laughs as she looks them over, and my phone pings. “Sent them to you.”

“Perfect,” I reply, grabbing a couple plates for us.

She surveys the food—a variety of sandwiches, veggies, fruit, cheese, and cookies. “You made all this?”

I smile. “I wasn’t sure what you liked. I think it’s the one topic we haven’t broached in our conversations yet.”

“This is wonderful. Quite the selection. I didn’t expect a mountain man to have…hummus.”

I chuckle. “Got hooked on the stuff when I was stationed overseas.”

She nods, taking a carrot stick and dipping it in the hummus. “Definitely a good choice. You said you wanted to impress me. Well, mission accomplished.”

My chest puffs out a bit. “Glad you approve.”

She grins, filling her plate and I do the same.

“You know, I would think your parents would be more concerned with Hallie. I mean, she married a rock star!”

“I know, right?” Ciara says, spreading some brie on a cracker.

“But Lennox Steele, wow. He’s a total legend. I’m a big fan.”

“He’s a great guy. My favorite singer, actually. I was over the moon when Hallie told me they were in love.” She sighs. “Still, he’s another one that’s decided to be overprotective of me.”

Something about that makes me a little jealous. “As we’ve established, you seem perfectly capable of taking care of yourself.”

“ Thank you,” she says, shaking her head. “Maybe they’ll all listen to you.”

“Say the word, and I’ll go to bat for you,” I say, with a wink. “Even with rock stars.”

I want to be the one Ciara relies on. To take care of her…when she wants me to, of course.

She gives me a soft smile in return, one that makes my insides flutter. “Thank you.” Then she gestures toward the food. “And for this.”

“It's my pleasure,” I say, tossing a couple of grapes in my mouth. I lean back onto my elbow, resisting the urge to move closer to her. But damn, it's hard. Really hard. “You've got me eager to learn more about you.”

She laughs, then takes a slice of apple. “What would you like to know?”

“All your secrets, all your dreams.” My voice drops to a low murmur. “And I promise, nothing will scare me away.”

Her cheeks flush. “I’m sure we’ll get there soon,” she says, as she looks toward the stream. “That’s the clearest water I’ve ever seen.”

“How about a dip? I know how much you love swimming. The water shouldn't be too cold this time of year.”

“We don’t have swimsuits,” she says mid-bite, looking much too innocent.

“Who needs suits? We’re out here alone.”

Ciara's face goes beet red, but she doesn't look away. I think I see a flicker of uncertainty, but then she licks her lips.

Fuck, that’s not helping keep the erections at bay. Though suggesting we skinny dip must mean I’m a sadist or something.

“I’ve never swam in a stream before,” she says.

“There’s barely a current. Besides, if anything happens I’m well trained in mouth to mouth.”

The moment it comes out of my mouth, I wince. “Sorry, was that too cringy? My nerves made me say it.”

But she just giggles, the blush still going strong.

“No, it’s…fine. Let’s go for a swim.”

Okay now I'm gonna need some of that military discipline.