Her Mountain Man Recluse (Crave County: Mountain Men Love Curves)

6. Lila

6

LILA

The second we’re back inside, Ridge zeroes in on me, his face tight with concern.

“Are you okay, Lila?”

He’s looking me up and down as if expecting to see the cougar’s teeth marks on my skin.

“I’m okay, thanks to you.”

My heart is still hammering. I’m a city girl, and being stalked by a mountain lion isn’t exactly part of my usual routine. I can feel my knees knocking together as Ridge guides me to the fire to warm up.

“You don’t look okay,” he says, his brow furrowed. “You’re shaking.”

He’s right. My whole body is coursing with adrenaline, like it hasn’t realized we’re safe now.

“Honestly, I’m okay.” I smile at him weakly. “Sorry for being such a wimp.”

Ridge shakes his head. “Don’t be sorry. That was pretty damn scary.”

“Really?” I stare at him in disbelief. “You seemed so calm. How did you know what to do?”

“Just part of living in the mountains. I’m always out in the woods, so it’s not the first time I’ve run into a cougar.” He’s still watching me, his handsome features pinched with worry.

“How come you told me not to run?”

“Because their instinct is to chase. Running makes them think you’re prey.”

“Jesus.”

He reaches out and steers me toward the couch. “Come on. You should sit down.”

I do as he says, sitting beside him on the too-small couch, our bodies squashed together. All I want to do is curl up in his arms. I don’t think anything could hurt me with Ridge holding me tight. He was amazing out in the forest, immediately shielding me with his body, knowing exactly how to keep us safe. Who knows what could have happened if he hadn’t come with me this morning?

“Thank you, Ridge,” I say, hating how shaky my voice sounds. “You saved me.”

He makes an angry noise deep in his throat. “Don’t thank me, Lila. This is my fault. I put you in danger.”

I frown at him. “No, you didn’t. I’m the one who wanted to walk in the woods?—”

“Yeah, but you don’t know these woods. I do. It was my job to keep you safe.” His jaw clenches tight. “I should have found a safer route.”

Instinctively, I grab his hand, his skin calloused against my soft palms. “Ridge, you just saved my life. If you hadn’t been there and I’d met that cougar by myself, I’d have run a mile immediately. I’d probably be cat food right now if it weren’t for you.”

I try to keep my voice light, but Ridge shivers at my words. “Fuck.”

We lapse into silence, both of us lost in thought until Middy joins us from the bedroom, blinking her yellow eyes at us.

“You’re more my style when it comes to cats,” I tell her, reaching my hand down for her to nuzzle. “Small and fluffy.”

My other hand is still holding Ridge’s, and heat creeps over my cheeks when I feel his thumb stroke mine, the contact making me suck in a breath. I busy myself looking at Middy, but I can feel Ridge’s eyes drilling into the side of my face, setting my skin on fire.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asks eventually.

“I’m sure.” I force myself to look at him, even though my face must look like a giant tomato right now. “Sorry for being so dramatic. Honestly, I’m such a wuss. I watched A Nightmare on Elm Street at a sleepover when I was ten, and I literally still get nightmares about Freddy Kreuger.”

Ridge smiles faintly beneath his beard. “Stop apologizing, Lila. You stayed calm, you followed my instructions, and we got out of there.”

“I know.” With a rush of courage, I squeeze his hand. “I meant what I said before, Ridge. Thank you for protecting me.”

He squeezes my hand back, his gaze locked on me. “You’re welcome, Lila.” He swallows hard, Adam’s apple bobbing as he says, “I’d do anything to protect you.”

His words hang in the air between us, and it feels like the world is melting away until there’s nothing left but his eyes, blue as mountain lakes, swimming with intensity. My heart is beating so hard I swear he must be able to hear it. His gaze trails down to my lips. Time stands still as he leans in so close our noses are almost touching. I can smell his earthy scent—like a wild forest—and I want to lose myself in him, to let go of everything and kiss him like I’ve wanted to do since the minute I saw him.

But I can’t.

As much as I want to switch my brain off and let this happen, I can’t do it.

Having a giant mountain-sized crush on Ridge is one thing, but kissing him is something else entirely. I’m leaving this place tomorrow. Then it’s back to the real world to rebuild my broken life, while Ridge heads back to his cabin with Middy. He’ll be here in the mountains where he belongs, and I’ll be hours away at my parents’ house in Colorado Springs. Tomorrow will be hard enough as it is without falling for this man more than I already have. This year has started badly enough—I don’t need to add heartbreak to the mix.

I pull back, releasing Ridge’s hand and turning away. A second later, the light above our head flickers on, the power whirring back to life.

“The power’s back,” I say, stating the obvious just to break the silence. “I should probably go call my best friend. She’s been waiting to hear from me.”

There’s a pause before he says, “Okay.” His voice is deep and quiet, and I can’t look at him as I get up from the couch and hurry into the bedroom, closing the door behind me.

Here I am…running away again.

I groan, feeling like the worst person in the world as I sit on the bed and call Audrey. She answers immediately.

“Lila! I was hoping you’d call soon.”

“Hey, Audrey.”

“How’s life in the Rockies?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out a deep sigh. “It’s complicated. Something happened.”

“Uh oh. Tell me everything.”

I do as she says. I tell her everything from the moment I arrived at the cabin and Ridge answered the door with that sexy scowl on his face. Talking about him makes me want to head straight back to the living room to be close to him, but I stay put, letting it all out while Audrey listens. She’s a great person to tell things. She reacts in all the right places, gasping when I tell her about the cougar.

“And then just now,” I continue, “there was a moment where we both kind of leaned in, like we were going to kiss. But I pulled back. I already like this guy way more than I should, and kissing him will only make it worse. Every second I spend with him, the more attached I get, and I’m already dreading tomorrow.”

Audrey lets out a long breath. “Wow. Where to start…well, first off, I’m glad you weren’t eaten by a cougar.”

“So am I.”

“Ridge sounds like a good guy,” she continues. “You say you don’t want to get attached, but Lila, that ship has sailed! It sounds like you’re already super-glue levels of attached.”

I rest my forehead on my hand, squeezing my eyes shut. “You’re right. I am. But it doesn’t matter—this ends tomorrow either way. I don’t want to make it hurt more than it needs to, you know?”

Pain. That’s what it comes down to. It’s what I spend my life trying to escape from.

“Look,” Audrey says, her voice turning serious, “sometimes, you have to let yourself enjoy what’s in front of you, even if it’s temporary. Nothing lasts forever. Would you avoid picking up a romance book just because it has an ending?”

“I guess not.”

“Exactly. This is your real-life romance book, Lila! You have your very own mountain man waiting for you in the other room. Sure, falling for him is a risk, but if you don’t kiss him on his big grumpy mouth then you might regret it forever.”

I chuckle despite myself. “Okay. I’ll think about it. Thanks, Audrey.”

“You’re welcome. Now get off the phone and go do some smooching.”

We say our goodbyes and I end the call, but despite my best friend’s wisdom, I’m riddled with doubts.

Would you avoid picking up a romance book just because it has an ending?

I run the words over in my head. She’s right—even my favorite romance books have endings. But the endings are happy ones. That’s why I love them so much. No matter what happens, you know the heroine will get her hero in the end and live happily ever after. I don’t read books with sad endings…and that’s what Ridge and I will be stuck with tomorrow.

But I’m already in too deep.

Would it really hurt to sink a little farther?

“Ugh.” I shake my head, trying to untangle my thoughts. There’s a growing ache behind my temples, and when I finally leave the bedroom a few minutes later, I’m confronted with the stupidly adorable sight of Ridge stroking Middy as she kneads his lap. His giant hands make her look tiny, and he’s murmuring softly, telling her she’s a good kitty. I shut the bedroom door, butterflies fluttering inside me, and Ridge’s eyes meet mine across the tiny living room. His features soften as he looks at me, and as he smiles softly beneath his thick beard, I feel more torn than ever.