Jamie
T he sun is setting outside, my little cabin is quiet except for the crackle of the fire. It's simple and predictable. Just the way I like things.
What isn't predictable is the new message that arrives in my inbox moments after sending the last one.
Hell, I hadn't planned on sending any at all. The plan was to delete the message and the entire app without responding at all. But when I read through the communication, I could see that Jaxon or Briggs, or both of them, had already initiated a conversation. Dick heads.
Only a total asshole would leave her hanging without an explanation, right?
I'm a lot of things, but I am not an asshole.
At least, not when it comes to women.
So much for the plan, because now I'm in the middle of an actual conversation with a woman I've never met, who looks like a complete and total city girl. The exact opposite of any woman I'd usually be interested in. And all because a computer program told me she's my perfect match.
That's not the only reason.
It's true.
The moment I looked at Ella's picture, I was lost.
She's stunning with thick blonde hair that falls in gentle waves to her shoulders. Her smile is warm and inviting. But it's her chestnut eyes that sparkle with flecks of gold that caught me. It's as if she's looking directly at me. Like she can see me. Really see me. Even through the distance and computer screen and...
Before I knew it, I was writing her a message. And then another one and now...
Well, we're in completely uncharted territory.
Nothing in her profile gives me any indication that Ella would do well in the mountains at all. Quite the opposite. Her profile doesn't mention any outdoor hobbies at all.
Still, she's asking about them. I don't want to scare her off, and the mountains can be kind of off-putting in the winter if you're not used to them. Not for me, I love being on the mountain in the snow and ice. There's something magical and mysterious about the colder temperatures.
:
It's quiet and cold here at this time of year, but winter is one of my favorite times in the mountains. So much to do. Have you ever been? You're a city girl, I see.
Outside, the snow has started to fall and I'm glad for the extra firewood I chopped. The weather can be unpredictable up this high. A little dusting of snow can turn into a blizzard in the blink of an eye.
I brew a cup of coffee while I wait for Ella's reply, but I don't have to wait that long before my phone chimes with the incoming message.
Ella:
I've never been. But I'd like to see them someday.
Someday, huh? It's a short, simple message, but it says so much. She's not just looking for a man, but something bigger. Is that why she's on the site in the first place? I want to ask, but it doesn't feel like the right time, and I don't want to get caught up in explaining why I'm on the site.
If she wants to see the mountains, she should.
I've never been the type of man to tiptoe around things. When I see something I want, I go after it. When I make a decision, there's no turning back.
Strong. Decisive. No games.
Maybe there is something to this matching thing, or maybe there's not.
But there's only one way to find out.
I type my response.