Matched to the Mountain Man (Mountain Man Mail Order Bride)

Ella

I was not expecting that.

Well, I guess I kind of was. After all, he did tell me he was looking forward to our first kiss.

And what a kiss it was.

My heart is still racing as he collects my bag and leads me to his truck, parked across the street. I'm only half listening as he points out the various shops and tells me who works where. There will be time to learn more about Rock Creek later. If everything works out—and if I'm judging by that kiss alone, it's going to work out just fine—this will be my home.

"This is me." Jamie opens the passenger door of his massive truck. "Hold on, I'll help you up."

I've never needed help getting in a vehicle before, and I'm not about to start now. So while Jamie is tucking my suitcase away, I reach for the back of the seat and lift one leg awkwardly high, until I'm sort of climbing into the truck in what has to be about the least glamorous way I could have possibly managed.

Behind me, I hear Jamie chuckle and say, "I would have helped you." And then his hands are on my ass, lifting me up into place. When I'm finally upright, I straighten my hair and try to regain some semblance of my composure, although I'm sure it's far too late for that.

When I finally risk a look at him, he's grinning and looking ridiculously handsome. "I've never seen anyone get in a truck like that."

"Well, I've never seen such a giant truck before."

He tries to swallow his smile, but I can tell it's still playing at the corners of his mouth. "I would have helped you."

"I don't need help." I'm not trying to be difficult, but I don't want him to think I'm a weak city girl. Ava was right; I don't have any experience with the outdoors, or apparently things like trucks that are required for living in the great outdoors, but I don't need to flaunt that fact. "I'm perfectly capable of...well, a lot of things." I blow out a breath. "But thank you," I say, dropping my guard a little. "I appreciate the help."

I want Jamie to see me as a strong woman. One that will be an asset to his life, not a liability.

"I'm more than happy to help." His lips twitch into an easy smile only partially hidden beneath his thick beard. "But for the record, I have no doubt you're a very capable woman, sweetheart."

The use of a pet name makes me swoon a little. No one has ever used a pet name or even a nickname for me before.

I like it.

It only takes a few minutes to drive from the main street to Jamie's small cabin situated just on the edge of the town limits. "It's not much," he tells me. "But it's home."

The pine tree-lined driveway makes me feel like I'm in a snow globe with the powder-covered pines towering around us. The snow is still falling in big, fat flakes as we pull up in front of his cabin.

"It's so...cute."

Jamie makes a noise that sounds somewhere between a cough and a laugh. "I've never heard my house described as cute before." He lifts an eyebrow, and I hope I haven't offended him. But it truly was the first word that came to mind.

It's a perfect square one-story log cabin with a huge covered porch out front. On the side, there's a large stone chimney with wood smoke curling out the top.

"It looks like a picture," I try again. "I've never seen anything like it. It's amazing."

Jamie chuckles. "Let me show you inside before you make any decisions. There are a lot of log cabins around here, but mine is probably one of the smallest." He jumps out of the truck, and before I can even get my door open, he's reaching in for me. I don't have time to protest before he lifts me out and sets me on my feet in the snow.

And the thing is, I surprise myself by not minding at all. I like the way he wants to take care of me. I've never had anyone want to do that before.

At least not that I can remember.

"Sorry," he says gruffly. "Habit."

I'm busy taking in my surroundings and making sure I don't slip and fall in the snow and ice as I follow him up the steps to the front door.

Jamie stomps his feet to knock the snow off his boots, and I do the same. "We're going to have to get you some proper footwear," he says with a pointed look at my brand-new boots.

"What's wrong with..." I don't bother finishing the sentence since my feet are already soaking wet and starting to freeze, and I've only been outside a few minutes.

"Come on in." Jamie opens the door with a flourish, and I'm hit instantly with the warmth from the fire. It's a simple room with a fireplace and stone hearth occupying the far wall and a sofa in front. There's a built-in kitchen with a table for two, and toward the back, two doors. I assume one to be the bathroom and the other the bedroom.

"Make yourself at home."

Within minutes of Jamie taking my coat and slipping off my wet boots, that's exactly what happens.

Jamie's space isn't fancy. If anything, it's on the rustic side. Exactly like I'd expect a mountain man's bachelor cabin to look like. There are literally no female touches at all, but I instantly feel like I've come home.

"So?" He asks a few minutes later once I've had a chance to take it all in. "What do you think?"

When I turn, he's standing so close to me that I have to tilt my head back to look at him. He's at least a foot taller than me and huge. So huge. I've never stood next to such a massive man before. He makes me feel tiny, something I used to think was impossible.

But it's the way he's looking at me like he's only barely restraining himself that has my tummy doing flips and a heat blooming between my legs.

"I think I'm really going to like it here."