Chapter 2
Aidan
“You did what ?” I fix my sister with my darkest frown.
She dances from foot to foot, wringing her hands as the words fall out.
“I worry about you up there all alone. I just thought it was a great idea. When I heard about this Mountain Mates dating website, I signed you up. And you matched with this really nice girl... And, well, I was going to tell you straight away but it turns out we were reading the same book and so we got talking.”
“Kia.” It comes out as a growl. I’m sick of my sister trying to set me up, but talking on a website with some stranger? “It could be some crazy nutjob.”
“No, no, she’s so nice. Her name is Hazel and she is pretty and she works in a museum.”
I finish loading up my supplies into the back of my truck. We are on the street in front of the general store and Kia should be getting herself home before the wind picks up.
“I’m not going to talk to some girl I don’t know on a website.” My tone indicates that is the end of the conversation.
“No, wait, there’s more. I think she is coming here. I sent photos of your place and your address. I might have said she should come up here to visit. I didn’t think she would. But then, the other day…she said she was coming up here”
“When?” It comes out as a growl.
Kia shrugs. “I don’t know. I got distracted. I didn’t log on yesterday. I think she might be coming today.”
I let out a swear under my breath. Opening the driver's door I turn and point a finger at my sister. “If some strange woman turns up at my door I’m bringing her straight to you and you can deal with her.”
I jump in the truck and roar it to life. I wouldn’t really let my sister take in some crazy internet woman. But I don’t want to deal with her either. I’ve got a paper to finish. And with the storm coming in there is a lot of data to gather. I can’t believe my sister would do this to me. And I might not have even known if I hadn’t come into town for last minute supplies.
Everybody is always trying to set me up. Like there is something wrong with a man living alone up the mountain. What they don’t understand is that my work is important to me. I don’t want any distractions. I don’t want any trouble. I am perfectly happy with my life, there is always something to be done, some book to read, a paper to write. I’m sure any woman would find it boring but I am perfectly content with just me and my books and my plants.
As I pull up in front of the house I first see the beat up little hatchback car. And then, there on the front porch is the woman.
Shit.
She stands up as I get out of the truck. She is very pretty. And she looks nervous. I wonder what I would think of finding her on my doorstep if I hadn’t been pre-warned.
“Aidan Dare?” She asks in a small voice.
I nod as I’m walking towards her. “Look, I’m sorry, there has been a mistake.”
“You didn’t get my email?”
“Well, actually, no.”
She throws her arms up in the air and starts to pace. “Oh this is brilliant. This is the most impulsive thing I've ever done and I can’t even do this right. You must think I’m crazy!”
She turns to look straight at me. It’s on the tip of my tongue to agree with her. But the words disappear as I get lost in her eyes. A delicious chocolate brown, framed by long, dark lashes. A cute button nose and the most adorable pink lips. I had thought she was pretty but this lady is beautiful. My eyes sweep over her jeans and sweater. It’s hard to tell but I’m thinking she has a great curvy figure under that bulky knitwear.
What the hell am I thinking??
“Do you want to come inside?”
Whoa. What the hell am I saying??
“First thing is, I have to ask you if you are a serial killer?”
I’m shocked but it’s only fair she asks. “I swear I’m not a killer.”
“And, I have to tell you I’m carrying pepper spray. And also, well, if you don’t mind I’m going to take your picture and send it to a friend.”
I stand there as she whips up her phone and takes a quick picture. That’s smart. It’s how I hope my sister might behave if faced with a stranger miles out of town. I like that this girl is prepared. But at the same time the girl did come out to the middle of nowhere to stay with a complete stranger. And that gives me a rush of protective anger.
Inside, I move to stoke up the fire as she stands by the door looking around the place.
There are books piled everywhere. And papers. And this morning's dishes are still in the sink. If I had known she was coming I would have cleaned up. Though buggered if I would even know where to start with cleaning this place.
I watch her looking around. I feel reluctant to tell her about my sister's meddling, but she has to be told.
“Look, like I said, I have to apologise as there has been a mistake.”
“I’ll say.” She turns to me and smiles. “Your picture on the website was obviously a little out of date, that’s okay, I think a lot of people do that.”
“No. It’s…”
“And you didn’t get my email.” She looks embarrassed and her words fall out like nervous chatter. “So I think I should apologise for just turning up at your door. I wouldn’t normally just show up without a response but you had been so welcoming telling me I should absolutely come up here. And so, what with everything else going on I decided…”
“It wasn’t me.”
My voice sounds angrier than I had planned. But I’m successful in cutting off her nervous words. I hold up my hands in defence as her gaze narrows in on me.
“My sister created the profile. She’s the one you were talking to. I’m sorry. Really sorry. But you can’t stay here.”
I watch in fascination as she processes this information. So many different emotions pass over her beautiful face. But there is no doubt that the one she ends up hanging onto is anger. And I have a feeling I am in deep trouble now.