Chapter 3
Freya
Who knew they'd be rideshares up the mountain? I certainly didn't expect it, but I am glad for it because I needed to get myself to Connor's cabin before it was too late in the day. I spent the rest of the day with Cassie the cashier and after her shift, she gave me a tour of the town.
This is something that Connor should do, but I'm way too impatient and wanted to get at least a grasp of what I was in for if I chose to marry him. I should marry him, right? It's my ticket to freedom. But even I am not comfortable with using someone like that.
He's got his own reasons for wanting to get married. I shouldn't make this all about me. The rideshare driver helps me with my luggage and puts it on the front porch of Connor's cabin. I thank him and remind myself to tip him later if I can get reception in this remote place.
I lift my fist to knock on the door when it abruptly opens and a disheveled man with a huge garbage bag appears in the doorway.
"Connor, hi."
"Freya? What are you doing here?"
"You knew I was coming, didn't you?"
"I thought that would be next week. Not today."
"Can I come in? It's cold out."
"I don't know if that's a good idea."
"Connor. I don't have anywhere to go. The reception is spotty here. I won't be able to get a rideshare back into town, and where do I even stay the night?"
"Okay, but it's a mess in here. We had a little celebration."
He places the giant garbage bag he's carrying outside the door and opens wide so that I can come in. The place looks like a frat party gone wrong, and all of a sudden I'm doubting everything this man has ever told me about himself.
I look behind me as I come inside the cabin and see he is tugging along my suitcase. How often does this man have celebrations? The amount of beer bottles and glasses left all around is too much to count, and he's already done a sweep if we go by the garbage bag he took out.
At least the place doesn't smell of smoke or vomit. I'll give him points for that. I take my jacket off and hang it at the entrance. Then I roll my sleeves figuratively and start helping.
"Can I have a garbage bag? You know, to speed things along."
"You don't have to do that, Freya. Let me take this to the guest room where you can make yourself comfortable."
"You need help, and I'm here to get to know you."
"I guess we have started on the wrong foot."
"This looks like a party a teenager would have had."
"The guys can get rowdy. It's not their fault. They wanted to help, but I sent them away. I needed some time to myself."
"Does that happen often?"
"What the party? No."
"No, I mean you needing time to yourself."
"Um…"
"Connor…"
I go over to where he's standing and walk into his arms. He's stiff as a board, but starts to relax the longer I hold him.
"It's good to finally meet you, Connor."
Lifting up on my tiptoes, I kiss his bearded cheek and then pull back. The look on his face is almost comical.
"Now let's get this place cleaned up. I'm going to need to give a stern talk to your buddies."
"They're good guys. Like I said, they would have helped."
He hands me a garbage bag, and I begin tossing things into it. My heart is beating a little faster because of that hug that I initiated. Connor smells like pine and the outdoors, and I couldn't get enough of him. I should have held onto him longer.
We work in silence for a while, and when we're done, I sit down on the couch. It's been a long day and I'm hungry. My stomach agrees with me, and I'm completely embarrassed by the sounds it's making.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I've been a bad host. There's some leftover pizza, if you can believe it. They ordered a ton."
"I could use a slice."
"Let me get you a plate."
He goes into the kitchen and comes out with a plate with two slices of pizza on it and a napkin.
"Would you like a beer?"
"No, soda if you have it, or just water."
He's back in less than a minute with a can of soda, and I take a bite of the pizza.
"This is really good."
"It's from this little Italian place. A mom and pop shop. We don't get the big chains in a town as small as Hunter's Peak."
"They've found their new frequent customer here."
"Freya…" he hesitates. "Why did you come earlier than when I was expecting you?"
Do I tell the truth or do I lie? What kind of a relationship will I have if I start it with lies from the beginning? Yet I can't get myself to tell him I'm running away from my family. I settle for half the truth.
"I couldn't wait any longer, Connor. I had to come here."
"I can tell I need to earn your trust. That's okay, we can do more small talk if you like."
"What were you celebrating, anyway?"
"This was my bachelor party, so to speak. My friends were helping me say goodbye to being a bachelor and hello to becoming a husband."
"Do they know we haven't decided yet whether we're going to marry?"
"Everyone knows everything around here. That's something you'll have to get used to."
"That's exactly what Cassie told me."
"You met Cassie?"
"I spent most of the day with her. She caught me up on everything Hunter's Peak related."
"I love Cassie, but she's a big part of the problem."
"She admitted that herself. Tell me about your day."
I watch his features change several times as he thinks what to say to me. Every thought is shown on his face and I happen to like that. This man will never be able to lie to me. Now I just need to find out how much or how little dominance he wants to exert over his soon to be wife.
"It was more of the same. People insist on hiking even though the weather is not optimal for it. Today was quiet though. How was your trip here?"
"Long. Hopefully, I won't be doing it again anytime soon."
We chat for a while longer, and then he shows me to my room. I'm saddened that he has a guest room and that we won't be sharing his bed. The one thing I'm sure of. I'm incredibly attracted to this mountain man and I don't know if I'll be able to keep my hands off him.