Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
CAITLYN
Every moment of my encounter with Lars and the unknown man replayed in my mind. Sawdust had flown, and the air had carried the whine of metal as the shirtless male had run a length of wood through the enormous saw.
All my attention had been focused on the muscle play beneath his glistening skin as he lifted the piece of lumber and set it aside, then grabbed another sheet of wood. Placing a long, L-shaped metal ruler on top of it, he’d taken a pencil from behind his ear and made quick strokes along its length.
Whew, how was it I found the whole thing more than slightly erotic? Before he could make the next cut, I’d dragged my gaze off him, easing my car to a stop next to the bearded man who, thankfully, had his shirt on. Not sure I could have handled two shirtless, attractive men.
But then the strangest thing happened. My gaze was drawn back to the younger man, and our eyes met.
For a moment all my senses went numb, and I released a sigh.
His eyes were a startling blue, and the dark brows shading them had almost disappeared into his hairline, as if he was as surprised as I was by the connection.
I watched in fascination as he put his tools down while all the while smiling at me. Luna had been chattering away in the backseat, but I hadn’t been able to make out a word.
Mesmerized, I managed to pull my attention from him as the other man spoke to me through the open window.
It was harder than it should have been to look away, but I kept him in my peripheral vision.
He’d walked, no strutted with that loose-hipped swagger that all attractive men seemed to possess, and joined who I’d realized was Lars, one of the lodge’s owners.
My sister had given me a loose description of everyone living here, and he fit the “mountain of a man” perfectly.
I thanked him for the directions to Kane and Chassie’s place, just a quarter mile up the road, and continued on without looking again at the still shirtless man.
Don’t let the hot guy distract you, Caitlyn. I pasted a bland look on my face and dealt with my body’s intense reaction and racing heartbeat later. Right now, the last thing I needed was a complication. And the Chris Evans look-alike would be exactly that.
I shook my head in hopes it would banish the dream-like scene from my brain and focused my thoughts back onto why we were here. My sister Chassie had been after me to visit her and her new husband, Kane, for months. Well, now they were getting both me and my daughter indefinitely.
And really, it was her fault. She and Sami, our brother Finn’s wife, had worn me down with their endless encouraging texts and pictures showing what the tight-knit group of former Rangers had built in the last few years and the incredible beauty of Pineville Mountain.
A mountain my siblings and I had only seen from afar while growing up in the city below.
So, here I was, back in Idaho with my four-year-old daughter, Luna, after leaving my dead-end relationship and Luna’s father.
He hadn’t been cut out for fatherhood, but I wouldn’t have traded the heartache for all the money in the world.
He had given me my beautiful, smart, and funny daughter. It was his loss.
She’d been wide-eyed and happily counting trees since we crossed the state line.
I’d put the windows down to let in the crisp, pine-scented mountain air.
The abrupt change in landscape from west Texas, where she’d been born, and we’d…
well, I’d said good riddance to four days ago, had prompted her to ask if Santa lived here and where the snow was.
“It’s still Springtime sweetie pie. But there’ll be plenty of white stuff when it’s wintertime again.
” She nodded, accepting my words as fact.
Much like she’d done when I’d explained in four-year-old terms why she wouldn’t be seeing her dad again for a long time.
She’d taken it pretty well, not that my ex had ever been consistent in seeing his daughter, even living in the same city.
But she was excited about seeing my family.
Family that she’d never met and who were just as excited to meet her.
This included cousins, thanks to Finn and Sami, and an extended network of friends.
According to Sami and Chassie, it had done as much good for their husbands as it was doing for their client-guests that spent time on the mountain learning new skills or just taking a break and benefiting from private or group therapy sessions.
And the best part was the cost was nothing to them as the retreat was funded through grants and private donations.
My sister and her husband were waiting for us on their porch as I pulled up. I teared up, then dashed away the few that had escaped. It was good to be home.
“Luna, sweetie, come here and meet Aunt Chassie. Do you remember talking to her on FaceTime? And this is Uncle Kane.” My daughter launched herself into my sister’s open arms. She then shyly nodded at Kane as he said hello.
The entire interaction made me weepy again, yet settled me in a way I hadn’t dared hoped for.
We’d be going over to our brother West’s place later for dinner, but right now being welcomed without hesitation or experiencing any underlying judgement for taking so damn long to come back to Idaho was an enormous relief.
“Do you want to see where you and Mommy will sleep?” Chassie tweaked Luna’s nose, earning her a giggle and an excited nod.
Turning to me, she said, “I hope you don’t feel too crowded in there.
The apartment attached to the main lodge is still being used by Lars' brother, Vic. I think I told you about him?”
I vaguely remembered the name, but was still having trouble focusing on anything just now as the image of the shirtless man standing behind Lars wouldn’t leave me.
That couldn’t have been him. The younger man, with his broad smile and even broader shoulders, looked nothing like Lars.
Perhaps he’s a day worker or even a guest?
“Hey, Cait, you okay?”
“Um, yeah, of course, just been up since six. You were saying?” The last leg of the drive had been the longest. Determined to make it here as soon as I could meant little sleep the last couple of nights to get an early start each day.
“Victor Olsen. He recently joined the men and now gives guitar lessons to the guests. They’ve been working on a new cabin for him, and it’s supposed to be ready soon, like any day. And when that happens, then you and Luna are free to use the apartment for as long as you need to.”
Chassie led the way to their spare bedroom.
I’d thought about turning down her offer to stay here.
They were still newlyweds, and I didn’t want to impose, but it would save me from tapping into the small amount of cash I’d been able to hold on to after the sale of my house and paying off all the debt my ex had racked up.
“I appreciate everything. The room, the apartment, all of it. I plan on looking for a job tomorrow, then I’ll go grocery shopping and--”
Chassie placed a hand on my arm. “Hey, no rush. It’s okay. You’re my sister. I’m here for you. Kane is on board with all of it. I don’t expect you to get a job less than a day after getting here.” She tugged me into a hug. It was so hard not to cry as she gave me a hard squeeze.
It had been so long since we’d seen each other, and I’d been so stubborn about sharing a lot of details about my relationship with Luna’s father until everything blew up last year. The big sister from years ago still had my back, and it was humbling.
Pulling back, I sighed. “I know. I’m just still struggling with some guilt over uprooting Luna.
Believe me, it has nothing to do with her deadbeat dad, although I’m not sure I’m going to trust my instincts with men ever again.
Maybe I’ll let Luna pick out the next guy for me.
” Laughing for the first time since I decided to move, I allowed the stress it released to flow through me.
My daughter was bouncing around the room, checking everything out and playing with the new teddy bear her aunt and uncle had bought for her as a welcome present. She’d been excited for both of us the past couple of months in anticipation of the move. It was nice to finally join in with her.
“Hey, sweet Luna, you hear that? Your mama says you can choose a boyfriend for her. What do you think of that?” Chassie asked, amusement shining from her eyes.
Luna stopped fiddling with the bear’s bow, cocked her head as she looked at me and said, “Okay.” Then she went right back to playing with her new plushie.
Rolling my eyes, I gave Chassie a swipe on the arm. “I was teasing. I’m off men for the time being. Once I find a job and get Luna enrolled in pre-K, life is going to be too busy for that. So, when are we leaving for Finn and Sami’s place? I could use a shower.”
“And a snack!” Luna chimed in. Her pigtails flying as she jumped up and down. Where her endless energy came from, I still hadn’t figured out. I don’t remember being so active at that age. I loved a good nap when I was four. Still do. And Luna had refused naptime when she was two and a half.
“We’ve got you both covered. Luna, I just bought a bunch of snacks. You like carrots? How about celery sticks with peanut butter?” Chassie teased.
Luna dramatically fainted backward onto the bed, then poked her tongue out, her little eyes squeezed shut.
“Hmm, I’ll take that as a no. Okay, maybe graham crackers are more your style?” My sister kept her voice even and serious.
“I like graham crackers, but cookies are better. Do you have any of those Auntie Chassie?”
“Yes, your auntie will always have cookies for you, sweetie. Let’s go get some so your mom can freshen up.
” Scooping up her squealing niece, I watched my sister and my daughter begin the bonding process on their way to eat cookies together.
If there was any doubt about my decision, it quickly disappeared as their voices faded down the hallway.
An hour later, after a restoring shower and change of clothes, we headed over to visit our brother and his family. It was close enough that we walked, and thoughts of the handsome, younger man and his sculpted form glistening in the late afternoon sun wouldn’t let up.
What was wrong with me? I’d never been this fixated on outward appearances with any of the men I’d dated. Perhaps it was simply not having sex in over a year, or it could be the mountain setting and the teasing of my friends in Texas that, like my sister, I’d find my own mountain man.
Highly unlikely.
Sami, my new sister-in-law, was so welcoming, and I admired the home she and West had created.
My niece and nephew, Naomi and Theo, were adorable, and Luna, as the oldest of the little trio, was in heaven as they ran through the house playing.
It was hard not to imagine myself having this life because once that was the dream.
Kane and Finn were stretched out on the couch in the front room, while Sami, Chassie, and I were at the dining room table, a glass of wine in front of us. Relaxed for the first time in forever, without thinking too much about how it would sound, I mentioned the hot guy without the shirt.
Chassie’s eyes widened, then she groaned. Sami just grinned.
“Sounds like Vic. He’s Lars’ brother. His much younger brother. I’ve heard he fancies himself a ladies’ man. I’m sure you won’t be seeing him again.” Chassie stressed the last part of her statement.
“Hmm. We’re pretty tight nit around here, Chas. I’m sure they’ll run into each other eventually.” Sami finished her glass and rose from the table. “I’ll go check on the kids. They’ve gone too quiet for my comfort.”
Left alone with Chassie, I wanted to reassure her I had no intention of dating anytime soon. Especially not with someone who lived on the mountain. “I was just curious, that's all.”
“That’s cool. He’s good-looking, sure. But he’s made it clear to all of us he’s not wanting to get married anytime soon. And I know that’s not what you’re looking for either. At least not for a while, right? So, whatever you do, don’t encourage him. Unless you’re looking for a fling. Are you?”
“Don’t worry, sis. I’m not sure I’ll ever let a man get that close again. And unlike you, I don’t buy into the premise that love can happen instantly. So, it’s me and Luna against the world for the foreseeable future.” And I believed every word.