3. Chapter 3 - Clint
Clint
I reach up and touch my forehead gingerly, then pull back two fingers smeared with red. She got me good. Groaning, I get to my feet, nudging the metal mug she threw at me with my boot.
"Hold up!" The beautiful woman standing before me puts up her hand, and I freeze, realizing I've scared her.
Of course you scared her. You're a grumpy brute storming through the woods directly for her. She probably thought I was a bear. I grab the back of my neck, embarrassed by my reaction. "I-I won't hurt you."
"That's exactly what a serial killer would want me to think." The goddess before me looks genuinely distressed, and her cheeks turn pink the longer I stare at her.
"Right. I guess I would. I mean, a serial killer would," I correct when she looks at me sharply and backs up another step in alarm. "I-I'm not going to kill you." Oh, god. I suck at talking to women in general, and I'm definitely rusty in my skills to convince her I'm not a murderer.
My sister always said words were meaningless without action, so I take off my pack and toss it to the side next to the flimsy piece of shit this woman is calling a tent.
Is she planning to camp in that thing? It looks like a Cracker Jack toy.
Damn it. What is she doing out here? I raise both hands in surrender and lower myself to sit on the ground.
"I'm sorry I scared you. My name is Clinton …
er, Clint. I've been testing some camping gadgets for my company.
I lost my footing coming down the mountain over there.
" The woman eyes me suspiciously, and I try to keep my eyes on hers instead of roving over her sexy, curvy body like my cock is begging me to do.
Her shoulders relax slightly, but she's not comfortable yet.
"Look, Mimi, is it?" I ask.
"How do you know my name?" she squeaks, her eyes terrified with a hint of something else. Something I'm definitely imagining for my own benefit.
Great. I don't think I could come off as more of a serial killer if I tried.
I shrug, embarrassed. "It's embroidered on your backpack.
I'm going to toss you my wallet, and you're going to take out my driver's license.
Take a picture of it and one of me, and then you are going to send it to a friend. "
"My phone died." She glances at her backpack ruefully.
"Oh, god!" I scrub my hands over my face, trying to keep calm. My fear for this incredible woman alone in the woods just tripled. "Why would you tell me that? If I was a serial killer, that is the worst thing you could tell me."
Mimi stares at me, her mouth open, but she can't come up with a response.
"Okay," she finally says, drawing out the word before clearing her throat.
"Well, my boyfriend, Pierce, is on his way back from the car right now.
And he's bringing my other boyfriend, Dante with him, so don't try anything, Mystery Man. "
An unnatural rage boils in my blood at the thought that she has not one man pleasing her, but two.
Mine.
Oh, god. What if I am a serial killer and this is my first time getting the urge? No. The thought of Mimi injured let alone gone from this Earth turns my stomach.
Then I look at her small tent, the solitary cup, and single chair, and I know she's lying.
"Mimi, are you really alone out here with no cell phone and that ridiculous tent for shelter?"
"Excuse me? Does pink offend you, sexy mountain man?" Mimi puts her hands on her hips.
Sexy? I grin in spite of myself, mesmerized by her eyes, and then her cheeks turn red as she realizes what she said. She clears her throat, breaking eye contact with me, and I look around again before checking my watch. I'm not leaving her here.
"No, ma'am. Pink doesn't offend me. Cheap camping supplies do. Mimi, let's grab your stuff. A big storm is coming, and you are barely prepared to camp in good weather." I stand and start to gather the few items strewn about her camping site.
"I'm fine. I checked the weather yesterday, and the guy at the store said my tent will withstand some light rain." Mimi shakes her head, grabbing her backpack away from me. She sets the chair upright as if that solves the problem.
"Do you have any wilderness training whatsoever?" I blurt out before I can stop myself. And as if I hadn't immediately recognized my tone as obnoxious at best, Mimi's hands fly to her hips again, her mouth set in indignant annoyance as she glares at me.
"Well?" I ask, apparently stuck on my rude-douche setting.
"That is none of your business." Mimi huffs adorably, lifting her chin regally, but she doesn't refute my suspicions.
As irritated as I am with her for putting herself in danger, all I want to do right now is scoop her up and kiss her until she can't remember her name.
My cheeks heat from the images rushing through my brain of everything I want to do to her luscious body.
I flex my hand, willing it to remain in place and not reach for her hip as I picture her massive tits bouncing in front of me.
I'm a creep.
"If you must know, I was in scouts as a kid." Mimi brushes invisible lint off her skirt, not meeting my eyes.
"And you camped as a scout?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at her skirt and sexy knee-socks doubtfully.
"None of your business," she repeats, emphasizing each word.
I groan. "Did you camp in your backyard at least?" I ask, and when she doesn't respond, I try again. "You've been in a backyard before, right?"
"Look, I grew up in the city, Mr. Mountain Man.
There weren't a lot of backyards to come across.
My mom used to take me to Central Park all the time when the weather was nice, and I loved it.
" Her face softens, and I'm overcome with the need to hold her.
"I loved the trees and the grass. The lakes and the birds.
" Mimi looks like she's about to cry. I hate it.
"So, you ran to the mountains? Why not go to Central Park?" I ask, softer this time and less accusatory, or I'd like to think that's the case. I'm trying not to reveal how turned on I am by her, so everything comes out a little choked and growly.
"Because I wanted to camp, Mystery Man!" Mimi turns her back. "Alone," she mutters, fluffing her tent, and I groan in frustration.
Mimi turns around, hands out as she shrugs. "Look. I can't leave. I need an epiphany. And I watched a TV show where the main character went on a camping trip and had an epiphany, so here I am."
"Do you make a lot of your decisions based on television?"
"If TV doesn't tell us how to live life, then I don't want to live!" Mimi says with all the passion of a main character.
I'm flummoxed by this crazy woman. Taking a deep breath, I try again. "It's not going to be safe out here in about two hours, Mimi. Let's go!" I come up behind her, trying to figure out how to pop the tent down.
"I can't leave!" Mimi whirls around, staring up at me, mere inches from my face.
"Why not?" I yell, exasperated that this incredible woman is stubbornly risking her life, and I can't do anything to stop her.
"Because my mom died!" she yells back. And just like that, all the fight goes out of me.
This is more than a stubborn streak. "Six months ago, and I'm sure you will think this is crazy, but she sent me a sign to come here, and I think she's going to help me figure out the rest of my life.
So I can't leave until I've done it. Until I have my epiphany and make a plan.
" Mimi looks at me helplessly, shaking her head as tears roll down her soft cheeks.
I watch her for a few solemn moments. She wipes her face, blows out a shaky breath, and sets her jaw stubbornly before she squares up to me again.
Instead of arguing, I simply nod. "Okay.
I'll stay with you then." I set my pack down, then pull out my lightweight waterproof jacket.
I drape it around Mimi's shoulders. Not surprisingly, it dwarfs her figure, and something about seeing her in my clothes brings out a primal lust that I immediately have to tamp down.
Eyeing her tent with frustration, I grunt, "Let's hope your epiphany comes before we drown."
Mimi gives me a watery smile, pulling the jacket tightly around her, and I gaze deeply into her eyes.
I lean toward her, wanting to close the space between us and kiss her, but worried about crossing a boundary.
I need to stay with her to keep her safe tonight, and if I'm misreading her interest, I don't want to freak her out.
Her mouth parts slightly, a soft breath escaping as I get a little closer.
And then, the first drop of water lands on my nose, jolting me back to reality. I let out a sigh and turn to her tent. "Show me how to close this thing. We're going to have to make a run for it sooner than I thought."