Page 6 of Mountain Man's Angel
Two minutes later, we approach the bend in the river where it narrows, splashing and creating tiny waterfalls. Audra wastes no time setting up, whipping out headphones to help her figure out exactly where to position the microphone.
After some fiddling, she fits it into a tripod, then backs away slowly. With her fingers wrapped around my arm, I follow her lead, retreating until we’re about thirty feet away, tucked into the forest.
"Do you mind waiting for ten minutes or so?" she asks. "With a longer clip, I can blend it better to make it a continuous forty-five-minute loop."
"I'm happy to wait as long as you like."
She smiles, then glances back toward her equipment.
"Don't move." I pull out my phone and edge away from her.
"What are you doing?"
"Just smile slightly." I take a few photos, watching her eyes light up as I grin like a maniac. Then I show her the best one.
Her hands flutter to her lips. "Oh my… Wow."
A sunbeam glancing through the trees ignites her hair with a soft glow, while the reflected light of several white birch trees to our left show every detail of her lovely face.
Audra holds my arm. "That's… That's the nicest picture I've ever seen of myself."
"I think it’s the most breathtaking photo I've ever taken."
She looks up at me in surprise. I jam my phone back into my pocket, then place my hands on her hips.
"I don't know what's normal on a first date," I murmur. "Don't know what's appropriate. But they say that honesty is the best policy. And honestly, I am going to explode if I don't kiss you immediately. Am I allowed to say that, Audra?"
She blinks, then makes a quick nod, her eyes wide.
“Am I allowed todothat?"
This time she doesn't just nod. Her hands reach up to circle the back of my neck. I lean down, my breath instantly catching as our lips meet. Even though our kiss is soft and gentle, my heart begins pounding in my chest like a sledgehammer against granite. My rough hands slide up her back, cradling her body against mine as I pull us three steps back to lean against a tree.
Audra comes along eagerly, her fingers tangled in the back of my hair, her breasts pressed to my chest. We melt into each other, the kiss growing deeper and more breathless as I move one hand to caress her angelic cheek with my thumb.
"So beautiful," I murmur before tilting my head and kissing her more deeply. I feel her soft moan break into a giggle when a pair of chipmunks runs across a branch directly overhead.
"Are we corrupting innocent forest creatures?" she whispers.
"Maybe. Do we care?"
Her head tips back and forth as if she's thinking about it. I capture her mouth again, this time the kiss growing deep and fiery before mellowing again.
Finally, I take her hands as she steps back. Her eyes are glazed, as if coming out of a dream. "Wow," she whispers. "So that's what people have been going on about."
She laughs as my hands tighten around hers. "That was your first kiss?" I mutter, staring in disbelief.
She shrugs. "I've avoided men my entire life." She looks down at her loose dress. "My mother was obsessed with fashion, so I ignore it. And my father was obsessed with me dating the right boys, so I’ve always refused to have anything to do with them."
"Saucy little rebel." I lean forward to kiss her forehead. "Then… Why me?"
"Because I picked you for myself," she says, her eyes bright. "You're an authentic lumberjack mountain man woodworker guy. You're real."
The pounding of my heart slows down a bit, suddenly feeling cramped in my chest.
Is she still going to think that when she finds out I'm a spoiled bastard who doesn't even have to work for a living?
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