Page 3 of Grumpy Mountain Man

Looking down, I realize we are both holding onto the folded clothes. God, I'm an idiot. How long have I been staring at her? I give a curt nod and step back, awkwardly running a hand through my hair. “You can change in the bathroom.” I nod towards a door off the kitchen.

And then I find myself watching her walk towards the other side of the cabin, admiring her curves, even as I tell myself that I am not attracted to her. I do not want her to stay here. I do not want to get to know her or let her get to know me. I’m perfectly happy with my life just as it is. And now I am determined not to think about the fact this beautiful stranger is getting undressed in my bathroom.

Chapter 4

Ginny

Holy rain drops and thunderstorms, was that a moment? Did he feel that too? Call me crazy but was this big, sexy mountain man about to kiss me? And what would I have done if he did kiss me? I’d like to think that I would object. My brian says that I absolutely should not be kissing this man who is a stranger to me. Who I know nothing about. Who is a grumpy, reclusive mountain man who could still turn out to be a serial killer.

But my heart, my body, they seem to have different ideas. Imagining being in his arms. Being kissed by him. Those big hands roaming over my body.

Thankfully the moment passed and I race off to the bathroom to get changed. The clothes are clean but there is still a faint smell of him. A warm, masculine scent. Wood fire smoke. Freshly fallen pine needles. And something sexy and spicy. I like the feel of wearing his clothes. Like a cozy hug.

In fact, the whole cabin feels warm and cozy. It’s a little sparse. No nick nacks, no pictures in frames. But there are books, cushions and blankets. The place is clean and well maintained, just…lived in. It gives an instant feeling of home that I've never quite achieved in my own life.

Magnus has put a mug of hot cocoa by the armchair for me, and he is now pottering around in the kitchen area. I make myself comfortable and warm, while inside I’m a jumble of nerves. And when I’m nervous, I like to talk.

“This is a nice place. Do you live here alone?”

No answer.

“I guess it’s lucky you were home. It seems like a lot of the cabins are empty around here.”

Just a grunt in response. He won’t even look at me. I pause for a moment to take a long sip of the hot cocoa. It even has little marshmallows in it. I try to picture Magnus, the big grumpy mountain man, in a supermarket buying little marshmallows. But the thought of it just makes me want to laugh.

Getting up I make my way over towards him, where he is heating up food for us to eat. “Can I help with anything?”

He almost jumps away from me, which I find amusing.

“I’ve got it under control. You can just sit quietly at the table. Lunch will be ready soon.”

I sit down at the wooden table with a little sigh.

“Do you think my professor will be worried about me? Is there a phone here I can use?”

He turns and looks at me now. “Phones are out. And if your professor lives up here he will know that the roads aren’t safe.” He points his wooden spoon at me. “You never should have driven up here in this weather.” He is frowning at me and once again I get the sexy teacher vibe from him which just makes me feel like being naughty.

I’m not bold enough to straight out flirt with a guy. I’m more of a thinker. Later, when I’m alone I will think of all the ways this could have gone if I was more confident. More of a take action kind of girl. For the moment I just keep up the string of nervous chatter.

“Do you want to know why I was coming up here to see a professor?” I ask.

“Nope.”

“Well, I’ll just tell you anyway.” I take a little sip of my cocoa to hide my smile before continuing. “I’m writing my thesis on the search for happiness. Professor Thomlinson thinks he has discovered the secret to achieving happiness. He has used mathematical coding to come up with an algorithm for being happy. How cool is that?”

Magnus, his back to me again, shrugs those big shoulders of his. “I think happiness is over rated.” And then, as he puts plates of delicious smelling stew on the table, he adds, “I also think people should just mind their own business and let everybody else just get on with their lives.”

I watch as he sits himself opposite me and immediately starts to dig into the food.

“How can you think happiness is over rated? What is better than being happy?” I ask. And then, “What do you do up here, anyway? I see all these books. Do you just read a lot? Or write? What do you do to keep from getting bored?”

Magnus puts his fork on his plate, looks at me and shakes his head. If I was a betting woman, I would bet that there is just the barest hint of a smile on his lips.

“You really can’t just sit quietly, can you?”

I let out a laugh. “It’s true. I’ve always been a talker. I completely fail at the quiet game. What about you? Have you ever played the quiet game?”

Chapter 5