Home > Claiming Her Forever : An Alpha Mountain Man Romance(4)

Claiming Her Forever : An Alpha Mountain Man Romance(4)
Author: Alexis Winter

I haven’t spoken to her since the day our divorce was finalized. She made it clear we were over when I walked in and found her fucking my best friend, Tanner, in this very bed. Why did I keep it and still sleep in it? Fuck if I know. Then when the divorce was actually finalized a few months later, she had the audacity to scream at me and say I didn’t fight to save our marriage. Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

I stare at the ceiling—willing myself to think of anything but that mistake—when an image of Quinn pops into my head. I just met the woman, don’t know anything about her, and don’t plan on learning anything about her. A woman like that only comes to a remote mountain place like this to escape a broken heart. I know because that’s exactly what I did. I should just tell her now that it doesn’t work. I roll over and close my eyes, wishing away the image of her pale, round face and plump, pink lips staring back at me.

When I wake the next morning, the sun hasn’t even risen. I groan as I kick back the covers and make my way to the shower. I turn it on and take a look at myself in the mirror. My eyes look tired, but my dick is very much awake and ready for the day.

“Sorry, buddy,” I say, once again ignoring my erection.

The last woman who touched him fucked him over, so to say he doesn’t get a lot of attention these days is an understatement. I don’t even feel inspired to jerk off anymore.

As soon as the thought of jerking off enters my head, I see Quinn’s face. I almost blush having the thought. I don’t even know the woman and only met her for two minutes. I step into the shower and let the hot water and steam engulf me, hoping it washes away the guilt I have for being a sick bastard.

By the time I scarf down a few eggs and toast and pour myself a cup of coffee in my thermos, the sun has just broken through the horizon. I step out the front door and pull my keys from my coat. It’s only October in the mountains, but there’s already a nip in the air in the mornings. That’s the thing about the weather in the mountains: it’s crazy unpredictable.

“Good morning!”

I spin around, startled by the chipper greeting. Quinn just smiles at me. Her auburn hair falls in a halo of loose waves tumbling down her shoulders and back. It’s a stark contrast to her ivory skin, and it’s only now I notice a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

“Did I startle you? I’m sorry. Just wanted to get a start on the day and experience my first mountain sunrise.”

She has a huge smile on her face as she gestures toward the mountain range behind us. Way too chipper for this early in the morning.

“Mornin’,” I mumble before turning away and hoping she lets me get into my truck so I can be off on my merry way.

“This place is just . . .” she doesn’t finish the statement and just makes an expression with her eyes wide and her mouth open.

“Yeah, it’s somethin’.”

“Hey, quick question,” she starts.

I take a deep breath and turn back around to face her. “Yup?”

“Could I maybe pick your brain about this place? Not the cabin, but the town? I’d love to really take a deep dive and learn about it.”

She shoves her hands deep into her snug jeans and I can’t help but drag my eyes the rest of the way down her shapely legs. I’m not sure what her angle is or why she’s so intrigued about it. She can Google it, after all. I’ve got two businesses to run and I’m not one for small talk.

“Ma’am, everything you’ll need is in the binder inside,” I say motioning back toward the house. “Anything else you wanna learn is on the internet. Now, I need to get to work.” I turn around and wave as I quickly make my way to my truck and climb in before she can stop me again.

She stands there and waves at me before turning back to face the ravine behind the house—giving me a nice view of her perky little ass. I actually chuckle a little to myself. I can tell from our short interaction that: 1) she doesn’t realize how goddamn beautiful she is, and 2) even if she did, it wouldn’t mean much to someone like her.

I feel my dick twitch in my jeans and I already know I’m going to be in trouble.

 

 

I park the truck at my Jeep rental office and make my way inside. The overhead lights are already on and music is pumping through the speakers.

“Morning, boss!” I hear Pearl shout from somewhere in the back. She isn’t a normal employee of mine, but recently, she’s been gracious enough to help me out here and there until I can hire a new manager. The last kid I hired was eager and a kick-ass worker until he broke both arms and one of his legs in a mountain biking accident.

“Morning, Pearl.”

She pops out from behind the curtain that separates the offices from the waiting area and hands me a second cup of coffee. She knows me well.

“Thanks, darlin’.”

I’ve told her a million times that she should just take over as manager here since she doesn’t work full-time anymore at her husband Blake’s cabin rental business, but she insists she isn’t interested.

She takes a seat on the stool behind the counter as I set my coffee and phone down on my desk.

“What’s with the look?” she asks.

“What look?” I log in to my computer and look at our schedule for the day. Seems like we have a pretty solid day of not only individual rentals but three full-day tours. A few other guys from town work those for me and don’t really bother actually coming to the office. They grab the keys, get their Jeeps, and meet at the destination site where Pearl tells everyone to rendezvous.

“I don’t know, but you’ve got a different look today. Your vibe is off.”

She squints her eyes at me curiously and wraps a chunk of hair absentmindedly around her pointer finger.

“Is this some young millennial talk? Because I don’t know what the hell you’re going on about.”

“Oh, stop acting like you’re a grizzled old man. You’re only a few years older than me. And I hate to break it to you, Mr. Grump-Ass, but you’re technically a millennial too. It’s anyone born from 1980 on.”

“How’s the cabin biz? Thinking of going back to it?” I ask, hoping to avoid her probing.

“Well, since Blake’s mom retired, I realized how much work it was to do it all on my own, and I just wasn’t equipped for that. I still help now and then, but that new marketing guy we hired has been doing a fantastic job. Plus, Blake and I want to . . . you know.”

She wants to say “have kids” or “start a family,” but she’s afraid to bring that kind of stuff up with me. I hate that everyone in this damn town feels sorry for me.

I look over my shoulder to meet her gaze. Her shoulders are pulled tight to her ears and her expression says exactly what I figured. She spins back around and starts clicking around on the computer in front of her.

“I am very aware that you’re deflecting, Sawyer Archer.” She grabs her coffee, spins off the stool, and walks through the curtain into my office to plop down in the chair across from me.

“We’ve got 32 minutes before our first appointment. Spill.” I see the look of determination on her face as she tosses her boots up on my desk. She isn’t giving up.

“Just a tenant at my place. She’s a chatterbox and—”

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