Page 6 of Blind Date with a #MOUNTAINMAN (Love Canyon Blind Date with a #BOOKBOYFRIEND)

CHAPTER SIX

Jace

I should’ve held back. Should’ve protected both our hearts.

But once I got my first taste, there was no going back.

Iris is mine.

Every sexy inch of her.

We just had to ignore the fact that we lived on opposite ends of the country, with thousands of miles between us.

“Well, butter my buns and call me a biscuit, my sweet boy looks like he’s in love.

” Nan said to me one morning before I left to see Iris.

I laughed it off and told her I was just having fun.

She didn’t mind. She loved seeing me happy and bonus points, her friend was so happy she couldn’t stop baking Nan her favorite treat of chocolate fudge.

But for the rest of the day, I couldn’t get Nan’s words out of my head.

My sweet boy looks like he’s in love…

There was no way. I barely knew Iris. We had fun together. Nothing more, nothing less.

But the thought stuck around all day, nagging at me. And after a fun day together and dinner with her hilarious friend Emily, I didn’t want the night to end.

So, when she asked me to spend it with her, there was no way in hell I was saying no.

And now after spending the night having sex in every position possible, I was afraid my Nan was right.

I was falling hopelessly in love with Iris. A woman from an entirely different world than mine. Yet when our two worlds combined, it was life altering.

Our blind date turned into something I never saw coming. Yet I was headed back home. The one place she wasn’t. How could I ever let her go? How could I ever break her heart? Or mine?

Or maybe her heart wouldn’t break. Maybe she’d cut ties and be done, back to her old ways. Always working and never experiencing or enjoying life to the fullest.

When I woke up in the morning on the day I was leaving, with Iris in my arms, sadness yanked at my every string and I pulled her closer to me, burying my face in her hair and whispering I love you.

We had spent the past two days in bed together, besides the little window of time where we had dinner with both Nan and Mimi.

After morning sex in both the bed and the shower, we enjoyed one last breakfast together before it was time to say our goodbyes. I still had to stop in at Nan’s, pack up the rest of my things, and say my goodbyes to her.

I stood in the doorway of Iris’s apartment and took her in my arms. I breathed her in deep, hoping to commit her scent to memory, something to bring me comfort in the long nights ahead.

Iris took a step back and looked up at me while placing her hands on my chest. “Maybe you can come visit sometime.” Her voice cracked and she blinked away the tears glistening in her eyes.

“I’d love to. And maybe you can come visit me and see how sexy I am when making applesauce.” I attempted a smile but there was no light behind it, my usual warmth turning colder.

Iris chuckled. “Looking sexy while making applesauce? Now this I have to see.”

“Yes, you do.” I lifted her off her feet and spun her around in a circle before setting her down gently and kissing her with everything I had, pouring my feelings out as an unspoken language only the two of us understood.

And when I’d filled up every empty hole inside me with her , holes formed by the thoughts of never seeing her again, I hugged her one last time and whispered a goodbye. Soon, the holes would be empty again and I’d miss her and wonder if she missed me.

After a moment’s pause, I walked out the door and didn’t look back. If I had, I might never leave.

My goodbyes to Nan weren’t much better, my throat thick with emotion. This wasn’t my home, and my actual home needed me. My business needed me. Yet every part of me yearned to stay.

“Come back soon, sweet boy. Time is precious. And I’m pretty sure a special someone would be very happy to see you.” Nan hugged me tight, her short petite frame swallowed by my much larger one.

“I wasn’t supposed to fall in love, Nan.”

“Oh, my sweet, sweet, handsome boy. When it’s the right one, it’ll always work out. You’ll see.” Nan touched the side of my cheek, and we said goodbye.

The cab ride to the airport was uncomfortable and hot and I was thankful when I finally arrived and climbed out of the stifling car. Inside, I made my way through check in and security, before finding a seat in front of a coffee shop, my flight still a couple of hours out from boarding.

I tried checking my emails, scrolling through social media, and reading over my business emails, but I couldn’t focus. All I could think about was Iris.

Her smile.

Her laugh.

Her curves.

I wanted her as mine. As my wife. The mother of my children.

My own thoughts scared the shit out of me and my pulse raced. How had I become so smitten for a woman I met only a week ago?

Life is crazy…

I stood up and walked around, aimlessly wandering, hoping for some sort of distraction. Once I got on the plane, I’d feel better. Headed home, back to my life and business, back to my regular routine.

“Jace!”

I heard my name, a frantic voice screaming it from somewhere. I looked around but saw no one I recognized. Probably another Jace or something.

“Jace! Please! Wait! Jace!” The vaguely familiar voice yelled again. There was so much commotion around me, I could barely hear, never mind make out who it was.

“Jace!” The voice got closer.

My heart rate tripled, pounding in my chest.

It couldn’t be…

“Jace, please, wait! I love you!”

Iris’s voice was crystal clear now.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

I spun on my heel and found Iris standing there, chest heaving as heavily as mine, tears streaming down her cheeks. She shrugged her shoulders and offered a half smile. “I couldn’t let you go without telling you.”

My entire mood lifted at the sight of her standing before me. I blinked a couple of times, but it was real.

She was here.

Chasing me down in an airport.

Telling me she loved me.

“What are we going to do now?”

Iris shrugged again.

“Kiss her, you idiot!” Someone said from beside me. Without bothering to look, I stalked over to her, took her in my arms, bent her backwards, and kissed the living shit out of her.

Cheers erupted around us.

“I love you so much, Jace.” Iris whispered. “I don’t know how or where we go from here. But I couldn’t let you go. The thought of never seeing you again…” She blinked and swallowed hard. “It tore me apart inside.”

“Come with me. To Appleridge.”

“What?” She huffed, her eyes wild.

“Come with me. You can help me with the business or not work at all. Whatever you want. I make plenty to support us both. You said it yourself that you don’t like your job. Why not give us a chance?”

“But Jace it’s not that simple. There’s Mimi and Emily…”

“There’s a lot to figure out, I know. But when it’s right, it’ll always work out.” I echoed Nan’s words from earlier.

Iris searched my eyes, studied my face, and when a huge ear to ear smile stretched across her face, my heart lifted, full of hope.

“Okay, yes, fine, let’s do it.” Iris jumped into my arms, and I spun her around while everyone cheered.

“I love you.” I said.

“And I love you.”