Page 2 of Enamored with the Mountain Man (Mountain Men of Apple Falls #5)

CHAPTER TWO

Lainey

The soft ballet ballad filled the air in the dance studio as my ballet students lined up in front of the bar for their practice.

I stood back and watched, but my mind was elsewhere.

For the past few days, I’ve messaged nonstop with Chase. When I decided to take a little vacation, I never expected to create an emotional attachment online first, but once we began talking, it was as if we couldn’t stop.

All day and night, we sent flirty little messages. I offered to help him with his farm, but he insisted that wasn’t necessary. Still, we flirted and danced around the idea of meeting.

But considering he was seeking commitment, I knew I was dragging out the inevitable. I needed to stop talking to him.

“Lainey, you doing okay today? You seem distracted.” My close friend and employee of the dance studio, Caitlin, appeared beside me. She taught the younger kids and also helped out where needed. She’d been with me since day one, and I loved her for it.

“Is it that noticeable?” I smirked.

“Well, maybe not to others, but to me, yes. Want to talk about it?”

“Yes, want to grab dinner after I close up?”

Caitlin smiled. “I’d love that. A new Italian place opened a block away from my apartment. Want to check it out?”

“Yes, I’ve heard great reviews already.”

“Perfect.”

The day ticked by slowly but after closing up at seven, I met Caitlin at Nonna’s Pasta , both of us stopping home first to shower and change. Who wants to eat in sweaty clothes? Yuck.

We ordered a pitcher of red berry sangria, and while browsing the menu, we nibbled on bread and parmesan dipping oil.

“Okay, girl, spill it. You’ve kept me in suspense all day. Unless it’s a sensitive subject, then take your time.” Caitlin grinned before popping a piece of bread in her mouth.

I laughed. “So you know how I’m taking time off the next couple of weeks?”

“Of course, how could I forget? I’m in charge.”

“And a great boss you’ll be. Well, I decided to get out of the city for a little while.

This is going to sound nuts, but I stumbled upon a dating site called Mountain Mates.

It’s full of hunky mountain men from small towns.

I figured why not have a little fling and enjoy the small-town mountain life for a little while? ”

“Oh. My. God. You mean to tell me there is a dating website of just mountain men?” Caitlin sputtered as our server arrived with our pitcher of sangria. She filled our glasses, and we placed our orders before she scurried off with our menus.

“Yep. Insane right? An ad for it popped up while I was scrolling social media one night. So what do you think? Have I gone nuts?”

“If you think you can do it, not have any feelings involved, and come back to the city refreshed, then why not? More power to ya. Me personally? I’d probably be in love in a few days’ time.”

“That is true.” We clinked glasses and said cheers before taking our first sip of delicious sangria.

“I’ve kinda been talking to someone already,” I confessed and gulped down some sangria.

“I knew it! There had to be more to the distraction than just a website. Tell me everything.” Caitlin’s eyes lit up as she ate more bread.

I filled her in on how we’ve talked nonstop the past few days and how much I like him.

“The only problem? He doesn’t want temporary.”

“Wait, what? He doesn’t?”

“No. He’s looking for a wife. ” I blanched at the word. I couldn’t see myself getting married anytime soon, though maybe one day wedding bells would ring.

Caitlin wrinkled her nose. “Ew. Who wants that before they turn thirty?”

“He’s thirty-one. And has a two-year-old daughter. That’s who.”

“Oh no, Lainey! Run the other way. You want temporary. He’s anything but.”

I laughed at her wide eyes and shocked expression. “I know, I know. But I can’t stop talking to him.”

“Delete your messages and block him.”

“Ouch. That’s a little harsh. Besides, maybe I can change his mind?”

Caitlin tilted her head to the side and shot me a look that said- really? “Okay, I’m making the prediction now. You go there and you fall in love. You move there and I never see you again.”

Now it was my turn to send her the same look. “And I just abandon my dance studio I’ve worked so hard for?”

“No. You sell it to me.”

I looked at her with curiosity. She’d never mentioned anything about wanting to own the studio or even some of it, though I’d thought about making her a partner before. “Really? I didn’t know you were interested in buying it.”

Caitlin shrugged and sipped her wine. “I’m not. But if you decide to sell it, I will be. I love the studio and plan on working there for the rest of my career. I wouldn’t be able to see it get sold to someone else.”

I reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Aw, Caitlin. You’re amazing. But honestly, I’m not leaving the city. I can’t see myself living the small-town life. But we can talk about making you a partner if that’s something you’d be interested in.”

Her eyes widened. “I’d love to.”

Later that night as I climbed into bed, exhausted from the day and full of my large meal, I checked my messages on my phone, and saw several from Chase.

Hopelessfarmer: I hope you’re having a good day. I can’t stop thinking about you.

Hopelessfarmer: Here I am thinking about you again.

Hopelessfarmer: Wow only an hour later and I’m messaging you again. Okay, I’ll get ahold of myself now. Text me later.

Hopelessfarmer: Sorry, just one more. I finally mowed the grass! Thank you for the motivation.

My heart pounded in my chest. I ignored the notifications all day, hoping I’d hold off, and I did, but now reading these messages…this man couldn’t be real, could he?

He was too damn sweet.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the attention. But maybe Caitlin was right. It wasn’t fair to string him along. I needed to find someone who wanted temporary, too. And I needed to find him fast, considering I only had three days left at the studio and my time off began.

I’d break the news to him in the morning. In the meantime, I settled in for a little chat, holding on to my fantasy just a bit longer.