Page 20 of Grumpy on the Mountain

"So," she says casually, refilling my coffee like I didn't just deface her kitchen. "That was David on the phone. He says hi, by the way."

"How is he?" I ask, grateful for the subject change.

"Oh, you know. Missing his girls. He's stuck in Denver for another week, but he's making it up to us when he gets back. He has very... creative ideas about how to show his appreciation."

The way she says it makes me almost vomit, and I focus intently on wiping syrup out of my hair to rid the thought of my sister and her husband and their 'creative ideas'.

"That's... nice."

"Mmm." Sienna's smile is totally feline right now. She's practically purring. "We are very connected. In many different ways. Some of which are not appropriate to discuss in front of small ears."

Maisie looks up and holds a pink crayon to her lips. "Are you talking about sex again?"

I choke on my coffee.

"No!" Sienna and I say in unison.

"Maybe…" I say carefully, downing the rest of my coffee. "I should go take a shower. Get this syrup out of my hair."

"Good idea," Sienna agrees, waving me away from the mess I've created and down the hallway.

The guest bathroom is small but perfect, with fluffy white towels and fancy soap that smells like lavender. I strip off my clothes and step under the spray, letting the hot water wash away the syrup and, hopefully, some of my mortification.

But as the steam builds around me and the heat relaxes my muscles, my traitorous brain decides this is the perfect time to replay every single moment with Beau Callahan from a few days ago.

The way he filled that doorframe at the café. The careful competence as he hooked up my car. How he lifted me like I weighed nothing when I slipped on the ice.

And those hands. Yes, ma'am.

I reach for the detachable shower head, adjusting the pressure as the water cascades over my skin. With Beau on my mind, I go lower and lower. Soon the sensation is immediately intense, and I bite my lip to keep from making a sound.

I gasp as the water pressure hits exactly the right spot, nudging my clit and washing heat over my sensitive core. In my mind, it's not the shower head doing all the work… it's Beau's mouth. His tongue, those clever fingers that probably know exactly how to take apart enginesandwomen with equal skill.

What would his hands feel like on me?

Those calloused fingers tracing down my spine. Gripping my hips. Sliding between my legs. He has the look of a man who knows exactly what he's doing down there.

I slip a finger inside myself, imagining it's him, imagining how he'd fill me so good, how he'd hold me down with those strong hands while he pounded in a way I've never had with a man before.

"Oh…shit!"

I have to brace myself against the shower wall to keep from collapsing as my orgasm explodes. I bite down hard on my lip to muffle the moan that wants to escape, my body convulsing around my fingers as I picture Beau's face, imagine him watching me come apart.

For a moment, I just stand there under the spray, breathing hard, my legs shaky as I replace the showerhead to it's original position above my head.

Well. That was... intense.

And completely insane.

Fuck.

I just masturbated to thoughts of my ex-fiancé's brother. A man I barely know. A man who's made it very clear he's not interested in getting involved in whatever mess my life has become.

Get it together, Molly.

I finish washing my hair and try to get my head on straight by massaging a little harder into my scalp than usual.

Iamgoing to be careful. I'm going to focus on practical things. On getting my car fixed. And my life sorted out. On spending time with my sister and niece whom I've missed dearly.