Page 5 of Masked Mountain Man (Cold Mountain Nights #3)

five

Bale

T rue to her word, Clover never returned to the viewing area, leaving me to wonder if I’ll get another chance to talk to her before Jessa picks out her wedding dress.

I break out in a cold sweat just thinking about losing her again.

Leaning forward, my body works faster than my mind as it demands I find my woman.

“Hold on there, Bale.” Junie takes the velvet cushioned seat next to me. “Give her some time to process everything that’s happening.”

I inwardly curse myself for telling Junie all about what happened between me and Clover the night of the masked ball and today in her office while the rest of our family funneled back into the dress shop after returning from the bakery.

“I’m tired of waiting, Junie. I feel like I’ve been waiting for Clover my whole life.” I drop my shoulders in defeat. “Why doesn’t she like me back?” I hate how pitiful I sound, but I can’t help how I feel. “Clover, is it for me. If I can’t have her, I don’t want anyone else.”

“You’re going to have to trust me on this one, Bale.” Junie nudges my arm and discreetly points to a curtain off to the side that seems to be moving on its own.

Taking a closer look, I swear I see a flash of brown hair with red highlights pulling the curtain shut.

“Maybe you’re right, Junie.” I smile to myself and begin to see Jessa’s wedding dresses in a different light.

But instead of Jessa standing there in the white dress, I imagine Clover standing there spinning in a circle with a happy smile as my family helps her pick her wedding dress, which, if I have my way, they will.

***

The next three days drag on, not being near Clover. Thankfully, Bay kept me and my brothers busy setting up the outdoor wedding tents.

It’s a beautiful September afternoon, and a lovely woman is holding my arm, but she's not the woman I want to be holding it. Jessa has only made a few friends since moving in with Bay as his mail-order bride. Junie is her matron of honor for obvious reasons, while Brooks is Bay’s best man.

Bran and Millie are part of the wedding party, leaving me with Autumn, one of Junie’s sisters, as the last bridesmaid and my partner for the wedding.

“Wow, would you look at all the sexy mountain men Jessa and Bay invited.” Autumn surveys the guests as we wait for our turn to walk down the aisle.

“Don’t remind me.” I grit my teeth, glaring at any of the guys who dare to look in Clover’s direction.

I don’t blame them — I can’t keep my eyes off her either. The light pink dress drapes over her curves, accentuating them perfectly and tempting me to tear it off.

“Oh, no.” Autumn laughs, drawing a few eyes in our direction. “Iclyn is going to flip out when she sees Granger is here.”

I want to ask her about the grumpy recluse mountain man and her sister, but now it’s our turn to walk down the aisle.

My eyes lock onto Clover’s, and I notice her sisters flanking her on each side in the row of chairs, almost as if they’re protecting her from the single guys here. “Good girl.”

I don’t realize I’ve spoken the words out loud until Autumn lets out a small snort of laughter and whispers, “You could at least pretend to enjoy walking down the aisle with me.”

“Sorry, Autumn.”

“Oh, don’t be sorry. You just won me fifty bucks from Junie. I bet you wouldn’t be able to keep your eyes off Clover the entire ceremony and reception.”

We reach the minister and go our separate ways—Autumn on the bride’s side next to Millie and me on the groom’s side next to Bran. And I realize Autumn is right, I can’t take my eyes off Clover.