Page 6 of Pining for Porter (Mountain Men Fall Harder #8)

Stella

"Where is he?" Porter grits out, looking around wildly.

"Holy shit!" I yell, clutching my heart to keep it from leaping directly out of my body.

Porter storms through the kitchen, poking around corners and shelves like he's looking for something. When he doesn't find it, he turns around with a look of pure confusion on his face that must mirror my own. "What are you doing here, cupcake?"

"Didn't you get my note?" I ask, completely bewildered by the entire situation. I glance anxiously at the clock and am grateful to still be making good time.

Porter nods, looking around at the pies cooling on tall racks, and the pastry supplies spread out on the table before me. "I…I thought you were here with the cook from the diner," he admits.

"Gregor?" I ask. "Why would I be here with Gregor?" Porter has the decency to look embarrassed, and I suddenly realize what he's getting at. "Oh my god! You thought I was sleeping with Gregor? Ewww!"

"Well, I don't know," he splutters.

"Excuse me? You don't know? I just gave my virginity to you.

And, what? You think that means I'm now open for business?

" My hands fly to my hips as I glare at him.

It doesn't help that I'm still experiencing a deliciously dull ache from our earlier activities.

My skin heats more from those memories than the justified anger I'm feeling right now.

Porter's cheeks redden visibly, and he shakes his head, coming down quickly from whatever psychotic delusion he let run rampant in that handsome fucking head of his.

I roll my eyes, turning back to my work station as I try to figure out where I was in my process.

"Wait…" I whirl back around with a sudden thought. "So, not only do you think I'm sneaking around with my co-worker, but you also decide that the only place we could possibly find to hook up is at the same diner we both work at, owned by his mother ?"

He stares at me for what feels like an eternity before responding. "I was clearly wrong."

"Yes, you were," I huff.

"I'm sorry," Porter says, coming closer and leveling me with that intense gaze that had me handing over my V-card on our first date. "The truth is, the thought of you with anyone else makes me lose my mind."

"Clearly," I snap at him, looking around at the mess on the floor caused when he stormed into the place.

"I've lived alone for a long time, Stella, and it's by my own design.

I don't easily trust people. But I promise…

" He puts his fingers under my chin and turns my head to look at him.

"I promise I will never ever doubt you again.

Please forgive me." He bends down, planting his mouth to mine in a searing kiss that almost makes me forget everything.

Almost.

"Oh no you don't." I shove him away. "I have fifteen apple pies still left to get done tonight, and thanks to you, barely enough time to do it.

You keep your hands off of me until later, Mister.

" I wag my finger at him, and the grin that breaks out across his face is bright enough to thaw my angry heart. Slightly.

"Later?" he asks, his voice full of hopeful lust.

"We'll see." I shrug my shoulders, still irritated and wanting him to know it.

"I might see if Gregor's available first. Or, maybe I should call up Wayne Peters.

He just had his hip replaced, so that might be a lot of fun," I snap at him.

"Apparently my grandma was right. Now that the floodgates have opened, I won't be able to close my legs ever again.

I have a lot of lost time to make up for. "

Porter growls, reaching for my hips, but I swat his hand with a spatula. "If you want to get on my good side, get the crates of apples out of the fridge and start peeling."

Apparently, the man has some sense of self-preservation left because he gets to work.

And, oh boy, is he a worker bee. Porter manages to core and peel all the apples like he's trying to set a record.

As they soak up the sugar and spice mixture, I roll out the pie crusts, making an assembly line along the prep tables and laying them neatly into pans.

Without being asked, Porter grabs a broom and cleans up the drifts of flour still swirled on the floor from my fright earlier.

When I ladle out the filling and start my lattice work, he fills the sink and gets to work on dishes.

I pause for a moment to watch him and can't help but grin when he sings along to "Genie in a Bottle. "

"You like 90s music?" I ask, and he glances at me quickly.

"I don't hate it," he grumbles, making me smile even more.

By 8am, we're loading up Monroe's van with boxes of pie and heading over to the festival to set up. I requested a space near a shaded tree so that I wouldn't have to deal with any direct sunlight, but the cool October weather keeps my pies at the perfect temperature.

Porter wanders off while I fuss with the tablecloth and decorations. Once I'm satisfied, I take some pictures to send to Monroe and my parents, and then I look around for my sexy mountain man.

He's at the end of the row talking to Felix who owns Dixon Woodworks . After a moment, the two men shake hands and say their goodbyes. As Porter ambles back toward my table, I notice Felix's eyes flick to the table next to his where a pretty woman is setting up her gorgeous mosaic pieces.

Love is in the air.

I grin, and then my friend Serena, selling her jewelry a few booths down, catches my eye. She nods at the Spicy Apple booth next to mine where a guy named Hayes is ladling out cups of his spiked cider. Serena pretends to fan herself as she mouths, oh my god .

Good lord. If the Maple Ridge Town Council ever advertised the power of falling leaves in this town, we'd have to build ten new hotels to accommodate the visitors.

With his long strides, Porter reaches my table in no time and grins at me.

"Thank you for your help this morning." I tuck my hair behind my ear, suddenly shy. He pulls me over, slotting me into his arms like I was made to fit. I snuggle into his chest, feeling small against his large body.

"It's the least I could do, cupcake. You look tired, and I'm afraid I don't see you getting much sleep for a while." He bends to kiss my neck, and I sigh with contentment.

"Sleep is overrated anyway." My voice is breathy with need and desire.

"How long are we here for today?" Porter asks quietly. His breath tickles my ear, and a soft warmth travels through my body.

"The booths close at 5pm, or sooner if I sell out. I can't use the kitchen until after closing tonight, so we'd have all evening to..." I trail off, and my cheeks heat despite the PDA from Porter that suggests he will be on board with my plan.

Porter pulls back and calls out loudly in his deep voice, "Pies! Get your pies!"

I break out into a loud laugh. "Good thing I've got an opening in sales. You're hired." I lift on my tiptoes and kiss him.

This man has my heart, and I've got his.