Page 11 of The Mountain Man’s Heat (Blue Mountain Burn: The Firefighters of Hartley Ridge #1)

Chapter Eleven

Iris

Staring at my phone, I bite my bottom lip.

I am never impulsive. Okay, maybe sometimes, but usually only about whether to eat ice cream for breakfast. The answer is always yes, BTW. And I wasn’t impulsive about the call I just made.

I’d spent every second of the climb back up the hill to Aunt Lily’s place thinking about Hudson.

Every second of cutting up all the branches littering her driveway and front yard thinking about how wonderful he made me feel.

Every second of raking up twigs and leaves and dealing with the aftermath of the storm thinking how every time he’d smiled, I’d smiled as well.

Every second finishing my assignment for class—now woefully overdue—imagining Hudson relaxing on the sofa next to me.

Every second bathing Archie in Aunt Lily’s oversized tub thinking about how amazing it would be to share the tub with Hudson.

I’d even burnt my toast because I’d been completely preoccupied berating myself about being a coward by running away.

So no, making the phone call hadn’t been impulsive.

I just hadn’t planned to blurt out to a complete stranger that I wished I’d never left Hudson’s side. Of course, I hadn’t planned anything after making the call. Who knows what would have come out of my mouth if Hudson had answered?

I love you? Marry me? Adopt a dog with me? Be with me until we’re both ancient? All of the above?

If nothing else, I should have at least asked who the woman in the photo was, right?

Skin prickling with an agitated impatience, I put my phone on the dining table and turn to Archie.

He looks back at me. Wags his tail.

“So…” I swallow. “I don’t actually know what happens now, Arch.

” A heavy pressure wraps my chest. Good grief, that note…

“Should I go into town? Kind of just wander back and forth in front of the fire station on the off chance he might see me and not want to throw rocks at me? Then I could ask him about the woman. I mean, I need to know, even thought my heart tells me he’s not a cheater. Oh, God, what am I doing ?”

Archie tilts his head to the side, pricks his ears, and tilts his head back the other way.

I sigh out a snort. “Assuming I can , of course. Maybe the tree is still down across the road. I haven’t heard any chainsaws today. Have you?”

Archie wags his tail and trots off, heading for his beanbag in the living room.

“Great chat, Arch,” I call after him.

Chest still tight, I rub at my elbows, look around myself, and puff out another sigh. I have to do something. “I’m going to have a shower,” I declare.

Archie wriggles deeper into the beanbag. He’s clearly done with my drama.

I stomp to the bathroom, strip, glare at my naked self in the mirror, and blast the cold water on. If this doesn’t shock some sense into me, nothing will.

Sucking in a breath, I step under the water and let out a yelp as the doorbell rings.

Archie barks, a continuous stream of who-the-fuck-is-there barks, and even from the shower, I hear his nails scraping against the floor as he runs to the door.

“Archie!” I bellow, killing the water and reaching for a towel at the same time. “Job done, Arch,” I shout, wrapping my wet self in the towel as I hurry through the house. “Job done! That’s enough.”

He’s at the door, sniffing at its bottom, tail wagging.

“Coming,” I call to whoever is on the other side of the door. “Coming.”

With a quick check to make sure the towel corner is tucked firmly in place and the towel itself is doing its best impersonation of a strapless dress, I open the door.

Hudson.

He’s standing on the other side of the mesh screen door looking at me.

“Oh,” I whisper.

He rakes a look over me, his nostrils flaring, and lets out a choppy breath. “You took off this morning.”

A lump settles in my throat. “I did. Sorry.”

“Why?”

The lump grows thicker. “You have a blanket with a woman’s face on it.”

He frowns and then chuckles, shaking his head. “That’s my sister. She has a peculiar sense of humor. Especially when it comes to gift-giving.”

I blink. “Sister?”

“Yeah.” He rubs at the back of his neck. “Is that really the reason?”

I grimace. “Yes. Mainly. I don’t trust easily. And my old boss turned out to be a creep. And I was scared…”

He draws in a slow breath. “Of me?”

Swallowing, I bite my lip. “No. Yes. No. I…I was scared I’d lost my heart to you. So I ran.”

Gaze locked on mine, he presses his hands to the doorframe and leans a little towards me. “Iris, just so we’re clear, I’ve fallen in love with you, and if you open this door right now, I will show you just how fucking much.”

My heart smashes into my throat. Heat sweeps over me. My nipples harden, pushing against the towel.

“Archie?” I say, without breaking eye contact with Hudson. “On your bed.”

Archie, perhaps the best wingdog in the world, trots away from my side. I have no clue if he’s heading for his beanbag. I can’t look away from Hudson.

Body aching for the mountain man on the other side of the threshold, I unlock the screen door.

Nostrils flaring again, Hudson pulls it open, removes the small space between us, and cups my face with his big, strong hands.

Brushing one thumb over my bottom lip, he lowers his head to mine.

“I never wanted a relationship,” he murmurs, his breath kissing my lips.

“And then you ran through the storm and into my life.”

My eyes flutter closed for a pounding heartbeat, and then I smile up at him, sliding my hands up his broad chest. The rapid beat of his heart under my palm turns my blood hot.

He’s as affected as I am. “Ask me again if I’ve ever considered moving north,” I whisper, tangling my fingers in the hair at the back of his head.

“Have you ever considered moving north?” he asks, kicking the door shut behind him. “To Hartley Ridge?”

I tug his head down to mine. “Hell y?—”

His lips crush mine before I can finish. He drags his hands down my back, tugging the towel off as he does. It pools at my feet as he grabs my arse and lifts me up. I lock my legs around his hips.

Tearing his lips from mine, he gazes into my eyes. His heart thumps against my breast, a pounding rhythm in perfect harmony with my own. “Fuck, you are amazing,” he murmurs. “Marry me?”

Concentrated joy rushes through me, and I smile, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Yes.”

He lets out a low growl and draws me closer, his hands squeezing my butt cheeks. “Today?”

I laugh. “Hell yeah.”