Page 5 of The Mountain Man’s Unexpected Bride (Mountain Man Sanctuary #5)

Savannah

I can't stop the tears from coming down. I'm so embarrassed. This man – Brock – saved me from a life in bondage, and I'm repaying him by crying all over his nice shirt. At the same time, the warmth of his embrace is enchanting. I feel safer than I've felt since my father was alive and well.

Brock smells nice, and his beard is soft against my face. I hear him say something to the driver, but I don't really make out what it is. Suddenly, a box of tissues appears in front of me, and I take a bunch of them so I can dry my tears of relief and blow my nose.

This can't be real, can it? I'm free? I don't have to obey every single whim my stepsisters have or stand by while my stepmonster degrades me whenever she's in a bad mood? Can I trust this? Can I trust him?

It takes me a while, but I finally stop crying. I realize we've stopped somewhere, and I see that we're in a parking garage of some sort. As I blow my nose and clean my face, I wonder if I have missed something. Is this where he lives? He mentioned something about a mountain.

"Are you feeling better, princess?"

"Yes. Thank you. Where are we?"

"Since you don't have anything to wear, I thought we might stop by a shopping center and buy you the bare necessities."

I give thanks that my face is already flushed with my earlier outburst, because he would see how embarrassed I am about this. I don't really know what to say, so I stay quiet and just nod. The driver opens the door for me, and I get out with his help.

Brock is there next to me in moments, and he guides me towards the elevators. He's a gentleman through and through and demonstrates it in every gesture—opening doors, explaining where we are, and generally making sure I'm doing okay.

I've never been treated like this unless it was by my father when he was alive. It hurts my heart a little that he reminds me so much of him, as I've tried to keep him buried in my heart since the night he passed away, leaving me to lead a life of servitude.

Which reminds me of the fact that I am now completely free. Sure, I'm supposed to be Brock's fiancé, but according to this man, I no longer have to do anything I don't want to do. There will be no more name-calling and punishments. I can shape my life the way I want to.

When we enter a boutique, I feel a little uncomfortable because of my old and tattered clothes, but Brock takes my hand and starts pointing at things. I choose a couple of shirts and a pair of jeans, and he encourages me to get more.

When we get to the lingerie department, I finally see him blush. He points to a seating area that's far away from the intimates section and tells me he'll be waiting for me there. I find the most serviceable underwear I can locate and make my choices quickly.

Once I'm finished, we approach the cashier, and I'm distraught by the amount of money we have spent. Brock just smiles at me and gives the woman a black card. My mind is reeling. How will I ever pay him back for this kindness?

I'm surprised that the driver meets us at the door of the shop and takes all the packages from us.

"Do you want to have something to eat?"

My stomach chooses to rumble at that exact moment, and I almost die of shame.

"That sounds like a yes, princess."

We start walking alongside each other, and I can't stop looking at all the luxury that surrounds us. I was never allowed to go shopping with my family, and haven't been to one of these shopping centers since I was a small child with my mother.

"Brock, I don't know how I'm going to repay you."

"For what, princess?"

"You spent a lot of money on me back there."

"Think of it as an engagement present."

"But I don't have anything to give you."

"Don't worry so much about it, Savannah. I'm just glad I got you out of that house. Your life will be different from now on."

I think about his words and something inside me bursts. Happiness floods me, and I realize this is a new chapter of my life, where I'm in control. And I'm going to do it with this amazing man next to me.

"Can we get dessert first?"

"Your wish is my command, princess."

We spend the next two hours eating. I don't really want to talk about my past life, so I ask Brock about his life and this beloved mountain of his. He talks about it with pride and tells me that he's a field doctor for the area’s search and rescue team.

The more he talks about his mountain, the happier he seems, and now I'm dreaming of this place as if it will bring me the same amount of joy as it does him. When he catches me staring at him dreamily, he stops talking.

"I'm blabbing, aren't I? I'm sorry, I should be asking you what you want to do with your life."

"Apart from being your wife?"

His eyes move away from me for a moment, and it somehow makes me feel uneasy. He's been straightforward with me so far, could he be keeping something from me? An ex-wife? Some children? I need to calm myself. I'm just letting my imagination get away from me.

"Your life is your own now, princess. Being married is just one small part of it. You could go to college or take up art, you can do pretty much anything you want now that you're not living with those vipers."

I start getting excited at his words. The world is my oyster right now. I should take advantage of it.

"How can I go to college if I'm living on a mountain?"

"That's the beauty of the internet."

"The internet? I don't even have a phone."

"Then that's what we're getting next."

We leave the restaurant, and Brock pulls me excitedly by my hand through the shopping center. He buys me a phone and a computer, and I end up feeling pretty overwhelmed. Finally, we stop at another shop and he gets me a suitcase.

After shopping, I'm not sure where we're going, but Brock has the driver pass through some of Chicago's popular sites, and he tells me stories about them. He's very knowledgeable, and it makes me think of how one of his first suggestions was for me to study.

"How come you know so much about this city?"

"I did my medical residency here."

"It sounds like you loved it here."

"I was doing what I loved, so yes, I enjoyed myself."

"It must be very different to do the work you are doing now than to be working at a vibrant city hospital."

"It was the compromise I needed to make to have a quiet, peaceful life. I don't regret it."

I realize I'm ogling him and try to stop, but he's just so attractive, I wish he would hold me again, like he did earlier. When we approach a fancy hotel, I'm a little bit intimidated by all the luxury. We go up first, and Brock tells me the packages will be delivered to our room shortly.

My face grows heated at the mention of a room.

Are we going to be intimate? I hadn't expected that, but Brock doesn't seem to be bothered.

If only I could be as nonchalant as he is about all of this.

When he opens up the 'room', it is bigger than I expected it to be. There are rooms within the room!

I feel like a country bumpkin as I gawk at all the beautiful things around me.

"You'll sleep in the bedroom and I'll take the sofa bed."

I'm not sure if I'm relieved or devastated by his words. Doesn't he want me? Am I the only one feeling this pull? Suddenly there's a knock on the door and it startles me. Brock goes to open it, and several bellhops come in with our packages.

I guess they are my packages, and oh my god, there are so many of them.

Brock asks them to place them in my room, and I feel a little breathless.

My life is changing right before my eyes.

I can't believe it. For the longest time, I thought I didn't deserve good things to happen to me.

Have I paid for my sins already? Is this why I'm being rewarded?

Standing there like a fool, I don't see Brock approach me.

"We're leaving tomorrow around eleven, so you have time to pack everything in your suitcase. There's a work bag for the laptop and tablet. We forgot to get you a purse. Maybe we can get it online."

"Oh, I don't think…"

"It'll give me a chance to show you how to use the internet."

"Okay, thank you."

"You look a little bit overwhelmed."

"Yes, everything seems like a little too much right now. I've only ever had the bare minimum so I could do my job properly."

Brock reaches for my hands and takes them in his. They are big, warm hands, and I can feel the calluses telling me he's not afraid of hard work. I look up into his eyes and see worry. He's worried about me, and I'm so thankful he's in my life.

When he doesn't stop looking at me, my body begins to respond in ways I've never felt before. I've got butterflies in my stomach, and I can't take my eyes off him either. My face is so flushed that I feel the pressure on my cheeks.

"You are so beautiful, princess."

"Why do you call me that? I'm as far away from a princess as a person can be."

"You are an amazing woman and my fiancé. I think that deserves the title of princess. Plus, you blush a little bit every time I call you that."

I pull my hands away from his and excuse myself. Brock seems larger than life in this room with me. I don't know how to interact with him. I mean, I've never even been kissed before. What if he thinks my inexperience is off-putting? What if I disappoint him?

"I'll go get the laptop, and we can do some quick shopping before you go to bed."

All I can do is nod and let him take the lead on this. He says they'll deliver to the town he lives in, and it's only a few minutes away from his home in the mountains. He sets up the computer in the living room – yes, that's how fancy this place is – and we sit side by side in front of it.

He does a few 'searches' for purses, and in less than a minute, I have dozens of choices in front of me. I don't know what I should pick, so I choose the cheapest one. Brock then goes on to buy it in three different colors.

"I don't need that many, Brock."

"Nonsense, women love having tons of purses and shoes. I might even make you a special closet for them. I built my house, you know."

"You did?"

"Yeah. It took some time, but I did it anyway. I'm very proud of it. You'll love it."

"I can take over cleaning, and I do some cooking."

"You don't have to do that, princess. My contract is for a bride, not a maid. I have someone come in once a week to clean and do the laundry. We can both do the cooking, though. I have several good cookbooks in my library."

"You have a library?"

His hand reaches for my face, and he gives me a gentle caress. That brief contact makes my skin erupt in goosebumps, and I try to keep myself from trembling. I don't want him to know how much his touch affects me. The blushes probably give me away, though.

"I love to read. I have an e-Reader, but I have a lot of paperbacks and hardcovers as well."

"That sounds exciting."

"That's the way it is when you take the reins of your own life. And you can do that now."

I lower my eyes and fidget with my jeans under the table. How do I tell this man how grateful I am without disclosing that I'm totally attracted to him, and I don't know if I deserve him? He grabs my hand and brings it up to his lips for a kiss.

"I know you are overwhelmed. Everything will work itself out. You'll see. Do you trust me?"

"I don't even know you." I blurt out.

I take my hand away from his and cover my mouth. I can't believe I just said that. Brock just laughs as if it's all a big joke.

"You're right. I guess this afternoon was just a taster of what it's like being with me. I won't ask you to trust me just yet, then. Trust must be earned."

I'm glad he has a sense of humor, but I can't stand another minute with him without touching him.

"I should go to bed."

"We haven't had dinner! The food in this hotel is amazing."

"This has been a long day for me, Brock."

"Okay, but there are snacks and drinks over there in the kitchen area if you get hungry."

I get up and start to go to my room, but something keeps me from leaving.

"Thank you, Brock," I say so low it's almost a whisper.

"My pleasure, princess."

He gives me a smile – they seem to come so easily to him – and waves me goodnight.

I walk like a zombie into my room and sit down at the edge of the bed.

I see the packages that I still have to open and then pack, but right now it's hitting me that my life has done a complete one-eighty in just a few hours.

I have things now that I can call my own, and I no longer have to serve others if I don't want to.

I will no longer be treated like a person of lesser value, given only the scraps from the table.

The problem is that my feelings are battling each other.

One part of me is so glad that I want to dance naked in that luxury bathroom.

Another part wants to hide away from this new, dangerous world all around me. It's beautiful, but I don't know how to navigate it. And then there is Brock. Strong, smart, and willing to stand up to my stepmonster.

I realize I can get myself really confused if I keep thinking all these thoughts, so I do the one thing I've been wanting to do – besides kiss Brock – since I saw the bathroom in this suite. Take a warm bath. It's a luxury I've never had, and I don't know when I'll be able to have it again.

So I gather my new PJs and head to the bathroom. There's everything I need to take a bubble bath, and I eagerly read each bottle to see what new thing they've included. When my bath is ready, I get in slowly, letting the warmth of the water soothe me.

I thought I could have a nice bath, but my thoughts won't stop going to the man who's sleeping on the sofa bed outside. What would his gruff hands feel like against my skin? Is he affectionate like he was today, always touching me innocently?

A soft knock takes me away from my thoughts. I sink down and let the bubbles cover me as I tell him to come in.

"Oh wow, that looks amazing, princess. Does it feel as good as it looks?"

"Better."

I wait patiently for him to tell me what he needs, but he just stares at me. His gaze looks heated, and he's breathing a little fast. Am I causing those changes in him? Does he want me as much as I want him?

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, and clearly you are. Good night."

"Good night, Brock."

He silently closes the door behind him and leaves me once again to my treacherous thoughts. I guess time will tell if he's just being kind or if he's genuinely interested in me.