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Page 6 of Wanted by the Mountain Man (Mountain Man Summer #12)

PEPPER

T he bell above the diner door chimed, making me all too aware that I was no longer alone. Had I forgotten to lock the door when the last customer left? It was looking likely.

“Sorry, we’re closed,” I called, wiping down the counter with one hand while reaching behind me with the other to grab the keys I’d tossed near the register.

“I was hoping you’d make an exception.”

My hand froze, mid-reach. I didn’t have to look up to know that voice. Deep. Familiar. The same one that still gave me goosebumps after ten years of marriage.

I turned slowly, already smiling. “You trying to get me in trouble, sir?”

My husband leaned against the counter like he had all the time in the world, that teasing glint in his eyes. “Your mom’s not here.”

“Still. You want me to get fired?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Fired by your own mother?”

“Don’t test her. She’d do it for the drama.”

Rourke chuckled, reaching across the counter to brush a lock of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my cheek for a moment longer than necessary, sending a ripple of warmth down my spine.

“You looked cute wiping the counter,” he said. “All bossy and in charge.”

“You’re lucky I didn’t throw this rag at your head.”

“Sounds kinky.”

We stood there smiling at each other like idiots.

He looked like he’d just come from the workshop—his flannel sleeves rolled up, sawdust still clinging to his jeans, stubble shadowing his jaw.

And here I was, in my grease-smeared apron, smelling like coffee and French fries and probably looking like I’d worked a double shift… because I had.

And still, his gaze made me feel like the sexiest woman on Earth.

“You need something?” I asked, trying to sound casual as I walked around the counter toward him.

Rourke’s arms opened without a word. I stepped right into them.

“I needed you,” he murmured against my hair. “Been thinking about you all day.”

I melted, just a little. Okay, maybe a lot.

“Same.” I smiled. “And the past few hours have been brutal.”

He frowned. “That kind of dinner rush?”

I shook my head. “No. Just knowing that the kids are at camp and I could be at home with you.”

“I would’ve definitely called off my guys’ night for that,” he said. “But as soon as we finished dinner, I figured I’d come here and surprise you.”

“Great idea.” I glanced toward the door. “Let me lock up and close down the place so we can get home.”

“I already locked the door.”

His words made me freeze in place. “Exactly what did you have in mind?”

“Take off that apron and I’ll show you.”

He stepped closer. The counter still separated us, though. There was another wrinkle in his plan—windows all around. It was unlikely anyone would see us, but we couldn’t take that risk, especially since the dinner was on the main road.

“Come to the back room,” I said, flipping around and marching in that direction, my stride determined, my entire body tingling.

As soon as I was through the door to the back room, I was scanning the area for the perfect surface. But nothing looked right. Rourke would have some ideas about that, I was sure, but options were limited.

The flip-door slapped open behind me, and Rourke stepped in. I felt him back there. I didn’t even have to look over my shoulder.

“I think you should clean the prep table,” he said.

He didn’t want me to clean the prep table. He wanted me to pretend to clean the prep table.

I didn’t even bother grabbing the spray bottle and towel to wipe it down. I just put both hands on the stainless-steel top and waited as he moved in behind me.

“Yeah, I think the apron adds to it,” he said.

I couldn’t agree more. It made it feel even naughtier.

We were here all alone, so there was no need to worry that we’d be interrupted. My mom was recovering from hip replacement surgery, so I was running things. It had been a slow night, so I’d let all the employees go home early.

But there was still an element of risk to what we were doing. And that had me ready to rip off his clothes and do him right here on this table.

“I’ve been thinking about doing this since I met you,” he growled into my ear.

It took me a second to realize this was playacting. He was a cook or a line prep. Or maybe the naughty manager of a fictional restaurant. I was the server cleaning up after work.

Warmth spread to my pussy at the thought. I loved when we role-played like this. I lived for it. Although usually, it was in our bedroom, not in a public place. We hadn’t done that since the kids were younger.

“Your break’s almost over,” he said. “But I think we could extend it a little longer.”

I shrugged. “If you’re up for it, I’m up for it.”

My palms remained flattened on the table’s surface as his hands wandered to the fastening of my shorts.

That hand worked the button while his other hand tugged at the string holding my apron in place.

He didn’t remove it, though. Instead, he slid his hand under both it and my T-shirt, moving upward toward my breast.

As he lowered the zipper on my shorts, he nudged my bra strap downward, then slid his hand under the left cup. I sighed and leaned into him again.

His thumb finally made contact with my nipple, and I gasped beneath his touch. At the same time, his hand dove under the elastic of my panties, going straight for my clit, and I spread my legs to encourage him.

“Oh,” I said, the sound escaping.

I remembered to play it quiet, pressing my lips together to stifle any other sounds. I felt his bulge pressing into my ass and rubbed against him, bringing a moan.

He cupped my breast, then took my nipple between his index and middle finger. At the same time, he began moving his other finger in slow, rhythmic circles over my clit.

I reached back and gripped his arm as he planted a kiss on my cheek, then my jaw. Then he took my earlobe between his teeth.

“You’re so wet,” he said after releasing my earlobe. “You want me, don’t you?”

“Mm-hmm. So badly. I want to feel your hard cock inside me.”

He groaned against my skin. He wouldn’t do anything until I came first, but that didn’t bother me at all. It wouldn’t take long.

I closed my eyes and savored the feel of him moving over me, his speed picking up as my hips began rocking. With every movement, I brushed along his length, getting him even more revved up. That would just mean he’d be extra hard for me.

“Oh fuck,” I whispered. “Oh, yes.”

I closed my eyes and let the sensations wash over me, warmth spreading through my body. He continued touching me, not letting up until I finally stopped moving.

But that didn’t mean this was over. In fact, it had just begun.

I expected him to turn me around and set me on the table. But instead, he pulled my shorts all the way down. I heard the rustling of him unbuttoning his jeans, then unzipping, and looked back in time to see his hard cock springing out.

There would be moisture on his tip, I was sure. I knew his cock all too well. I longed to turn and take him in my mouth and suck him until he came. Sometimes I even made him come on my tits. It seemed dirty, but I found it hot as hell.

But not tonight. Tonight, he’d come inside me.

I leaned forward, and he maneuvered me into place, his jeans still around his ankles. He used his left hand to guide his cock inside me.

Oh God, that felt so good. He filled me up. But I knew what was coming next. As he stepped into place, he moved his hand to my clit, resuming the same strokes he’d made earlier.

I gripped the table. “Harder,” I whispered as he slid into me.

He went as deep as he could, then pulled out, moving in slow, deep thrusts as his finger rapidly moved back and forth over my clit. I closed my eyes and focused on his heavy breathing. He was almost panting, and it went straight to my core.

And as always, just when I thought it was impossible to come again so quickly, within seconds my orgasm overtook me, and a cry escaped my lips despite my efforts to be quiet. That cued him to fully enjoy being inside me. He always held back to make sure I finished first.

As I slowly came down from one of the most powerful orgasms of my life, Rourke began moving faster. He didn’t even try being quiet, letting out a cry so loud, they probably could’ve heard it out on the street if anyone had been driving by with their windows down.

But I could only smile. I loved knowing I could bring him so much pleasure that he couldn’t contain himself.

I took a deep breath as he withdrew and stepped back. Then I pulled on my shorts and fastened them, not taking my eyes off him as he stuffed himself back into his underwear and then his jeans.

He winced as he tried to zip them. “I may have to wait a few minutes for that.”

I laughed and looked around. “Nobody around to see you tonight.”

“I’ll help you close up,” he said. “But first, I’m going to make us a couple of sundaes, and then we can sit and discuss what we’re going to do with the rest of our night.”

It was Friday, but a few years ago, Mom had hired a crew for mornings. That meant I didn’t have to work the godawful hours I’d kept before we had our first kid.

Now that Kerrie and Dane were nine and seven respectively, early mornings weren’t such a big deal, and I worked them when I needed to. But tonight, I wanted to stay up late with my man. Maybe all night.

“Don’t forget the cherry,” I said as he was heading toward the front.

He paused, turned, and looked at me. “I thought I took care of that years ago.”

I groaned. “That doesn’t even qualify as a dad joke.”

“Hey, I never said I was a professional comic.”

“That’s okay,” I said. “You’re great at everything else.”

And he was. He was the love of my life. I always thought it was likely I’d meet my future husband here in the diner. I just never imagined he’d be one of the mountain men that everyone swooned over.

He was my mountain man, and he made me swoon every day. And yeah, I liked it a little that he turned heads wherever he went. It gave me a sense of pride.

And all those people were right. I was the luckiest woman on Earth to have found such a hot guy who was also an amazing dad and husband.

I didn’t take that for granted. Not a single day of it.

Thirty days to catch a fish, lose her v-card...and maybe her heart.