5. Davis

I’ve never ridden so fast up the mountain as I do that evening. As soon as the last customer leaves, I grab my keys and jacket. Charlie gives me a knowing look and chuckles, then offers to close up the bar for me. I owe her one.

I’m out of the clubhouse at a jog, then I’m on my bike and tearing home to Mel.

I kick up the dirt as I pull up outside my cabin. The smell of woodsmoke hits me, which means Mel figured out how to get the fire going. But when I open the door, it’s the aroma of roasting chicken that has my mouth watering.

Mel’s in the kitchen with her back to the door, singing along to Taylor Swift which blares from her phone. She wiggles her ass, dancing to the music and flailing a wooden spoon in one hand. When she sees me she stops abruptly and lunges for her phone to turn off the music.

Silence fills the cabin except for the sound of Hercules’s claws on the wooden floor as he pads over to say hello.

“Keep the music on if you want.” I don’t add that I like seeing her dance, watching her body move.

I hang my jacket by the door and toe my boots off.

The steam from the kitchen has given Mel a soft look, heating her cheeks a healthy pink. It’s the sight of her that makes my mouth water as much as the smell of roasting meat.

“I cooked dinner. I hope you don’t mind.”

She smiles tentatively, and I match it with a grin.

“Do I mind coming home to a home-cooked meal? Um, no.”

It’s been too long since I had female company and longer still since anyone cooked for me, apart from the club dinners every month. But this is different. This is intimate.

“I found the chicken in the freezer. I hope that’s okay. I can replace it tomorrow.”

She tucks her hair behind her ear, and I resist the urge to reach out and smooth the rest of it down for her.

“You don’t need to replace it, Mel. You’re my guest.”

There’s a pot of gravy bubbling on the stove, and she gives it a stir with the wooden spoon.

“Your timing is perfect. The chicken is resting, and the roasted vegetables are ready.”

I set the table while she dishes up, making sure to use the best placemats and the wide ceramic plates.

“I don’t have any wine, only beer. Do you want one?”

She nods, and I grab two beers from the fridge. If I’d known she was coming I’d have gotten something fancy, but she seems happy enough when I hand her the beer.

“I’ll get you a glass.”

She shakes her head. “No need. Just because I’m from the city, Davis, doesn’t mean I don’t drink my beer straight from a bottle.”

I sit down opposite her, and my heart’s hammering in my chest. I’ve never had a beautiful woman share my dinner table, and even though I’m in my own house I’m at a loss for words.

I tuck into the food instead, and the tastes explode on my tongue. Damn, she’s a good cook.

“This is good,” I say around a mouthful of chicken. “Moist.”

Which isn’t a great choice of words. But Mel murmurs a thanks, and we eat in silence.

The fireplace gives the room a golden glow, and I like the way she looks in my cabin. Like she belongs here on the mountain.

I wonder what it would take to get Mel to stay here. If she could ever live in a cabin like this away from the city. I shake the fantasy out of my head because that’s what it is: a fantasy. I’m getting carried away by the first woman I’ve ever had over for dinner.

Now I’m regretting staying away from women for the last two years. I’m out of practice. I’m tongue-tied and feeling every bit the younger man that I am.

“Did your call go okay this morning?” I ask, trying to keep the nerves out of my voice.

She nods. “Yeah. They had no idea I wasn’t in my apartment. I’ve worked from home before, and I just put on a generic background so they couldn’t see where I was.”

“Does it matter where you work from?”

“It shouldn’t. But I’ve applied for a new position, and I don’t want to rock the boat.”

“Is it a promotion?”

She nods. “For an investment portfolio manager. This kind of role doesn’t come up often, and it’s the next step up for me.”

I nod along as if I know what she’ talking about. Danni told me her sister works in finance, but it’s all too complicated for me.

“I’m not sure what that is, but it sounds smart.”

She crinkles her nose up. “Most people don’t understand the ins and outs of investing, which is what keeps me in a job. It basically means I’d be managing an investment portfolio, deciding where to invest people’s money and when to invest and when to withdraw.”

Damn, she’s smart as well as beautiful, which makes her way out of my league. But she’s here for a few days, so I can pretend I’m someone she could be interested in.

“Do you enjoy your job?”

She smiles and nods. “Yeah. To some people finance is boring, but I’ve always enjoyed it. I’m good with numbers, and I like the strategy that comes with it.”

Her eyes light up as she tells me about her job, about studying at college and joining the bank as a junior analyst and working her way up to where she is now. It’s clear she loves what she does, which means my fantasy of her staying on the mountain isn’t going to happen.

But the way she lights up when she talks about it makes her even more attractive. Mel knows what she wants, and I’ve got no doubt she’ll get that promotion.

We’re in the kitchen washing up, and I’ve angled myself to wash so my good ear is to Mel, who’s drying. My ears feel tired after wearing the aids all day, and I slipped the right one out earlier. It’s my better ear, and I give it a rest sometimes but leave the aid in the left ear.

Since I got over my initial nervousness, we’ve talked easily through dinner. I’ve told her about my work, which seems completely uninteresting compared to what she does.

“The truth is the MC saved me. I was lost when I came back from the military. I thought that would be my career for life.”

She runs the dishcloth around a plate and stacks it in the cupboard on top of the others.

“Why did you leave the military?”

There’s a burnt-on gravy stain on the pot, and I scrub at is with the scourer.

“I was honorably discharged.”

I don’t like talking about my hearing loss and what led to it, and I’m not ready to tell Mel about it. The fact that I’ve kept my hearing aids hidden this long is a miracle, unless she’s noticed and hasn’t said anything.

“This one will have to soak.” I slide the pan into the soapy water and turn the conversation to something else. “Do you want a hot drink? I’ve got hot chocolate.”

Her eyes light up as I turn the kettle on to boil. “I can’t remember the last time I had a hot chocolate. Probably not since I was a little girl.”

She’s smiling as she says it, but I can’t help but kick myself. I don’t want to remind her of the age difference between us. I don’t want her to think of me as some kid.

“I keep it for when the kids come around.”

Her eye widen in surprise. “You have kids?”

“No.” I chuckle. “Not my kids, but there are enough rug rats at the club now that I keep some treats and kids toys for anyone who stops by. And that includes your wild nieces.”

She smiles softly, and her hand rests on my arm for a moment. “That’s sweet.”

Her fingers tap my forearm, making the hairs bristle. I catch my breath, and our eyes lock. She’s so close it would only take a slight lean in to reach her mouth with mine. My eyes dart to her lips, and she parts them slightly.

Then the kettle boils over and she takes a step back and the moment’s gone. I’m breathing hard as I pour the hot chocolates. I was that close to kissing Mel, and the weirdest thing about it is I think she was going to let me.

Which just shows how vulnerable she is, if she’s looking at me as a rebound. But I don’t want to be Mel’s rebound. I want more than that.

Mel settles herself on the couch, and I bring over the steaming mugs.

“Thank you for letting me crash tonight.”

I hand her the mug of hot chocolate and take a seat on the couch next to her. The fire crackles and in the golden light she looks majestic, soft orange light softening her features and smoothing out the worry lines.

“Stay as long as you like. I mean that.”

She shakes her head. “Thanks, but I need to get back to the city.”

Even saying the word makes her lips form a tight line, making me wonder what she’s going back for.

“Do you?”

She glances up and me, and I push on. “I’m not sure what your situation is, and if you don’t want to tell me that’s fine, but from what I can tell, something made you run. And if you don’t need to be in the office, why not work from here? I’ve got fast internet; I’ve got a spare room and the space for you, and I’ll be out of your hair most days. You can take the time you need to process whatever it is you’re running from.”

She takes a sip of hot chocolate then makes a face when it’s too hot. Setting the mug down on the coffee table, she turns to me.

“It’s my ex,” she says. “The thing I’m running from.”

My eyes darken, and my fists clench. “Did he hurt you?”

“No.” She shakes her head, and my muscles relax. “Nothing like that.”

I keep my eyes on her, letting her speak.

“I left him actually.”

I don’t know why that makes me feel relieved, knowing she’s the one that ended it.

“We’ve been together a long time. Engaged for the last few years. But every time he tried to set a date for the wedding, I found a reason to delay.”

I take a long slow breath. Whatever happened with this guy, it doesn’t sound like she was in love with him. And that makes me feel better than it should.

“We work together, and he knew I was going for that promotion. Yesterday I overheard him speaking to my boss, telling him why he’d be the perfect person for the job.”

“Ouch. He went behind your back?”

She nods grimly. “And it gets worse. He told our boss that we’re trying for a baby, and I’ll be pregnant soon and will quit work to look after the baby.”

The thought of her having someone else’s kids makes my blood heat.

“Is that true?” I try to keep the strain out of my voice.

“No.” She looks horrified. “I mean, I want kids. But I’d still work when I have them.”

My knuckles clench just thinking about this asshole.

“All this time he was encouraging me to apply for the position, to go for it. But the reality is he wants it for himself, and he’s prepared to throw me under the bus to get it.”

“Sounds like an asshole.”

I’ll never understand how beautiful, smart women end up with guys like that.

“So I walked out. Grabbed my laptop and purse and went straight to the train station. I’ve got no plan, no belongings. I just know two things. I’m never going back to Jeff, and I want that promotion.”

“You want it to spite him?”

She shakes her head. “No. I want it because I’m the best person for the job. I’m great at what I do, and the work excites me. It’s got nothing to do with Jeff.”

Her eyes sparkle, and I see the truth in it. Mel wants that promotion. Even though that means she’ll be staying in Charlotte doing a fancy job while I’m in the mountains bar tendering, I vow I’ll do whatever it takes to help her get where she wants to go.

“What do you need?”

She tilts her head at me, confused.

“What do you need to do to get that promotion? Tell me, and I’ll help you.”

She twirls her hair around her finger, thinking.

“The timing is shitty. The first round of interviews are in a week, and if I do well I then need to present to the board of directors. I’ve got a presentation to prepare while my life falls apart.”

“So you need a quiet place to get your presentation ready?”

“Yeah. I’ve been looking for hotels to stay in Charlotte until I can find an apartment.”

I shake my head. “No. You’re not house hunting until after you’ve secured the position. It’s too big a distraction, too stressful.”

She tilts her head. “Why are you interested?”

Because I’m falling for you. Because I want to see you succeed?

“Because it’s obvious you want this, and you need to focus on the job. Not on apartment hunting, or your asshole ex, or anything else.”

She sighs and runs a hand through her hair. “You’re right. But everything feels impossible right now. I’ve still got my day job to do, and I don’t even have any clothes, and my boss thinks I’m about to go off and have a baby. It’s a fucking mess.”

She looks up quickly. “Sorry, I swear sometimes.”

And she’s fucking cute when she does.

“How well do you get along with your boss? Can you tell them that what Jeff said isn’t true?”

She rubs her temples. “Pretty well, actually. Jeff thinks Peter is in the old boys’ club, but I’ve always found him pretty fair. I get along well with his wife. She works too, and they share the childcare responsibilities, so I don’t think what Jeff told him will throw too much of a wrench in my plans. But it’s the betrayal of someone who’s supposed to have your back that I can’t get over.”

“Of course not. Your ex is an asshole.”

I can keep saying that all night. At least she agrees with me.

Mel smiles grimly. “I’ve been in denial about that for years.”

“So can you have an honest discussion with . . . Peter, is it? And tell him that you’ve broken up with Jeff because of what he said. That you’re committed to the company, but you need some time to work remotely to deal with the situation and prepare for the interview and presentation.”

She chews on her hair thoughtfully. “And work from where? A hotel?”

I grin, because she’s still not getting it. “Nope. Stay here.”

“No…”

She starts to protest, and I cut her off. “I’ve got a spare room and the space. A satellite connection. And you’re surrounded by woods and mountains to rest and recover for as long as it takes.”

She sips her hot chocolate. “I need to think about it.”

“Of course.”

“All my things are in Charlotte.”

“I’ll get them for you.”

Her eyes widen. “You can’t do that.”

“I can and I will.” I’ll make this as easy for her as possible. Show her what real support looks like. “I’ll take the club van and a couple of the guys. You give me a list and a key, and I’ll get your stuff. You don’t need to see the asshole at all.”

A smile spreads across her face, and she launches herself off the couch to wrap me in a hug. I’m engulfed by her feminine scent as her hair whips across my face.

“Thank you, Davis. Thank you.”

I wrap my arms around her and pull her close. It’s a friendly hug to show her gratitude, but when she pulls away, she doesn’t move back on the couch. My eyes dart to her mouth, her chocolate-tinged lips.

I’m breathing hard, and my dick lengthens at her close contact.

It’s been too long since I kissed a woman, and I can’t remember ever feeling this attracted to anyone before. But if she’s just left her fiancé, then she’s vulnerable. And if I’m inviting her to stay with me for two weeks, then she doesn’t need me coming on to her the first opportunity I get and giving her more complications to worry about when she needs to focus on the promotion.

“I’ll put more wood on the fire.”

I stand up abruptly and move to the fireplace, wondering if I looked back at Mel now where I would see disappointment or relief.

It doesn’t matter. I need to keep my dick in my pants and not take advantage of a woman who needs a retreat. She’s here in my cabin, and that’s enough for now.