Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
He finally stumbles up from the couch, his beard and hair tousled in a way that’s not entirely unsexy. Some women might even find it a tiny bit attractive. “You’re still here.”
I give the scrambled eggs a good stir. “Someone rearranged the bedroom while I was sleeping.”
He grunts and goes for the coffee machine, pouring himself a steaming mug. He adds way too much sugar and a splash of milk. Bella follows behind him, whimpering until he lets her out the backdoor.
“Do you want eggs?” I offer reluctantly. I mean, he did cook for me last night. Or rather, he shared what he was already making. It seems like I should return the favor.
He grunts again, and I’m not sure how to take that, so I divide the cheesy eggs in the pan. I add two crispy pieces of bacon and some leftover biscuits from last night to both plates.
He opens the backdoor and whistles for Bella. She trots in, and he pets her absently before settling at the table with me.
“Besides, re-arranging the furniture, our friendly ghost also left me a message on the bathroom mirror in soap,” I tell him halfway through the meal when he’s finally started to look a little more alive. This mountain man without coffee could give all those zombies I work with a run for their money.
“Did she now?” He looks up from his food, holding eye contact. There’s not a trace of remorse on his face, though I could swear a see a flicker of amusement in his gaze.
“The message told me to leave.” I take another sip of my black coffee. I will never know how he can drink that sugary swill. Coffee is supposed to be dark and bitter.
“Sounds like good advice.” He feeds bites of his bacon to Bella, sharing it with the big dog whose tail thumps eagerly against the floor with every offered treat.
I narrow my gaze at him, wondering why he just won’t confess to the pranks. “Too bad I’ve never been the type to take advice.”
He drains the rest of his coffee, putting the mug down with a hard thunk against the wooden table. “You definitely don’t seem the kind to scare away easy.”
“That didn’t stop you from trying,” I point out.
He stands from the table. Last night, he took his time eating and spinning more tall tales about the bride who haunts this cabin. But this morning, he seems eager to get away from me. Maybe he’s figured if he can’t scare me away, he can simply avoid me. “I’ll be gone for the day. Don’t get in trouble while I’m out.”
“Where are you going?” I ask, gathering the dishes and putting them in the sink. For a second, I wonder if he plans to go down the mountain and file a complaint with the judge. I still can’t be arrested though. The deputy sided with me.
He crosses into the living room, yanking on some well-worn boots by the front door. The boots are huge, making my size ten feet look downright delicate. How is this man so big? What is it he eats everyday to maintain muscles like that? “I’m going to work.”
“And what is it you do around here?” Maybe he runs a secret gym where he trains other mountain men on how to bulk up and look intimidating and sexy at the same time. If he isn’t doing that already, he needs to consider that as a potential line of work.
He laces up his boots without answering me. Bella puts her nose to the front door, whimpering. She’s clearly ready to get on with their normal morning routine.
I put my hands on hips and blow out a breath in frustration. He’s so secretive. “What are you afraid of? That I’m going to steal your proprietary scowl and take over your life?”
He looks up then, his boots laced. The ghost of a smirk is on his lips, like he’s working hard to contain his amusement. “If you were, taking over my cabin would be a good start.”
“So then why haven’t you run down to the courthouse to get me kicked out?” I challenge. He’s not making any sense. He doesn’t want me here, yet he’s not willing to do anything the legal way.
He hesitates, and I remember that he told the deputy to keep the news of his appearance quiet. “You’d rather no one know you’re here. That’s why you won’t go down to the courthouse.”
He snorts. “Keep the door locked. Black bears roam these woods sometimes.”
With those words, he leaves the cabin and I stare at his retreating figure and his dog. Why would he be hiding out here? Whatever it was, it can’t be trouble with the law because he didn’t have a problem calling the deputy.
“Some people are a mystery, Tobias,” I murmur to my kitty.