Hungry Mountain Man

by Charlize Starr

  Unbelievable—he was blaming her for not keeping his dick in his pants. She ducked under his arm and crossed to her small kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water, and twisted the lid off. She was so pissed right now. “So, it’s my fault.”

  “The thing is, baby, I thought of you the whole time, every time. Every time I got off, I pretended I was inside you.”

  It was entirely possible she might be sick. “That’s the vilest thing I’ve ever heard. I want you to go.”

  “Let me show you what you’re missing.” He crossed to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  Olivia pushed at his chest, hard as granite against her hands. “Fuck off.”

  “I’d rather fuck you, beautiful. Come on… you know we’re going to work things out eventually.”

  “I said…” She shoved harder this time, enough to make him stumble back a step. “Fuck off. Get out of here, you disgust me. We’re not ever getting back together. Forget it. Go!”

  For a moment, his breath coming hard, he just stared at her. “You’re making a big mistake.” Then he turned and walked out the door, leaving it open behind him. She rushed over, shut it, and locked the deadbolt. “You can come out now,” she muttered.

  Why the hell hadn’t he come out sooner? She’d honestly been afraid of Jared. He just kept touching her, spewing his horrible words.

  Flynn strolled back into the living room and put his arms around Olivia. He kissed her hair and mumbled sweet, comforting words.

  She held on until she stopped trembling.

  “I wanted to kick his ass, but you handled it. I’m proud of you.”

  “Why didn’t you come out? I needed you.” She knew why or suspected she did. He was protecting his own self-interests, his damn hotel. It just reinforced what she’d known all along—she couldn’t ever let herself count on a man.

  “Because he’s a hell of a lot more likely to leave you alone if he knows you’re done with him than if he thinks he’s got competition. I was trying to help you.”

  Maybe. Maybe he was right, but she couldn’t help the sliver of betrayal in her heart now.

  Chapter Five

  The next night, Olivia breezed into Flynn’s apartment and he grabbed her up in a heart-stopping kiss. He couldn’t wait to get her to the bedroom and considered not waiting at all. He could take her, right here, on the couch. When he pulled back to tell her how much he’d missed her, she smiled up at him. Something struck him, like a puzzle piece sliding into place.

  Then someone pounded on his front door and he didn’t have time to think about it. “That’s weird,” he muttered. Why would anyone be trying to beat down his door? “Best to just ignore it, I think, you delectable thing.”

  Olivia nodded at him and pulled him toward the bedroom.

  “Flynn, damn it, you open this door!”

  It was Sean. Olivia looked up at him, eyes wide. Why was her father here and why did he sound so pissed?

  “You can’t answer it,” she whispered.

  “Where did you park?”

  “Down the street. He couldn’t know.” They both stood in the living room, staring at the door. Flynn was so thankful he’d valued his privacy too much to put in anything but a solid wooden front door.

  “I know she’s in there, you bastard!”

  Their eyes met. This affair, whatever it might’ve become, was over. They’d been caught out, somehow.

  Well, damn it, Flynn was a man. He wouldn’t cower in the house. He’d face Sean and give him back whatever he thought he could dole out. He left Olivia in the middle of the room and flung the door open. “Get in here, then.”

  Sean’s eyes were nearly popping out of his head, his face a deep shade of red. He looked like a wild-eyed tomato. “You son-of-a-bitch. You took her to your cabin and took advantage of her.” Sean shoved Flynn in the chest. “She was waiting for marriage!”

  Flynn stood his ground. “Stop acting like an ass.”

  He glanced back at Olivia. She’d covered her mouth with one hand and tears streamed down her face. “Why are you here?” she asked.

  “To get you away from him. He’s nothing but a user.” Sean stalked across the room and grabbed Olivia’s hand but she shook him off.

  “No, I mean, how did you know we were together?”

  “When you refused to take Jared back, he sat outside your apartment all night. When he saw Flynn leave this morning, he came to tell me.”

  “That cheating son-of-a—”

  Sean cut her off. “It really doesn’t matter what he did considering you ran off with a man almost old enough to be your father and started screwing around.”

  “No, Dad, it does matter. You and Jared are treating me like a child and I won’t stand for it. Mind your own business. You’re such a hypocrite. I hate you!”

  Flynn crossed the room to put a supportive arm around Olivia. She was becoming deeply upset by her father and Flynn wanted to punch him in the face. Still might do. He was pissed at Sean for treating Olivia like a whore when the man went through wives like toilet paper. He was seriously angry at Jared for creeping on Olivia all night long.

  But he was also furious at himself. This affair would very likely cost him the hotel contract and, in turn, cost a lot of people steady work. His employees depended on him. “It’s time to go, Sean. You don’t get to dictate to anyone in my house.”

  Sean held out a hand. “Olivia, are you coming with me?”

  Olivia shook her head. “I’ve said all I have to say.”

  “You’ll regret this. I don’t want anything more to do with either of you.” Sean headed toward the door, but stopped and turned to jab a finger in Olivia’s direction. “You make me sick.”

  When Sean slammed the door behind him, a tentacle of dread uncoiled in his stomach. “I guess the jig is up.”

  She swiped at her face. “I don’t know what that means. Are you saying we’re through?”

  “We can’t flaunt this in people’s faces. We both depend on our good names to get business.”

  “So if I’m the town slut it’ll interfere with my livelihood. You’re not at all worried about your precious hotel contract.”

  “Of course I am. But, I’m also worried about you. I care about you, Liv.”

  “My father is disappointed in me. He’s never speaking to me again.” She backed away from him. “And I’m nothing to you but your dirty little secret. And now that people might know, it’s time for you to move on to the next girl.”

  Flynn winced. “That not… that’s an unfair way to say it.”

  She rolled her eyes and grabbed her purse off the couch. “Bye, Flynn. Have a nice life.”

  Once she was gone, Flynn looked around his empty house and wondered what it was all for, his home, his business, if he couldn’t share it with the one person he wanted to share it with.

  ***

  After a few days, Olivia had had time to think. She’d gone to work when she had to and locked herself in her apartment otherwise. Jared had come by a few times, but she just ignored him. At one point, one of the neighbors had walked outside and threatened to call the cops if he didn’t leave and he hadn’t been back.

  Still, she’d decided she needed to make things right with her father. She hadn’t forgiven him for his words, but she understood he’d been shocked and upset. Jared had played him and used him as a tool to hurt Olivia.

  She stopped her car outside her dad’s house and just looked at it for a few minutes. Finally, she got up the nerve to go knock on the door. He opened it and stepped out of the way to let her inside without saying a word to her. His way of not speaking to her, she supposed. Still, he’d at least let her in.

  When he shut the door and turned to glare at her, Olivia broke the silence. “Things are over with Flynn.”

  “I’m still furious with you for your choices. Don’t you know what kind of man he is?”

  Better than you. “I know exactly what kind of man he is. You have to understand that I’m old enough to make
my own decisions, Daddy.”

  “Well, your decision cost me five thousand dollars. What do you plan to do about that?” He crossed his arms and stared her down.

  “I’ve been thinking about that. I’m going to take out a personal loan to pay you back. Then I can make monthly payments on it.” She’d already contacted her bank. While it would cost her two hundred dollars a month for years to come if it would set things right with her father it would be worth it. She’d just need to put in a few more hours a week at work to make it work.

  “That’s not what I want, Olivia. I won’t accept the money. It wasn’t really ever about the money.” Sean let out his breath, slowly deflating. “I didn’t want you hurt anymore than you already have been.”

  “Come sit with me, Dad.” They crossed over to her couch and sat down together, on opposite ends. “If I tell you something, do you promise to not repeat it? And no judging me for it, either. Just… listen.”

  Her dad scowled at her, then shook his head, as if trying to clear his expression. “I know we haven’t always had the best relationship, but I love you. I promise, baby. No judging, no repeating.”

  She bit her bottom lip because her heart was broken. Every minute of every day, she ached for Flynn. “I think I love him. Flynn. I love Flynn.”

  “Well, you wouldn’t be the first woman to feel that way. I think you’re letting your sexual relationship—because it was your first—cloud your feelings.”

  “No, I’m not. I know exactly how I feel. I’ve lost him, but I don’t know if I could ever trust him anyway. Not just him—anyone.”

  “Why is that?”

  For the first time in years, they were finally talking. Olivia just didn’t have it in her to tell him that his years of infidelity matched with Jared’s cheating on her had twisted her view on love. “I don’t think it really matters. Something would have to change and I don’t see it happening.”

  She stood up and offered him a smile. “I also wanted you to know something. The affair was my idea. He didn’t seduce me.”

  “That more information than I ever needed to possess, Olivia.”

  “You’re friends. I want you two to put this behind you.”

  Her dad stood up and clasped her tightly in a hug. “I love you, baby.”

  “I know you do. I love you, too.”

  She made her way back out to the car, thankful she and her father had put the entire ordeal behind them. She only hoped he would forgive Flynn. Flynn let so few people into his life—he needed his best friend.

  ***

  Flynn sat in the local pub down from his house, The Golden Hammer. He had a bottle of bourbon on the table in front of him. He’d downed half of it already. He heard the bell on the front door ring, but he ignored it. He was lost in his own head tonight.

  He couldn’t get Olivia off his mind. He missed her. He was a wreck without her. He hadn’t even bothered going into work today. If he didn’t have Olivia, what difference did it make if he got the contract for the hotel or not?

  All he could think about, as he poured himself another glass, was how perfect their week at the cabin had been. They’d cooked together, sat and talked about their lives. She told him about her favorite books and why she’d become a stylist. He’d told her how proud he was of the contracting company he had built.

  And none of it mattered without Olivia.

  If he could just hold her now… He took a drink, slamming the empty glass down on the table.

  Sean walked in front of him and stopped at his table.

  “I’m not in the mood tonight, Sean. If you push me, I will kick your ass.”

  “Not here to give you shit.” Sean put his beer down on the table. “You care if I sit down?”

  He poured another glass of bourbon and took a drink. “Do whatever the hell you want.”

  “You’re getting good and shitfaced,” Sean said, eyeing Flynn. He sat back in the booth and took a pull from his beer. “What’s the problem?”

  “I screwed up. I messed things up with Olivia, I ruined our friendship, and I demolished my business. In less than two weeks.” He sniffed and rubbed the back of his hand over his mostly numb mouth. “The shitty part is all I can think about is how to fix things with her. I know that’s not what you want to hear. You can try to take a swing at me if you want.”

  “I’m not going to take a swing at you. If you were out here bragging about banging my daughter, I’d whip your drunk ass. But, you’re miserable without her. That makes me hate you a little less.”

  Flynn grunted. “Was that supposed to make me feel better?”

  Sean put his bottle on the table and leveled his gaze at Flynn. “Listen, I’m not into touchy-feely talks, so I’m only going to say this once. You’re always too quick to pull away when you think someone is going to leave. It’s why you’ve got such a damn reputation in this town. Love ‘em and leave ‘em before they can leave you.”

  “That’s bullshit, man. Truth is, nobody ever made me feel the way Olivia does. I never wanted to stay before.”

  “The point is moot, either way. In this case, Olivia won’t leave.” He gave Flynn a crooked grin. “She’s a much better person than I am.”

  Flynn leaned back against the booth and thought about Sean’s words. “You really think that’s true?”

  “I think she’s worth taking a chance.” Sean shrugged. “Doesn’t matter what I think. What do you think?”

  “I think I’ve got a lot of shit to figure out.” Flynn scooted to the edge of the booth, but couldn’t seem to get his legs to work right. “I also think I need a ride home. Help a guy out?”

  “I think we can get you there without too much trouble.” He came around and grabbed Flynn’s arm, giving it a tug. “You’re still coming to my birthday party, right?”

  Now, he wanted to discuss this now? “Yeah. I’ll still come to your party.”

  Chapter Six

  Olivia was making her way from her car to the salon when someone called her name. She whirled around before she thought about it. She knew that voice, damn it. Jared.

  He strode right up to her. She took a few steps back because he looked like he wanted to throttle her.

  When he reached her, his hands were in fists at his side. “I’ve been trying to talk to you for two weeks.”

  “I don’t want to talk to you. I can’t believe you’re at my place of work.” She glanced around the parking lot. She didn’t want to create a scene, but she’d scream if she had to. Thank goodness, people were milling about, going to different shops in the shopping center.

  “You won’t stop avoiding me. I need to tell you something.”

  Olivia wrapped her arms around her middle and chewed on her bottom lip. “So say it. I need to get to work.”

  “I forgive you for sleeping with Flynn. He’s a player and you were in shock. I can see how he could manipulate you in that situation.”

  She just glared at him, counting to ten in her head. How dare he? “Okay, let me take this slow because you’re really not taking hints at this point. First, he didn’t seduce me. I seduced him. I did what I wanted, no one manipulated me to do anything.”

  “Olivia, I—”

  “No. Shut up.” She put a hand up to stop him. “Just listen. I don’t need your forgiveness. As far as I’m concerned, you ended our relationship when you decided to long-term screw around with my best friend. We are finished and we were finished when I made love to Flynn. You got all that?”

  Jared grabbed her hand, shoving it down, then clutched her elbow and pulled her closer. “When did you get so heartless?”

  “Me?” She just blinked at him then wrenched her arm away. Relief flowed through her like cold water when he let her step way. “No, heartless would be telling you that I’m in love with him.”

  “You’re an idiot.”

  “I know.” Flynn would never love her back. She knew that. It didn’t make any sense why she needed to tell people she loved him, except it was some small comfort
to say it out loud. Even if he didn’t feel the same, she could own her feelings. “It doesn’t change things.”

  “Well, know this: I intend to make sure my dad ruins Flynn. He won’t get the contract for the hotel and I’ll do my best to run him out of business.”

  That shook her. She’d never thought about Jared lashing out at Flynn, only her and she hadn’t cared. She’d wanted to make him angry. He acted like he owned her, she was his property to use and hurt however he chose. And to forgive—the absolute nerve.

  “Jared, be pissed at me. Flynn did nothing to you. He’s not fighting you for me. Stop this.” Her words all ran together in her rush to get them out.

  “Does that mean we have a chance?” He reached out for her, but she shoved at his chest. He stumbled back a step and his eyes flashed.

  “No, we don’t have a chance. You screwed us up forever. Stop trying to take it out on someone else. It’s over.”

  “Don’t worry, angel. I am pissed at you. And if you really love him, this is the best way to hurt you. You’re going to be so sorry for your words.” His smug smile had her shaking. She couldn’t let Jared do this to Flynn. She’d figure something out.

  And then she knew what to do. She’d go to Jared’s father. Mr. King had always liked her. He probably hated her, now, but if she explained what Jared had done… maybe he wouldn’t let Jared use him to hurt Flynn.

  “We’ll see. I’m going to work now.” She walked backward a few steps. “Don’t ever contact me again. If we see each other out, don’t speak. Walk the other way. Leave me alone or I swear I’ll get a restraining order. Are we clear?”

  “We’re clear, you cold bitch.” He spat at her feet and Olivia flinched. When he turned and walked away, she almost sank to the ground. She’d been so afraid, but she’d stood her ground, stood up to him, and she wasn’t finished. When her shift was over, she’d go see Mr. King. She’d make this right for Flynn if it killed her.

  ***

  After her shift, Olivia ran home to change into a nice dress and heels. She wanted to be respectful to Mr. King and showing up in her comfortable shoes and the top she’d stained with hair dye didn’t seem like the best idea.