Her Mountainside Haven

by Jo McNally

  She’d tried the same approach this week with Matt and his contractors. His texts were as regular as usual, but the tone was different. More friendly. Or maybe she was injecting what she wanted to see in his briefly worded messages. She, on the other hand, had intentionally changed her approach. She stopped looking for things to complain about. Even when the contractor had to make three trips Monday morning to deliver the new snowmaking machines. Bryce had called again to apologize for that one. He explained that Matt had lost track of what the crew was up to. He’d been working side by side with the contractors all week, coordinating the electricians, the plumbers and the installers to get the job done as fast as possible. There was snow in the forecast, so she understood the urgency. If it was cold enough to snow, it was cold enough to make snow, which meant they could create a base on the slopes.

  By the end of the week, she was pretty proud of her newly minted knowledge of how ski resorts operated. A walk with Sophie the day before made it evident that Matt had chosen to install snow lances to make snow along most of the slopes, particularly on the slope closest to her property. She’d done an internet search and discovered they were slightly less productive, but were quieter and used less energy than the large snow cannons Matt had installed at the very top of the slopes.

  Was it weird that she’d looked all that up? Not really—research came naturally to a writer. She’d only done it so she wouldn’t be surprised by anything that happened next door. Not because she had any interest in Matt Danzer’s business.

  Her phone vibrated in her pocket as she was cleaning, so she turned off the vacuum to check it. The motion sensors had gone off on her driveway cameras. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but she recognized Matt’s small SUV. Why was he coming to the house? Had something happened? She looked around in alarm. She wasn’t a fan of unexpected guests, and her friends knew enough to always give her a call or text before just showing up. At the same time, there was a little charge of excitement pulsing in her veins. Matt was here.

  Her phone buzzed again. A text from Matt.

  I’m in your driveway. I have something for you. I can leave it or do you want to come out or...?

  She almost forgot that she didn’t like surprises. And he’d given her options to make sure she felt comfortable. It gave her the same warm feeling she’d had when he sat on the cold ground up on the trail. Her fingers hovered above the screen. Should she ask him up? At the last minute she chickened out, picking the middle option instead.

  I’ll be right down.

  * * *

  “Matt?” Jillie was propping the door open with her hip, tugging on her down jacket. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was...” He suddenly felt foolish, watching her step outside with a thick woolen cap on her head. She was more prepared for an early snow than he was. When he’d headed over here, it was cold rain, but now it was sloppy sleet, smacking onto the dead leaves on the ground like little water bombs. “I wanted to check on you. They say this storm could get bad tonight. And I have some good news.”

  She’d left the hound of the Baskervilles inside, thank God. Sophie was not happy about it, though, barking angrily through the glass until Jillie turned, snapped her fingers and pointed at the dog. Sophie’s bottom plunked to the floor and she went silent, but the dog’s expression was pure malevolence toward Matt. Jillie looked down the stairs at him with a puzzled expression.

  “Yes. I know. What made you think you needed to check on me?”

  “I stopped by to make sure the lodge was locked up after the crew finished staining the floors. Stopping here seemed like the neighborly thing to do.” He was starting to babble now, so he took a breath and grinned up at her, holding a bottle of wine in the air. “And I wanted to tell you that the snowmaking machines are in and ready to go. That’s almost a week ahead of schedule, so no more daily contractor runs on the access road. On your access road.”

  She started down the wooden stairs toward him. “That’s good news...for both of us, right?”

  “Definitely.” Then he cautioned her. “That doesn’t mean I won’t need to use the road a few more times, but I’ll do my best to limit...”

  “Matt, it’s okay. Just give me a heads-up first.”

  He nodded. “No surprises.” Ironic, since she seemed to surprise him at every turn. The sleet morphed into almost-snow with the next gust of wind. The tall pines groaned as they swayed overhead. He blinked against the pellet-like precipitation hitting his face. “So you’re sure you’re ready for the storm?”

  Jillie’s forehead furrowed as she got to the base of the stairs.

  “Why are you here?”

  Because he couldn’t go another day without seeing her? Because he needed to hear her voice? See her face? Make her smile?

  He handed her the wine. “A little thank-you gesture for letting us lease the access road. And to celebrate our early finish.” She stared at the bottle as if she’d never seen wine before, making him falter. “I...Mack told me this was your favorite...”

  She blinked. “It is. I just...I’m surprised.”

  “In a good way or bad?”

  She pursed her lips. “Good, I guess.” She smiled softly, as if surprised, and took the bottle. “Thank you.”

  A wet glop of snow hit him in the eye, making him flinch. Her smile deepened. “You should get going, Matt. There’s no need to worry about me handling a snowstorm. It’s not my first winter on this mountain.”

  “I should have known you’d be ready for Mother Nature without my help.”

  She chuckled. “I do appreciate the concern, but I have a generator. I have a plow guy on contract. I have a well-stocked pantry. Plenty of firewood. That’s how I deal with things—by being Little Miss Prepared.”

  He wished she didn’t have to anticipate every possible outcome just to feel okay, but he admired her for being able to do it. The snow pellets had turned to actual snow now. This storm was coming on fast. Tiny flakes swirled through the air, spinning in circles before finally making it to earth, where they were beginning to accumulate on the leaf-strewn ground.

  “Okay, Miss Prepared, you have my number if you ever do need anything.” He suddenly felt very awkward. He had no reason to stay, and he didn’t want to make her stand outside in the snow while he tried to invent one. He raised his hand in a half wave and turned to head back down to the car. This was totally cool. He was just a Good Neighbor Sam doing the right thing and taking his leave. Everything was fine. Until his boot hit the snow-slicked leaves and he fell flat on his ass.

  “Oh, my God!” Jillie cried out, but damn if she wasn’t laughing. “Are you okay?” She set the wine bottle on the steps and slipped and slid her way toward him, but he was on his feet before she got there, feeling like a world-class idiot.

  He waved her off. “I’m fine. Nothing hurt but my pride.”

  Her hand gripped his forearm, briefly suspending his ability to think. Her eyes sparkled with amusement.

  “I shouldn’t laugh, but that was...well...your feet were higher than your head for a second there.” She leaned back and looked him up and down. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  His jaw worked back and forth. He tried to look as stern as possible, all while ignoring the sensation of her touch through his jacket.

  “That was karma getting back at me for thinking you needed any help from me.” He nudged her to the gravel driveway, away from the slippery leaves. “No sense in both of us going down.” He looked up at the sky, where the snowflakes were getting fatter and heavier by the minute. “You should get inside. I need to head home before the roads are as slick as those damn leaves.”

  The corners of her mouth kept turning in as she held in more laughter, bringing out her dimples. He groaned to himself. Great. As if he wasn’t infatuated enough with the woman, now he’d discovered Jillie had dimples.

  She turned when they reached th
e base of the stairs going up the deck. Sophie barked a few times at their approach, and now stood inside, glaring through the glass in Matt’s direction.

  “Your dog hates me.”

  The dimples deepened. “Hate is a strong word. She’s protective of me. That’s her job.”

  “Is she a therapy dog or a guard dog?”

  “Yes.” She didn’t elaborate. Her smiles were coming more often, and each one felt like a little gift. She moved up one step so she was almost looking him straight in the eye. “Thanks for stopping, but you’re right about needing to get home. The roads will be bad.”

  “You’ll call me if you need anything?”

  She nodded. He started to turn away, but her next words stopped him.

  “Sunday was nice.” Her cheeks went pink. Damn. Blushing and dimples. She was killing him here. She hesitated, and her forehead creased. “I don’t use that word very often to describe something unexpected, but...it was nice. Thanks for the ride to the mountaintop.”

  “I enjoyed it, too. You’re a good person to talk to, Jillie Coleman.” She always managed to pull words out of him that he didn’t expect to share.

  Her smile deepened, reaching her golden-brown eyes and softening them. “Really? I’m not exactly known for my glittering conversation skills. Most writers aren’t. That’s why we write. It’s a very solitary profession.” She tipped her head slightly. “Maybe it’s you, Matt. You bring me out of my shell.”

  The snowflakes were clumping on her knit hat. He couldn’t resist brushing them away directly over her forehead. She went still. Not stiff or tense. Just...quiet. His hand dropped to his side, but their gaze didn’t break at all. Then she surprised him by reaching out and brushing snow off his head. Her fingers slid through his wet hair, and a jolt of electricity shot from those fingertips straight to his groin. Her eyes went wide and dark, as if she’d felt the same thing. Even more interesting, her fingers were still tangled in his hair.

  The snow was getting heavier by the second. Fatter flakes and more of them, creating a hush in the clearing as if a bubble had closed over them. Her fingertips moved slowly, brushing his scalp. He was afraid to move. Afraid of breaking the moment. Her brows lowered in confusion. She looked up at her hand as if she wasn’t quite sure what it was doing. Touching him. He closed his eyes, feeling like a thirteen-year-old boy getting his first surge of testosterone. He was going to embarrass himself if he didn’t step away, but he couldn’t move. The bubble was holding both of them.

  Something brushed his mouth, and his eyes flew open. Jillie’s face was right there, her eyes looking into his. Her lips...her lips were against his lips. Barely, but touching him. She stopped moving when his eyes opened, so he did what any smart man would do in this situation. He closed his eyes and let her explore without being watched. Her mouth was like a feather, sliding back and forth on his. He could feel her breathing against him. Pressing more firmly. More confidently. He did his best to play statue, but it was torture. His hand rose to rest on her waist, fisting into her jacket to hold her there. Her hand slid from his head to wrap around the back of his neck. Sweet Jesus.

  It was a real kiss now, and he had to respond. A man could only take so much. He tugged her gently against him, and she sagged against his chest. His arm slid around her and he began to kiss her back. Slowly at first, still afraid she’d wake up to what she was doing and push him away.

  The softest of sounds—a sigh? a moan?—rose from her throat, and her lips softened and parted for him. Let her lead. Let her lead. He held on to his self-control for dear life, taking things slow and easy. His whole body shuddered from the effort. Did she feel it? Her other arm wrapped around his neck. His grip tightened on her. Not too fast. Don’t move too fast. He might have made it if she hadn’t traced her tongue along his lower lip. His self-control dissolved like the snow on his skin.

  He pulled her closer and kissed her. A real kiss. Deep. Hard. And she didn’t pull away. Instead, she turned her head to give him better access. She pulled herself higher on her tiptoes and he saved her the trouble by lifting her into the air without breaking the kiss. He dropped one hand lower to cup her bottom and hold her against him. She made another one of those kitten-soft sounds of desire. Whatever you need. Whatever you want. He set her atop the porch rail and her leg curled around his thigh, pulling him in. Yes, please.

  Had he thought of what it would be like to kiss Jillie? Sure. He’d not only thought about it. He’d dreamed about it. Nothing in his imagination ever came close to this. His body was on fire for her. His skin burned with his need. His heart pounded in his chest, strong and rock steady. And speaking of rocks, the bulge in his jeans was rock steady, too. A low growl rose from his chest, and he knew he had to stop. Had to slow down. Had to think this through. He groaned out loud as he pulled his mouth from hers. Unwilling to release her yet, he trailed kisses across her jaw and to the base of her neck. He took a ragged breath and lifted his head to look into her shining, if slightly unfocused, eyes.

  “Jillie...what the hell was that?”

  Chapter Seven

  Monica charged up the mountainside, sword in hand. But it was dark. Far darker than a typical night. She was too close. She was inside the Shadows. She couldn’t see the path. One step more, and the ground disappeared from beneath her feet. She was falling.

  It was a fair question. And Jillie didn’t have an answer. Matt pulled just far enough away for her to be able to gather at least part of her wits around her, thanks to the layers of clothing they’d somehow managed to keep on. A flush of panic began to rise inside her. She’d basically attacked the man. He hadn’t exactly fought her off, but she’d initiated this...this kiss. Her eyes fell shut. Oh, God, she’d just kissed Matt Danzer. And not some shy peck on the cheek, either. She’d taken hold of his thick, glorious hair, held him there and kissed him.

  Even now, her arms were around his neck, and her leg...what the hell was her leg doing wrapped around his thigh? She pushed herself back, forgetting she was sitting on the railing. Matt grabbed her jacket and steadied her. Like you would hold a child by the jacket, without touching them. His eyes were dark with...concern? Was he feeling sorry for her? Was he afraid she was having some weird episode that caused her to attack him? She couldn’t breathe. She’d made a fool of herself.

  She shoved against his chest again, but he held her coat firmly, talking low and slow. As if she was some wild animal who’d been cornered.

  “Easy, girl. Take a breath. You’re okay.”

  “Okay?” Her voice cracked. “How can you say I’m okay when I just...attacked you? I’m such an idiot. I’m so sorry...”

  Amusement replaced the worry in his eyes.

  “Baby, you can attack me like that any time you want.”

  His soft laughter poked at her pride, but quelled a little of her panic. She smacked his shoulder. “It’s not funny, damn it. I took advantage when you had your eyes closed. I just wanted to see...” Her voice faded.

  “What did you want to see, Jillie?” His face was close to hers, his words gliding along her skin, making her lose track of her thoughts. She shook her head in answer, so he guessed. Accurately, as usual.

  “Did you want to see if you had the courage to do it? Did you want to see what would happen if we kissed?” He hesitated. “Did you like it?”

  Her lower abdomen melted into a pool of quivering jelly. His fingers released her jacket, and he slid his hand around her. Under the jacket. Under her sweater. Against her skin. Oh, God... She dropped her forehead against his shoulder as his fingers glided across her back. Back and forth. Her nerve endings pulsed against his fingertips. She made a strangled sound.

  “I did.”

  His hand stopped, then started moving again as he realized what she’d said.

  “You liked it?” She nodded against him. He was almost whispering now. “Me, too, baby. Me, too.”

  He
r head snapped up and she looked at him in suspicion. Without a doubt it was the best kiss she’d ever experienced in her life, but...he was literally a man of the world. Surely, her awkward attempt at a kiss hadn’t been anything special to him. As if reading her thoughts, he took her free hand and slid it down to cover a prominent bulge in his jeans. An unexpected surge of pride flared inside her.

  “I did that?”

  His smile made the sun-worn skin around his eyes crease. “You’re doing that.” He shook his head in regret. “And if you don’t remove your hand, you’re going to do it to the point of embarrassing me right here on your front steps.”

  He stepped back abruptly. “We need to stop before we...don’t stop.” He raised his hands to the top of his head and laced his fingers together to hold them there. “Jillie, that was...it was incredible. And unexpected.” Her cheeks flushed hot, and he rushed to reassure her. “That’s not a bad thing, babe. Seriously...not bad at all. But...you and me...going any further than a kiss...” He winked. “Even if it was a world-rocking kiss...we need to think about what happens next.”

  A gust of wind swirled snow between their faces, even though they were only a foot apart. Jillie nodded, her heart full of questions and doubts. She looked down and sighed.

  “And you need to get home. We both keep saying that, but seriously. You’re going to have a tricky drive.”

  “Hey...” Matt cupped her cheek with his hand, and she found herself leaning into it. He gave her a tender smile. “Just to be clear, I really want to kiss you again. But I don’t want our bodies to decide what comes next—I think we know what they want.” He winked. “I want to be sure our heads make that decision.” He glanced up at the falling snow. “This has been the longest goodbye ever. I gotta go.”