“You know we just want an insider view into what a retired recluse does all damn day in the woods. We’re hoping you’ll be able to report on it,” Gabe said as he joined his mother. His tattooed arms were holding a baby, and I had a flash of what Mitch would look like holding an infant.
“Enjoying the quiet, Gabe. Something you don’t know about anymore,” Mitch said, giving his brother a side hug and then sweetly kissing the baby on the forehead. My heart completely melted at the sight.
“Your daddy is a nuisance. You’re a sweet girl to put up with him,” Mitch said to the baby.
“How about me?” a woman said, joining us.
“You too, Sam. Why you put up with this moron, I’ll never know,” Mitch said, giving her a hug.
Gabe waggled his brows. “I’m handy around the house. Hope do you remember Sam? I think maybe you met before, a long time ago.”
“It was a long time. How are you, Sam?”
“Glad to have another woman in the house. Pretty soon, we’ll outnumber the boys.”
“Don’t tell Will that,” Gabe muttered.
“Come out back.” Mitch’s mother waved us through the kitchen and out to a back deck.
“A pool?” I asked. “That wasn’t here before was it?”
“No. Mom got jealous of Hallie’s folks, and so I had to put one in,” Gabe said.
“Who’s jealous of Hallie’s folks?”
I turned to see another Sloane brother coming out onto the deck.
He saw me and grinned. “Hope.” He cast a glance to Mitch and did a little eye waggle. Perhaps Mitch did have something to worry about in terms of his family catching on. “It’s good to see you. How’s Parker?”
“He’s good,” I said, giving Nate a hug.
“This is my wife, Hallie. Hal this is Hope, a longtime friend of Mitch’s.”
“Actually, he’s my brother’s friend, but they let me tag along sometimes.”
“Tagging along, is that what you’re doing up in the mountains with Mitch?”
Mitch tensed.
“Nate,” Hallie’s voice was chastising. “Hi, Hope. It’s good to meet you. Don’t mind him. Or any of them. They revert to thirteen-year-old boys when they’re together.”
Nate grinned at his wife. It was so obvious that he loved her and that Gabe loved Sam. Envy filled me that I couldn’t have that. At least not with Mitch.
“If you’re thirteen, I’m fifteen,” the final brother, Will, said appearing behind Nate.
Nate moved out of the way so Will could come out the door. “You’re the most immature of us all.”
“I’m still older,” Will grinned. “Hope, how are you? You keeping my brother from turning feral out there in the woods.”
“Will, how are you?”
The evening progressed in much the same manner. The brothers enjoyed teasing each other, but I could see the love and respect between them. And they all doted on their mother. The absence of their father was keenly felt. I’d remembered him as being a lot like his sons; often joking and teasing, but desperately in love with his family. It was sad that he wasn’t there to see his sons’ successes in their careers, and in the case of Gabe and Nate, in their personal lives.
We ate dinner on the deck, and it was lovely to be a part of a family gathering. My parents were so stressed over the last six months that we hadn’t had a family dinner in forever it seemed. I’d need to remedy that when I returned home.
“You doing okay?” Mitch leaned over and whispered. “I probably should have warned you that none of my brothers has fully grown up.”
I turned my head, putting my face close to his. He was so handsome, and I wanted more than anything to lean in the few inches to kiss him.
“I’m enjoying this very much, Mitch. Thank you.”
He tilted his head. “You sure you’re okay?”
I nodded. “It just makes me realize that my family hasn’t done anything like this in a long time. It’s wonderful that you do it each week.”
Emotion moved over his face. “I just wish my father was here.”
“I do too. I was thinking that his absence was noticeable. I remember how he was always the life of the party.”
Mitch’s forehead leaned into mine, closing his eyes as if what I said moved him in some way.
“Listen up, everyone,” Nate bellowed across the table. Mitch jerked back and into attention.
“Ah Nate, you ruined a moment between Mitch and Hope over there,” Will said.
I swallowed, feeling uncomfortable for Mitch. “Indigestion,” I said, trying to do as the brothers would and make light of it.
Everyone laughed, and Mitch’s hand squeezed my thigh under the table, in what I think meant, thank you. But as I looked at his brothers and their wives, and his mother, I could see speculation about us in the way they looked at us.
“My moment is better than his. Sorry Mitch,” Nate said.
Mitch waved Nate’s apology away. “I’m sure whatever cure you’ve come up with will outdo anything I could do.”
“This is more of a personal nature,” Nate said, looking at Hallie sitting next to him. God, if a man ever looked at me like that, I’d do whatever he asked.
The other women of the table sucked in a breath.
“Well spit it out, Nate. I’m an old woman,” his mother said.
“Hallie and I are having a baby.”
The entire table erupted in whoops and congratulations. I joined in, but inside my heart ached for what they had. For what I wanted with Mitch.
I turned to him and saw genuine love and happiness for his brother, and perhaps a little envy as well. Had things gone differently, Gwen would be sitting where I was. Would they be announcing their pregnancy too?
“It better be a boy,” Will said. “There are too many girls at this party.”
“Boo,” the ladies said.
Will grinned. “Pretty soon, I’ll be the only single guy left.” He glanced at Mitch, who tensed next to me. It hurt my heart that he couldn’t allow himself to love again.
Several people were looking at Mitch, and I realized, they were waiting to see if he was going to respond either in the affirmative or not.
I turned to Mitch. “Are you leaving? Why is Will the only single guy left?”
Gratitude laced Mitch’s eyes. “Will can’t count.”
The table laughed again, and then returned to gushing over Nate and Hallie.
On the ride back to Mitch’s place, he was quiet at first. Then he said, “I hope my family didn’t embarrass you.”
“Not me they didn’t.”
He kept his eyes on the road, his fingers firmly clasped on the steering wheel of his vehicle. “Ever since Gabe came home with Sam, there is this need for my brothers to hassle each other over their love lives.”
“I get it. Parker and I tease each other too.” Taking a chance, I asked, “Did they know Gwen?”
Mitch’s knuckles whitened around the steering wheel. “Yes. Although I don’t think they liked her. Not that they hated her, but it wasn’t like how Sam and Hallie are treated.”
“That must have been hard for you.”
“I probably should have paid attention to it. I could have saved myself a lot of grief.” He kept his gaze out the window in a way that had me thinking he didn’t want to look at me.
“Why are you still grieving?”
His head turned to glance at me for a second. “I’m not grieving.”
I shrugged. “She still haunts you.”
“I don’t miss her, Hope. I wouldn’t be sleeping with you if I still had feelings for her.”
I turned my body to better give attention to him. “I know that Mitch. I don’t think you want her back, but she still impacts your life. Parker says you haven’t been with anyone since.”
“I’m with you.” His jaw was tight.
“Only because it’s a no-strings deal.” I reached a hand over and rested it on his thigh. “I saw you look at Gabe and Nate tonight.
You’re happy for them, but also envious.”
“I don’t want what they have. Not anymore.”
“I think you do but are afraid to let yourself love again.”
He continued to drive, not saying anything for a long time. Finally, he spoke. “I see the love between my brothers and their wives, and it’s a beautiful thing. But I also see the pain in my mother’s. Every day she has to get up and live without the man she loves. I don’t want that.”
It was hard to argue with that, but I tried. “Do you think knowing what she knows now, that she would have chosen not to marry your father to avoid that pain?”
“Fuck, Hope, what do you want from me?” He gritted his teeth and turned to look out the window. There was nothing to see as the roads were dark in the mountains. “No, she’d have married him because they had years of happiness and four kids. But I don’t have to make that trade. I can avoid it altogether.”
I shook my head. “You’re still making the trade, Mitch. You just don’t know what you’re giving up, so it makes passing it up easier.”
“Why are you pushing this?” He looked at me with suspicion in his eyes, which was weird. What reason would he think I’d be getting so personal that would concern him?
“I’m your friend. I want you to be happy.”
“I am happy.” His annoyed tone belayed that point, but I decided I’d gone about as far as I could with the conversation. Besides, he was right, I realized. I did have an ulterior motive. I wanted him to open his heart to me.
Mitch—Hope Over Guilt
Mitch
I didn’t have sex with Hope that night. Her harping at me on the drive home, on top of the comments made by my brothers, made my nerves raw. They all seemed to think Hope and I were more than friends. If my mother said something to Hope’s mother that made it seem like we were together, I’d lose Parker as a friend. I understood that fucking my friend’s sister wasn’t the same as my friend fucking my fiancé, but a betrayal was a betrayal, right?
I wasn’t kidding when I told Hope about my mother losing my father either. The loss of my father nearly destroyed us all. Thank God Will was able to step up and be the man my father would have wanted. Will not only handled everything around my father’s death, but he’d held the family together emotionally as well. Especially me. Discovering Gwen’s affair pissed me off and made me feel like a fucking idiot, but losing my father, broke my heart. To have them happen within months of each other, knocked me on my ass.
I knew most people felt that I had run away when I sold my company and moved to the mountains. They’d be right. But today, I’d built a life I enjoyed. I was content. I had friends. I was able to be outdoors and contribute to the community. Better yet, I wasn’t at risk of having my life kicked out from under me again.
I thought Hope had understood that, so her questioning me in the car confused me. She’d said she was focused on building a business, not in growing a relationship. So why was she all of a sudden wondering why I wasn’t letting love in my life? Did she want me to love her? Or was she really just being a friend? It wasn’t like Parker hadn’t ever hinted at me getting out into the dating game again.
The truth was, if I were to let myself fall again, Hope would be the one I do it for. She was smart and sweet, and while she annoyed me when she busted my balls, I liked that I could count on her to tell me the truth. I’d thought a month would be plenty of time for us to spend together. We could get each other out of our systems, and go on our merry ways. But the time was flying, and I knew the next two weeks wouldn’t be enough.
I shocked myself at one point by considering getting a place back in northern Virginia so I could be closer to her. My excuse would be to help her with her business. Or I could offer to let her stay with me longer. She had a great set up, and her designs could be sent digitally to whatever manufacturer she chose. There were all sorts of business reasons for us to continue to hang together, but who was I fooling? I liked being around her. I felt alive again, and I felt like I had a purpose. Jesus, was I falling for her?
I woke early the next morning. The sky was still dark, although I could see the shadow of light that indicated the sun would be up soon. I put on a pair of shorts and tiptoed from the room to not wake Hope. Duke followed me to the kitchen.
It was earlier than usual, but I gave him his treat.
“I’m royally fucked, Duke,” I said as I watched him eat his biscuit. Even if I did take a chance with her, the issue of Parker was there. Good God, when he kept thanking me for looking after Hope, I felt like a total asshole. Especially since my intentions weren’t good. It was not that I was taking advantage of her, but I had no plans to see the relationship through. This was a friends with benefits situation. He’d kill me if he found out the things I’d done with her, to her.
I scraped my hand over my face. “I should have never even started this,” I told Duke. But since I had, I’d have to end it or learn to live with the guilt. But I didn’t want to stop it, not in two weeks. Maybe not ever, and that thought scared me more than my fear of Parker finding out about Hope and me.
“You’re up early.” Hope appeared in entry to the kitchen wearing her sexy little shorts and t-shirt. At least I thought they were sexy.
“I couldn’t sleep.” I turned to start the coffee.
“Are you still mad at me?”
I sighed. “I’m not mad at you, Hope.” I’m fucking falling for you.
“You’re feeling something.”
I turned to look at her. I wasn’t a coward, so I’d face her. “I’m mad at me.”
Her eyes narrowed, she stiffened. “Because you feel bad about betraying Parker?”
“I do feel bad about that.”
She shook her head and looked down, but I saw the hurt in her eyes before she did. I needed to be a man. While I couldn’t tell her my crazy feelings, I could at least admit that my desire for her was stronger than my guilt.
“I don’t feel bad enough to stop.”
Her head snapped up. “You don’t?”
“No. If he finds out somehow from my brothers’ big mouths or my mother, I’ll deal with it. I’ll just tell him you seduced me.” I grinned, hoping to bring levity to the situation.
“Hmmm.” She quirked a brow.
“It’s true. At the river, you took your clothes off.”
“And here.”
“You had chocolate on your mouth. I’m a man, Hope, not a superhero. I’m not strong enough to resist your allure.”
She smiled. “You can’t help yourself?” She sauntered closer to me.
“Nope.”
Her hand stroked over my bare chest and lower over my already hardening dick. “You are weak, Sloane.”
I shrugged. “What can I do?”
She slid her fingers under the waistband of my shorts. “You could finish making the coffee.” She tugged at the waistband and then released it with a snap.
“Hey, I’ve got important things down there.”
“I’ll help you with that after coffee.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Coffee and a walk in the woods as the sun came up did a lot lift my mood. The entire morning routine was made all that much better with Hope walking along my side.
“Are you excited for Nate and Hallie?” she asked me as we headed the last half-mile back to the house.
“Yes. She’ll be a great mom. Look at what she’s done for Nate.”
Hope laughed. “You guys sure like to hassle each other.”
“I guess we do. But it’s all in fun.”
“Sunday dinners are a great idea. I wonder if I could get my parents to do something like that. Their life is filled with worries and stress. I think if we were together as a family, it might remind them of what was important. I’m going to try and set that up when I return home.”
“I think they’ll love it.” I, on the other hand, didn’t like the idea of her returning home. What the hell would I do all day? What did I do before? I was alway
s busy, volunteering to help at the state park or assisting locals with their computer issues. I had my freelance work and consulting. But, in hindsight, I was just existing.
“Maybe you could come to dinner sometime too. I know my parents would enjoy seeing you again.”
“Let me know when and I’ll be there.” We made it back to the house, and I was ready to be on a new topic. “You said you’d take care of me after coffee. It’s long after coffee,” I said with a nod to my dick, who I thought was being remarkably patient.
“Don’t you have to go to town for something today?”
Oh yeah. I’d told Patsy Lyle I’d help her set up her new computer system in her shop. “I have to shower first. You can join me.” I loved shower sex. Steam, and hot water sluicing over Hope’s fantastic body. Soap making her skin soft and smelling sweet.
She gave me a sexy smile as she took her top off and dropped it on the floor in front of me and then left the kitchen. Like a dog, I followed the trail of clothes; shorts, bra, panties, all the way to the bathroom.
“You have the most fantastic ass,” I said as I watched her step into the shower.
“Take your clothes off Sloane and join me. I let you get a better view.”
“Hell yeah.” I stripped and stepped into the shower with her, pushing all my worries away. There was no Parker. No terror at the prospect that I was falling for this luscious woman. No disappointment that it was going to end in two weeks. It was time to live in the moment. To savor every touch, every sigh, every moment I had left with her. Everything else was gone. There was only me and Hope, our mouths fused, hands exploring, and together bringing each other pleasure.
Hope—Doesn’t He Want More?
Hope
After a very pleasurable shower, I went to town with Mitch, trying not to think about how much I was going to miss him when I left. For the day in town, I wore a pair of white walking shorts, floral slip-on sneakers, and a seafoam green tapered, capped sleeve blouse I made perfect for hiking or walks through town.
“That’s another one of your designs,” Mitch said when he saw me.
Her Mountain Hero Page 10
