“I can appreciate that,” I said, nodding. I couldn’t imagine living in a big city. I’d go crazy, for sure.
“You have experience teaching high school kids and college kids, but what about seventh graders?” I asked.
“I did my student teaching in middle school, actually, so I have some experience in that area as well,” Angela assured me.
“Sounds good. And you are available for thirty hours per week? I’d need you to be here Monday through Friday from nine am to about three pm. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes, that’s perfect for me,” she answered.
Just then, the boys rushed into the common room. Huffing, Reid asked, “Is this the teacher?”
“Yes. What were you guys doing?” I asked them, looking from one to the other. Both were out of breath and red-faced.
“We were hanging out down by the river and didn’t realize what time it was, so we had to run up here,” Bryce informed me, his cheeks glowing.
“Well, I’m glad I didn’t have to come looking for you. Have a seat,” I told them. “This is Angela. She’s been a high school teacher and college professor.” I turned to her. “Angela, this is Reid and Bryce,” I introduced her, motioning to each boy, respectively.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Angela replied, reaching out to shake each boys’ hand. They both returned the shake, grinning at her.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” they replied in unison.
I watched as Angela talked with Reid and Bryce for a while. They seemed to hit it off well. She asked them about their interests. Bryce told her of his fishing and hunting expeditions with his Uncle Cole, and Reid told her how he loved computers and wanted to work in IT someday.
“That’s great,” Angela replied. “My father used to take me fishing,” she told Bryce. “And I have some IT experience as well. I took several computer classes in college, so I can teach you some computer stuff,” she told Reid.
Both boys seemed happy with her replies as they talked excitedly about different things. While they talked, I found my mind wondering. I watched her mouth form the words she was saying, and the plump perfection of her lips captivated me. It had been a long time since I’d kissed a woman, and I suddenly wondered what it would be like to feel her lips pressed to mine.
As I was daydreaming, the guilty feeling crept back in. I hadn’t thought about another woman since Sam had passed away from cancer nearly four years ago. So what was happening felt strange to me. I sighed loudly, and everyone turned to look at me.
“Sorry, don’t mind me,” I assured them, waving a hand. “I was just thinking of all the things I still need to do this afternoon.” It was the best excuse I could come up with off the top of my head.
“We can wrap this up if you’re busy,” Angela offered, looking concerned. “Do you have any other questions for me?”
“No, I think the interview went well. Can you leave me your references?”
“Of course,” Angela replied.
“What do you boys think? Do you have any other questions for Angela?” I asked them.
“How old are you?” Bryce asked.
“Bryce! I meant questions about the job, not personal ones,” I exclaimed, not totally shocked that he would ask, though.
The boys giggled. “I don’t mind,” Angela said with a smile. “I’m thirty.”
“You don’t look that old,” Reid exclaimed.
Angela chuckled at his response. “Thanks.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” I told them, slightly embarrassed. “I’m sorry about that.”
“No need,” she said, smiling at me. “Sort of a compliment, I suppose.”
“Okay,” I said, grinning a stupid grin back at her before I noticed the boys looking at me. “Well, if that’s it, then I guess we’re done here for now. I’ll be in touch,” I told her, extending my hand for a farewell shake.
When Angela grasped my hand, I felt pings of excitement flutter in my chest. I inhaled deeply and quickly released her hand. I hoped the boys hadn’t noticed.
We said our goodbyes and I walked Angela to the door. I watched as she walked to her car and drove off, stunned by the feelings I was experiencing. Pushing them out of my mind, I told the boys it was time for lunch.
* * *
In the kitchen, we found Mom humming to herself. Today, she had leftover cream of broccoli soup and breadsticks for us. I was happy when neither boy complained. They were too busy telling their gram about Angela.
“So you guys liked her, huh?” Mom asked, taking off her apron and sitting down on the stool next to Reid to eat her soup.
“Yeah, she was cool,” Bryce told her.
“The best one so far,” Reid agreed, slurping his soup noisily.
“That’s good to hear,” Mom replied. “Your slurping isn’t.”
“Sorry.”
“What did you think?” she asked me, glancing my way.
“I liked her,” I told her, shrugging.
“That’s it? You liked her?” she asked, raising her brow at me.
“I told her I’d get back to her. I need to think about it.”
“We think that you should hire her,” Bryce announced, holding his spoon over his soup.
“Yeah,” Reid agreed with a mouthful of bread.
“Boy, chew with your mouth closed,” I warned him. He nodded and continued eating. “You do, huh? Well, I’m going to go over her application again and call her references and then see if there are any other applicants we should interview, then I’ll make up my mind,” I informed them.
“You won’t find anybody better. Look at the last two,” Reid reminded me.
“Maybe,” I responded, looking down at my soup bowl. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my mom still looking at me. She knows me too well, I thought. She won’t let this go without an explanation for my hesitation.
When the boys were finished eating, they asked if they could go back outside. I told them I’d see them at our cabin at six o’clock for dinner. Once they left the kitchen, I turned to see my mom eyeing me. She was waiting for my reasoning on waiting to hire Angela.
“Okay, Brad, tell me what’s going on,” Mom said as she cleaned up the boys’ dishes. “And don’t tell me you just need to think about it.”
I hesitated, not knowing how to say it. Not wanting to admit it to myself, I was attracted to Angela and felt guilty about it. I looked at my mom, who was patiently waiting for me to tell her what was going on. Sighing, I said, “I think I’m attracted to Angela and that she will be a distraction.”
“A distraction? To whom?” she scoffed. “She’ll be teaching the boys all day while you’re working.”
“I know.”
“So, what’s the problem?” I didn’t answer, so she continued. “You know, it’s okay to be attracted to a young lady. It’s normal, in fact.”
“I realize that. But I feel guilty being attracted to another woman. I haven't looked at anyone else since Sam. It’s awkward.”
“It won’t always be awkward. You’ve been out of the game for a while, that’s all,” Mom said softly.
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Oh Brad, it’s been four years since Sam has passed on. It’s normal to want to wait for some time before dating again. But don’t you think four years is long enough?” She reached over and patted my hand. “You deserve love. And Sam would agree with me. I know she would want you to be happy.”
I knew she is right, but it was hard for me to accept. “Sam was the love of my life. I could never love anyone the way that I loved her,” I murmured.
“Nobody expects you to love someone else like you loved Sam. But, Brad, she’s gone, and you have a big heart to give to someone special. You have a lot to offer. No one will ever take Sam’s place.”
“I know, Mom. I do.” I sighed, running a hand down my face. “When I first saw Angela and felt that initial attraction, it scared me. And I felt guilty, like I was cheating on Sam. I know it’s not true, but that’s
how I felt.”
“I know, honey,” she sympathized as she continued washing the dishes. “I miss your father every single day and couldn’t imagine being with any other man. But you’re a young man still. I’m old and stuck in my ways. You have an entire life to live. You don’t deserve to live it alone.” She smiled at me. “Your father and I were together for forty-five years. You deserve the same happiness.”
“What about the boys?” I asked her.
“The boys will accept anyone you do. They’re ready. And they would like to have a mother figure, I would think. It’d be good for them,” she replied.
I know what she’s saying is the truth. The boys aren't really the problem. They adapt easily. It’s all me. I sighed again. “I don’t even know if Angela was attracted to me. It was the surprise that I could be attracted to someone again,” I said. “It caught me off guard.”
“That’s the way it happens, my dear,” my mom said, smiling at me. “When you least expect it to happen.
“I know,” I said, nodding my head in agreement.
“I think you should hire her. Give her a chance.”
“I’ll consider it. I know my pickings are slim at this point. I haven't gotten any better applicants and probably won’t. Angela’s more than experienced to be able to school the boys. And, they liked her.”
“I think you have your answer, Brad. But it’s your decision, and I’ll leave you to it.” She wiped her hands on a towel. She hurried around to my side and kissed my cheek. “I have to go and relieve Kelly at the front desk for her break.”
“Okay, Mom. Thanks for talking with me.”
“Anytime, my love,” she said as she tossed the dishtowel on the counter and walked out of the kitchen, leaving me to my thoughts.
* * *
I went back to my office and tried to get some work done. Instead, I found myself staring at the computer screen, thinking about Angela.
I couldn't get her out of my mind, and it was driving me nuts. What am I going to do, I wondered. I knew what the right answer was to hire Angela, but I couldn’t bring myself to make the call yet.
Five-thirty came, and I headed up to the house to make dinner for the boys. Some evenings, I had the cooks in the resort’s kitchen prepare food for us. Today, I thought I’d grill us some burgers. Anything to take my mind off Angela.
By the time we finished dinner, it was dusk, and the boys settled in to play some video game one of my brother’s had bought for them. I wanted to shower, so I headed up to my bedroom and private bath. I took a long look in the mirror as I trimmed my sideburns and shaggy beard. Satisfied that I looked more presentable, I ran a comb through my thick head of dark hair as confused, sky-blue eyes looked back at me.
Sighing, I undressed and jumped in the shower. All I could think about was how sexy Angela had looked in her tight blue dress. Her long, tanned legs were muscular like she worked out. I imagined running my hand up her thighs, under the hem of her dress…
Mmmmm, I moaned.
My cock got hard as I continued my fantasy. My hand found her panties, and I pushed underneath with my fingers to feel her warm, wet mound. I heard Angela moan in pleasure as I circled her clit.
“Oooh, Brad,” Angela moaned.
I imagined pleasing her. She called my name again and again. I pushed two fingers into her wet pussy and found her clit with my thumb.
“Brad,” she yelled.
My hand found my hard, long cock as warm water sprayed over my naked body. I grabbed the bar of soap and lathered it up, rubbing the lather over my pec muscles, down my abs, to my throbbing member.
I imagined Angela placing her lips over the head of my cock, smiling up at me with those gorgeous, blue-green eyes. Her full, pink lips closed over my shaft as she sucked me inside.
I moaned softly, pulling on my own lathered up cock. The soap was her tongue sliding over my shaft. My hand glided effortlessly over my hardness, making it throb.
I imagined Angela standing and pulling her dress off over her head. She was wearing a black lace lingerie teddy, her round tits protruding from the top.
I pumped my cock harder with my hand as Angela ran her hands over her plump bosom and then down over her flat tummy. She spread her legs, and I watched as she finger-fucked herself. She pushed her fingers inside her wet pussy hard, then lifted them to her mouth, where she sucked on her own juices.
I wanted to see her naked. I told her to take off the lingerie. Angela moved her hands over her bosom, lifting them and squeezing, then put her thumbs underneath the bra, teasing me. I pumped my cock harder.
“Oooh, take it off, Angela…”
I imagined her slowly lowering the lingerie. Her big, round tits popped out as she pushed the bra down over them. She slowly moved the black lace down, over her belly button, and pushed it down over her tanned, long legs. She stood naked before me.
I moved my hand over my throbbing cock faster, lathering the soap as my fist slid up and down, pulling on my shaft. I moaned in delight at Angela’s naked body.
I watched as she fondled her tits and played with the nipples, making them hard and erect. She was looking up at me with those sexy, taunting eyes.
“Suck my cock,” I told her.
She dropped to her knees and took my swollen member into her mouth. She sucked hard, pulling the entire shaft into her throat. She moved her head back and forth, taking in all of me.
I closed my eyes as an orgasm built up in my abdomen. With one more hard tug, my juices exploded into Angela’s mouth.
When I finished, she smiled up at me, licking my cum from her pink, luscious lips.
I sagged against the wall of the shower, washing the remnants of my fantasy down the drain and wondering if the real thing would feel as good as I’d imagined.
Angela
The next day, I woke up and discovered I’d gone completely stir crazy. I’d gone to the interview with Brad Hunter and his boys yesterday afternoon and thought it had gone well. In fact, I’d been hoping for a phone call from Brad yesterday evening, but it never came.
I wondered if he was still interviewing other applicants. Did he find someone better? I hoped not. I’d felt a connection with his boys and thought they had liked me too. I couldn’t imagine a more qualified homeschool teacher was just hanging around Blue Haven like I was.
I couldn’t sit in the house all day and wait for a phone call, so I walked into town and did some window shopping. One of the clothing shops had a lovely light blue country-style dress in the window that I fell in love with instantly. It was my favorite color, so I went inside to try it on.
After seeing myself in it, I decided to purchase the dress. I can wear it on the first day of my new job. Whichever job that may be.
At lunchtime, I headed over to the local diner to have a bite to eat. Ordering a grilled chicken salad and iced tea, I sat and debated my circumstances.
Let’s see, I’m unemployed, single, and living alone. I’m also running from my past. And I don’t really know anyone in this small town.
Sighing, I sipped my tea and thought of Brad Hunter. I’d been pleasantly surprised when I’d met him the day before. He was tall, probably about 6’3”, broad-shouldered and muscular, and extremely handsome in a rugged, mountain man way. I loved his bushy beard, trimmed mustache, and sideburns. And those blue eyes were to die for. I could easily envision Brad with an ax slung over his shoulder, bushwhacking through the wilderness.
Sexy.
Stop it, I thought. The last thing you need is a boyfriend. You can’t even tell anyone the truth about why you moved here. So a relationship is out of the question. Anyway, he didn’t express any interest in me. He probably isn’t even attracted to me.
And he has two kids! That led to me wondering about his wife and family.
Where is his wife, I wondered. Maybe he’s divorced because she wasn’t at the interview yesterday, and he didn’t mention being married.
The waitress came over and asked if everything was alr
ight. I told her yes and decided to ask her about Hunter’s Mountain Resort and Brad Hunter. Since this was a small town, the waitress should know him.
“Can I ask you if you know anything about Hunter’s Mountain Resort? Or Brad Hunter?” I asked her. Her name tag read Cindy.
“I do know them,” she exclaimed, chuckling. “I went to school with the Hunter brothers. I’ve only been up to the resort once for a wedding.”
“Oh, I bet that was nice,” I told her. “It’s so pretty up in the mountains.”
“Yes, it was a lovely wedding,” she agreed, smiling curiously. “Why do you ask about Brad Hunter?”
“Oh, I’m a teacher and had an interview with him yesterday. I’m hoping I get the job,” I informed her.
“Oh, I see,” Cindy replied, nodding. “Well, he’s a nice guy. He comes into the diner every once in a while, when he’s in town.” She leaned a hip against the opposite bench seat as if ready to share the gossip. “I feel bad for him. He lost his wife to cancer some years back. Everyone in town went to the funeral. Poor kids were left without a mother.”
“Oh, gosh, I had no idea,” I told her, frowning.
“Yeah. I’m surprised he wants to homeschool. Seems like those kids are secluded enough up there in the mountains. It doesn’t seem normal,” she mused. “But, hey, that’s the way the family rolls, I guess.”
“What do you mean?” I asked her.
“They’ve just always kept to themselves. Even when we were in school. And Brad was the only one ever to marry. The rest of them acted like they were too good for the girls here in Blue Haven. I remember all the girls used to call them ‘hefty husky hunks,’” Cindy said, chuckling. “Guess they still are.”
Take a Mountain Man Home for Christmas: A Mountain Man Romance Christmas Collection Page 3