Take a Mountain Man Home for Christmas: A Mountain Man Romance Christmas Collection

by Crowne, K. C.

  Our meals came, and I ate like a starving man. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was. Emily picked at her salad. “Em, it’s going to be okay,” I repeated. I sounded like a broken record, as many times as I told her it would be okay.

  She sighed and looked into my eyes and nodded. I was surprised she didn’t tell me it wouldn’t or couldn’t be fixed. Anything could be fixed. Somehow. “When I get home, I’ll look into it. See what we have to do,” I offered. Again, a nod. I took a deep breath and wished she wasn’t so upset.

  I needed to ask before it was too late. “Other than the fact that we barely know one another, what about being married is so bad?”

  She seemed startled by the question. She looked at her plate while she contemplated her answer. Finally, her sad, blue-grey eyes met mine. “It’s not you, Harley. You’re great. I just can’t be married right now. Especially not to someone I just met.” She paused, considering what to say. Or, how much to say, it appeared. Without another word, she shrugged.

  I didn’t understand but decided to drop it for now. Prodding into her life would just cause her to clam up on me. “Can we exchange phone numbers? So I can reach you after I find out about the annulment process?”

  “Yes.” She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her cell phone. “What’s your number? I’ll dial you.”

  I rattled off my number and felt the buzz of her call in my pocket. Retrieving my phone, I saved it with her name. “Alright, got it.”

  Silence enveloped us again. I finished eating, and Emily picked at and left most of her food. Finally, she said, “I’m finished. I’m not hungry.”

  I paid the bill and took possession of her flowery rolling bag. We went outside and walked back to the convention center, where it would be easier to find a cab to take us to the airport.

  In the cab, I reached for Emily’s hand. She grabbed onto it and held it tight. I needed to be close to her before we parted ways. I switched hands so I still had her small hand in my grip and moved to put my arm around her shoulders. Emily cuddled into my side and laid her head on my chest.

  I held her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. I wished more than anything that I had more time with her. I moved my head close and waited for her to respond. I was relieved when she moved her lips to mine. I kissed her as if I’d never see her again, though I hoped that wouldn’t be the case. In just a few short days, this woman had dug deep into my soul.

  The cab reached the airport too fast. My heart dropped when I opened the door. The cabbie retrieved our luggage from the trunk. Strapping on our carry-ons, I reached for her hand one more time and pulled her suitcase into the airport.

  I looked at my watch. It was time to part ways. She would need time to check her baggage. Our flights were in opposite directions, so we had to say goodbye.

  I faced Emily. She didn’t look up, so I carefully lifted her chin so she would look at me. Her eyes studied my face as if she was trying to bore my image into her mind. I had to see her again. This couldn’t be over.

  Looking into her eyes, I felt an easiness between us. As if the stormy emotions of earlier hadn’t existed. I smiled at her, and Emily smiled too. My heart thumped in my chest as I choked back my emotions. I looked closely at her, just like she had me. I studied her face. Her smile lit up her entire face. The way her blue-grey eyes would shyly meet mine and then flicker away was enchanting and unforgettable.

  I moved my eyes down her body one last time. The soft material of her summer dress tightened across the firm bosom. I brought my eyes to the smooth, fair flesh that rose so temptingly above the lowcut neckline. I swallowed with difficulty, as even now, my body responded instinctively to hers.

  I tore my gaze from her, trying to decide how to say it. How do you say goodbye to a woman that magnificent? Emily took a step forward, and I leaned in to embrace her. I brought her to my chest, and she tucked her head under my collarbone. I inhaled her scent, inhaling deeply to savor it. For the last few precious moments, I had her in my arms.

  Emily moved her head to gaze into my eyes. Seeing the passion in her lovely eyes, I urgently sought out her mouth. I moved my lips over hers in a proper farewell.

  We had to let go of each other. I let Emily grab her suitcase. With one last look, she turned and walked away. I watched her go and was surprised by how much it hurt. I swallowed hard.

  Emily never looked back.

  On the plane ride home, I played back the entire trip. Every moment I had with Emily. Then it dawned on me. We never filled out any official paperwork at the chapel. Especially Emily. We hadn’t signed a damned thing. I signed only the credit card slip and told the lady our names. That’s how they put them on the marriage certificate. Which, more than likely, wasn’t a legal document.

  Then the real dilemma hit me. Did I tell Emily I didn’t think our marriage was real, or did I keep on pretending and try to win her over?

  Emily

  Now that I had time to calm down, I started thinking straight. I felt bad for overreacting earlier, but when I woke up and saw the ring on my finger, the night slammed into me like a big truck, and I panicked. Harley didn’t understand. It was easy for him to say it would be alright. And maybe it would be for him.

  For me, it was another story.

  I sighed. I’d made some really bad decisions in my life, but Harley didn’t feel like one of them. Something about him was different. Something about us felt right. I think it was the way he looked at me. From the first time our eyes met, he never looked away. My ex, Shawn, had never looked at me like that.

  Harley looked at me like I was the only woman in the room. Shawn had looked at every woman and had slept with a few.

  Harley paid attention. Shawn never paid attention unless he needed something from me.

  Harley was protective. Shawn beat me.

  Harley made me feel special. Shawn had made me feel worthless.

  Looking down at the ring on my finger, a tear slipped from my eye. I had planned to give it back but forgot. Now, I was glad I kept it to remember Harley and our time together.

  I looked out the plane window as we entered Washington state. I could tell by the green foliage. Flying over Nevada and Oregon on the way to Olympia was mostly desert and mountains. I was almost home, and the thought of seeing my baby made me feel better.

  The plane landed just before seven. I exited the plane and went to claim my suitcase. I’d ordered an Uber when the plane landed and hoped it would be out front waiting for me. A green Caravan, the app said, with Driver Tony. Grabbing my suitcase, I rolled it out the front doors into the pink and purple twilight.

  Tony’s green Caravan was easy to spot. I waved to him, and he pulled up to the curb to help me with my luggage. I’d been running on autopilot. No thought. No emotions besides regret. I only felt regret. And the pain deep in my heart.

  Tony drove me home humming to Natalie Cole’s Miss You Like Crazy. Wiping my eyes, I thought, how appropriate. The van was dark, and I sat in the middle seat, glad the driver couldn’t see me.

  Twenty minutes later, the Uber pulled up to the curb of my duplex. I was glad to be home. Tony helped me with my bags, and I made sure to tip him well through the app. With a nod, he was off to pick up his next traveler.

  I rolled my yellow-flowery suitcase up the walkway to the stairs. I let it clunk up the wooden steps onto the front porch, not caring that it made a racket. The door flung open, and I smiled at the man holding the door open.

  “I would have helped you with that,” his deep voice said. “Welcome home.”

  I smiled at my brother, instantly noticing he was a lot like Harley. Not just his features, but how he held himself. He was confident, loyal, and protective. I looked into his blue eyes. He looked tired. Chole, I was sure, had worn him out good the last couple of days.

  Kellan’s bushy, light-brown hair was tousled. But tired as he was, he never slouched. He stood tall in the doorway, his full 6’3”, towering over me. He was an exercise buff, just li
ke Harley. He stood with his hands on either side of the doorway, his biceps bulging out of the short-sleeved shirt. His broad shoulders blocked my view.

  A small body with flowing, curly hair snaked her way around Kellan’s thick legs. Excited blue-grey eyes mirrored my own. “Mommy!” Chloe screamed as she ran out and tossed her arms around me. I dropped the handle of my suitcase and picked up my girl.

  “Hi, Chloe,” I crooned, kissing her cheek. “I missed you so much. Did you have fun with Uncle Kellan?”

  Chloe kissed my lips. “Yes. And, he let me stay up late,” she tattled.

  “Chloe…” Kellan moaned, winking at her so she would giggle.

  “Did you thank him?” I looked into her big, innocent eyes.

  “Um…” she said, crooking her neck to look back at him. “Thanks, Uncle Kellan.”

  “Anything for my little Chloe,” he grinned at her.

  Inside, Chloe told me all about everything that had happened since I’d left on Thursday. “We had a party! A pizza party! And we watched The Secret Life of Pets! It was sooo funny!”

  “That sounds like so much fun!” I put on a smile for my baby. As soon as she looked away, my face returned to melancholy, matching my state of mind. Kellan noticed and was frowning at me.

  Awhile later, I tucked Chloe into her bed, read her one of her favorite stories, and watched as she drifted off to sleep. She looked so peaceful, and I envied her. I kissed her forehead and went downstairs to the living room to face my big brother.

  Kellan was sitting on the couch, sipping on a beer and watching a hockey game. When he saw me, he sat up and held out a second beer. I accepted and sat down.

  “What’s going on?” he asked kindly.

  “Nothing,” I lied, taking a big swig from the beer.

  Kellan’s gaze didn’t falter. “I know when something’s bothering you. You’re a super bad liar. Now tell me.” I showed him the ring on my finger. He looked at it, confused. “You spent too much money on a ring?”

  I rolled my eyes at him. “I got married.”

  Kellan stared into my eyes, then back to the oversized, shiny ring as he tried to process what I had just told him. “You got married? To who? You were only gone for three nights!”

  I shook my head knowingly. Only three nights. “Yep. Give me some freedom, and I fuck up my life,” I informed him, holding back tears as I let out a little chuckle.

  Kellan watched me, his confusion still apparent. “You can’t get married that fast.”

  “Well, I did,” I answered. “See.” I held out the ring to him so he could get a closer look.

  “That doesn’t mean anything. Where did you get married? And to who?” he asked again, trying to piece together my problem.

  “At a casino called Treasure Island. A wedding chapel. To a man named Harley Hunter,” I said coolly. But as Harley’s name passed my lips, a fresh set of tears fell.

  “Okay,” Kellan said, reaching for a tissue. He let me cry for a bit, his gaze wandering from me to the television and back. When I stopped, he refocused on me. “Why are you crying? Because you made a mistake or because you miss the guy?”

  Kellan knew me too well. No point in lying about it. “Both,” I admitted. Now my body was racked with heart-wrenching sobs. I let it all out, whatever was left inside of me.

  He put down his beer, took mine out of my hand before I dumped it on the couch, and pulled me to him. I wept uncontrollably into his chest. When I finished, I grabbed the handful of tissue from him and blew my nose and wiped my eyes. I looked up at him through my tears.

  “Emily, first off, did you sign any papers?” he asked me.

  I realized that I hadn’t. “No, I didn’t sign anything,” I answered.

  “Then how could this marriage even be legal?” he questioned me.

  “I... I don’t know,” I stammered. “We got a certificate signed by the minister…”

  Kellan slowly shook his head back and forth. “I’m pretty sure you need a license signed by a judge to make it legal. A marriage license.”

  My eyes widened. Why didn’t I think of that? The wedding was never even legal. Bewildered, I wanted to tell Harley. But Harley was content with the marriage. Bless his heart. He would have stuck it out until the end. I knew it.

  A strange sense of disappointment hit my chest and knocked the wind out of me. A new wave of tears welled up for Harley alone. The connection between us was broken. Gone. No need to call and tell him, as I’m sure he already knew. If he didn’t, he would figure it out soon enough. I put my forehead into my hands and leaned over the couch to cry. Kellan let me be.

  When my tears finally dried up, he asked quietly, “Emily, are you going to be okay?”

  “Yes,” I told him. Just like Harley had said, everything would be okay. I sighed.

  “Do you want to talk about it? About him?” Kellan asked me. I didn’t respond, just stared at the carpet. “You really like him, don’t you?” I nodded my head yes.

  He stopped questioning me and put his hand on my back. Rubbing it, he said, “Maybe you could see if you and this guy can, I don’t know, work something out. Just because you aren’t married doesn’t mean you can’t see where it could go.” He paused and sighed. “I know you Em. You don’t let yourself get close to anyone. If this guy slipped past your defenses enough that you ended up in a wedding chapel with him, there must be something there worth exploring.”

  I glanced at him and shrugged. “Maybe if he didn’t live in Blue Haven, Colorado.”

  His mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, then it slowly formed a frown. He shook his head at my bad fortune. He felt bad for me. Kellan knew I couldn’t move out of state with Chloe because of the custody agreement. He put his arm around me and handed me my beer.

  Sipping our beers, we watched the hockey game in silence.

  Harley

  My flight landed at Eagle County Regional Airport at a quarter to nine. I’d left my SUV parked in the lot and was glad I didn’t have to get into another cab. I drove the hour and a half back to the resort in silence, much the way I had driven to the airport. But my mind was filled Emily Mayberry.

  I wondered if I would ever see her again. I told her I would call as soon as I found out anything about annulling our marriage even though I’d already figured it wasn’t legal at all, so the annulment wasn’t necessary.

  Pulling into the resort from the dark mountain road, the warm lighting greeted me. The roads, parking lots, and public areas of the resort were lit 24/7. Most of our guests from the weekend had headed home. Fishermen remained, mostly, staying down in the cabins by the Blue River. I rolled down my window and listened. Nothing but silence greeted me, and I felt at home.

  I drove straight to my cabin rather than stopping at the main building. None of my family would be there at this hour anyway. Grabbing my bag, I jumped out of the truck and shivered. Twenty-six degrees in the nighttime mountains was a big difference from the seventy-nine-degree weather of Las Vegas that afternoon. I was looking forward to the sunshine tomorrow when the temperature would be forty-eight degrees. I would never complain about that, because that kind of temp still brought in skiers for the late season.

  I entered my cabin and turned on a table lamp. More silence. I walked to the living area and turned on the TV where a female anchor cheerfully reported the local news. I lit a fire in the fireplace, pulled the marriage certificate from my bag, and headed to my office to turn on the computer. I needed to know.

  After a couple of quick searches, it was just as I had thought. Vegas marriages weren’t legal unless you visited the courthouse beforehand and got the necessary license. I looked at the certificate and sighed. Harley and Emily Hunter had a nice ring to it. But it wasn’t meant to be.

  Though I was sure she’d be relieved, I was not. As impossible as it seemed, I had fallen for Emily during our short time together. Even her attempts at holding me at arm’s length had been endearing. The marriage thing somehow bonded us together. Now, sh
e had no reason to ever talk to me again.

  I wondered if I should call her or let her be. A simple internet search would give her the same information I’d found. But I’d told her I would get in touch. I looked at my watch. It was ten forty-five now, but only nine-forty-five in Olympia. I wasn’t sure of her bedtime but decided to call.

  The phone rang five times before going to voicemail. “Hi, you’ve reached Emily. Please leave a message.” The sound of her voice quickened my pulse. “Hi Emily, I hope you made it home okay. Call me back when you get a moment. Thanks.”

  I hung up and waited for a few moments, hoping she would call back, but the night passed without a phone call.

  The next morning was the weekly breakfast meeting with my family. Brad had promised he would discuss my proposal then. With everything that had happened weighing heavily on my mind, I wasn’t as excited as I had been the week before, but I needed my plan to move forward.

  “Morning, Harley,” my mom greeted me. She leaned her chin up for a kiss, and I offered her my cheek. At thirty, I was still her baby. “How was your trip?” She paused and frowned when she noticed the look on my face. “What’s wrong, honey?” she asked, concerned.

  I hadn’t bothered dressing up or shaving, showing up in my sweatpants and t-shirt. I planned on a long workout directly after the meeting.

  “Nothing, Mom. Just tired from the weekend,” I explained, hoping she would accept the excuse.

  She nodded but kept studying my face. Finally, she smiled and dropped it. I went to the coffee bar for a coffee and looked around the room. Nothing had changed. The toddlers were playing with Bella. Dax Jr. was trying to get out of his highchair to join them. My brothers were talking over each other about a hockey game last night.

  I took my seat and nodded at my nephews, Reid and Bryce, who both greeted me. When the food came, we dug in. Though I was feeling off, I ate with a hearty appetite. I’d missed the homecooked food. After two servings, a tall glass of OJ, and downing a second cup of coffee, I was ready to discuss my proposal further.