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

by Crowne, K. C.

  I ran a damp brush through my long hair in an attempt to control the frizz. The humidity of the day along with the saltwater, were both rough on my hair, even after a quick shampoo and extra leave-in conditioner. Sleek now, I knew in an hour I’d have a mop on my head, so I tossed a hairband into the bag.

  I touched up my red lipstick and stood back. I looked good, if I did say so myself. I wore a casual, one-piece, above-the-knee, red print dress with a V neck and elastic empire waist. I chose a white shawl and white strappy sandals to accent the white print of the dress. Because it was my last night with Harley, I aimed for sexy but casual enough to wear to Station 17’s annual fair.

  Halfway down the stairs, I admired Harley before he noticed me. Down on one knee, he entertained Chloe as she showed him her My Little Pony collection. If he wasn’t interested in My Little Ponies, I wouldn’t have known it. He gave Chloe his undivided attention, and my heart ached for a real father for my daughter.

  Harley was wearing khaki slacks, a short-sleeved black dress shirt, and black loafers. He wore the shirt untucked with the top buttons undone. His pecs rippled under the shirt as he moved. He hadn’t trimmed his beard, and the short, stubbly growth was sexy as hell.

  He looked up, and our eyes met. His lips formed a dazzling smile, one I had no choice but to return. I slowly descended the steps, smiling seductively at him as I walked.

  Chloe looked up, beaming. “Mommy, I’m showing Harley my ponies!”

  “I see,” I told her, smiling. “Can you put them back in the toy box so we can go?”

  “Sure,” she replied happily and turned to open the box. Harley tossed them to her, and she giggled, trying to catch each one before tossing them into the box herself. I watched as all twenty ponies made it into the toy box.

  “Ready?” Harley asked, looking me over. A lazy smile formed on his face when his eyes met mine. He looked content. Too bad he couldn’t stay with us. I still had no idea how we were going to make a long-distance relationship work.

  “Yes,” I replied.

  Unable to keep my hands off him, I put my palm up to his stubbly cheek. He leaned in to plant a soft peck on mine, his tender lips warm on my skin. Harley led Chloe and me outside to his BMW, which already had Chloe’s car seat strapped in the back.

  Harley waited while I buckled Chloe in before opening the passenger side door for me. Settled in, he softly closed the door and confidently strode around the front of the vehicle. Behind the wheel, Harley strapped on his belt and started the powerful engine. I noticed he was wearing the fancy black watch as his hands tightly gripped the steering wheel.

  I gave Harley directions to Olympia’s East Side Fire Department, and we arrived in style not too long after. The fair started at six, and the main lot was full. Volunteers directed us to the church parking lot next door.

  “Let’s go find Uncle Kellan,” Chloe suggested as soon as she stepped out of the car, jumping up and down.

  “Maybe we should find that bouncy house first,” I kidded.

  Chloe giggled and stopped jumping. “Uncle Kellan first, then the bouncy house,” she replied, hands on hips.

  Who’s in charge here? I wondered with a grin. “Alright,” I agreed as Harley took my hand, and I took Chloe’s. We walked in a row into the busy fair.

  Station 17 put on one of the best mid-summer fairs in Olympia. For four nights, they went all out by hauling in kiddie rides, inflatable houses, a bungee apparatus, and rows and rows of games and food.

  A local classic rock band played in the pavilion. You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC blared as we walked by dancing guests. Others had set up portable chairs and laid out blankets in the grass around the pavilion. Chloe moved to the beat as we walked by but was determined to find her uncle. I assumed the driver’s seat in the firetruck had something to do with it. Kellan brought Chloe to the station every once in a while and let her pretend she was a firefighter in the truck.

  We walked around the station and into the main garage area looking for Kellan, to no avail. The apparatus bay was empty, as was the kitchenette beyond. I’d noticed that one of the engines and an ambulance had been put on display out in the parking area. “Maybe he’s at the truck or working a game or ride?” I suggested to Chloe and Harley, glancing back outside around the lot.

  “I go where you go,” Harley nodded. I loved how easy going he was when he was content.

  I heard a familiar male voice call out from behind us. “Emily!”

  I turned to see Mike, my friend the EMT, walking up to us. “Hey Mike.”

  “Hi, Mike,” Chloe sang in her small voice. I looked over in time to see Harley’s look of bewilderment before he buried it. He glanced at me with a slight smile.

  A man in his sixties with a red bandana wrapped around his forehead, a long white braid, and a black leather vest walked up to us and immediately bent down with open arms. Chloe ran in for a hug.

  “Take me in your ambulance, Mike!” she requested loudly.

  “Chloe,” I admonished.

  “What?” she asked me.

  “Mike might be busy. You need to ask him if he can take you. It’s rude to tell him what to do,” I informed her. Chloe looked like she didn’t quite understand the problem.

  “It’s alright, Emily,” Mike said, grinning. He looked at us. “This must be Harley,” he said. Without waiting for my introduction, Mike stood and reached out his hand to Harley. “I’m Mike, friends of Kellan and Emily,” he said, his cheekbones lifted as he smiled. I could barely see his lips through the thick white mustache.

  “And friend of Chloe,” my daughter reminded Mike with a sideways look.

  “And Chloe,” Mike added quickly. “Sorry ‘bout that, Chloe.” He smiled in her direction.

  Harley accepted Mike’s hand, and they shook. “Nice to meet you, Mike,” Harley said.

  “Same. Kellan was telling me Emily finally met a nice guy. Good for you, Em,” he said, glancing at me with a twinkle in his light blue eyes. I blushed before giving him a quick hug.

  “Do you know where Kellan is?” I asked Mike.

  “He lucked out with the first shift at the bouncy house,” Mike chuckled.

  I looked down at Chloe. “See? I said we should go to the bouncy house first.” She scrunched up her face at me, and we all laughed.

  “I’ll be over at the ambulance for the second half. Bob’s doing the tours now,” Mike informed us. “Come by then,” he said to Chloe.

  “Okay,” she agreed and pulled my hand to go find the bouncy house and her Uncle Kellan.

  “See you later, Mike,” I called as Chloe led us away.

  I turned as Harley blurted, “That guy looks like if Willie Nelson was in a Motorcycle Club! Not at all what I pictured when you talked about him before.”

  I giggled. “I forgot to mention what he looks like, I guess.”

  “You sure did.” Then his face got serious. “Your ex beat the shit out of that guy?” he asked in a low voice so Chloe wouldn’t hear.

  I nodded. I knew exactly what Harley was thinking. Who beats up an old guy thinking he’s screwing your wife?

  “What a tough guy,” Harley grunted under his breath with a disgusted look.

  Nodding in agreement, my lips pitched in contempt as I remembered.

  We walked around until we spotted Kellan and the bouncy house, only stopping to accept a helium balloon from a dancing clown. When Kellan saw us, he waved us over.

  “Glad you could make it,” he greeted Harley with a quick handshake.

  “Thanks for having me,” Harley answered.

  Chloe took off her shoes and was ready for the bouncy house. “You need ride tickets first,” I told her. “Where do you get the tickets?” I asked Kellan.

  “I got ‘em,” Kellan answered, pulling a long strip out of his pocket. “Should be enough for Chloe. If you need more, let me know.”

  “Thanks, Kellan,” I said as Chloe ripped off a ticket and went to stand in line.

  Harley and I sat on
a nearby bench and watched as Chloe went into the bouncy house multiple times. I scooched over to be close to him, and he put his arm around my shoulders.

  “This is nice,” Harley said, people-watching.

  “Yeah, the station hosts it every year. It’s always a good time,” I agreed.

  Chloe seemed to have her fill of the bouncy house after five rounds. We told Kellan we’d meet him by the firetruck and ambulance at the end of the evening. Chloe would have to wait for her tours.

  Dinner was BBQ chicken and corn on the cob straight off the grill. I had a side of coleslaw, and Chloe and Harley chose French fries. Chloe ate all her dinner to secure a bag of pink cotton candy, as well. We visited each ride and attraction, some two and three times. Finally, Chloe looked tired, and I suggested we take a break and listen to the band for a while.

  I had a long beach towel folded in my beach bag, and I spread it down on the grass. We squished our butts onto the colorful towel and watched as the band played. They had saved their best songs for the last set. Chloe munched on her cotton candy, and I leaned against Harley's side. He put his strong arm around my back. I’d never felt safer and more content than I did in Harley’s arms.

  The sky darkened after the sun set completely, and the parking lot and firehouse lights came on. White bulbs were strung along the games and rides. We listened to the last song of the evening, a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover.

  “Tuesday's gone with the wind. My woman's gone with the wind.”

  Gone with the wind. I looked away to hide the sadness on my face, and Harley seemed to be doing the same. Our time together was coming to an end, and neither of us was ready to accept it. I knew Harley truly believed he could fix the situation I was in, but I knew better. Shawn would never let me take Chloe. He enjoyed the control he had over me too much.

  After the song, we packed our stuff and headed over to meet Kellan and Mike in the parking lot. Chloe got a tour of both the firetruck and ambulance as people began to clear out for the evening.

  When Kellan had shown the last waiting kid the truck, he walked over to us, ready to take Chloe for the night. “I’ll take her to my house tonight. Can you put the car seat in my truck before you leave?” Kellan asked. “It’s parked in my normal spot, by the side door.”

  “Sure thing.” Harley and I both thanked Kellan for taking Chloe for the night and giving us some time together before Harley had to leave.

  “No problem. Have fun,” he told me, grinning. “Call me when you’re ready tomorrow, and I’ll bring Chloe home.”

  I kissed Chloe good night and told her to listen to her Uncle Kellan. I handed Kellan the overnight bag with Chloe’s extra clothes inside so he could dress her before bringing her home. Kellan kept pajamas at his house for when Chloe slept over.

  Harley said goodnight to Chloe as well before we went over to the church lot to retrieve Chole’s car seat. Harley carried it back to Kellan’s truck, and I strapped it into the cab’s backseat.

  Harley faced me when we were finished. “What do you want to do tonight?”

  I draped my arms around his neck. “It doesn’t matter to me, as long as we’re together,” I told him.

  “Do you want to come back to the hotel? We can stroll on the bay since it’s a warm night and then go back to the room for a drink and movie?” he suggested.

  “That sounds nice,” I agreed and stood on my toes to kiss his lips.

  Harley’s grip tightened around my waist, and his lips moved over mine. I closed my eyes to concentrate on his touch. When the kiss ended, I slowly opened them and looked into his face.

  “I’ve been waiting all day for that,” Harley whispered, gazing sensuously into my eyes.

  Harley drove us back to the hotel. We walked hand in hand from the parking lot over to the walking path that trailed the beach along the bay. We stopped at one of the lookout points and enjoyed the light breeze. I leaned into Harley, and he wrapped his protective arm around me. Silently, we gazed at the full moon. The stars twinkled at us from above as the lights from the far side of the bay reflected off the water.

  Neither of us spoke. We stood soundlessly arm in arm, letting the heat of our bodies warm us in the nighttime air. The gentle crash of lapping water on the shoreline was the only sound. We stood for a long moment, gazing at each other, before slowly strolling back to the hotel in the same fashion.

  In the room, Harley opened us each a bottle of beer, and we climbed onto the oversized bed to settle back for a movie which neither of us really wanted to watch. Harley held me in his protective embrace, and I closed my eyes to memorize what his body felt like against mine. I breathed in his scent so I would never forget it. At one point, Harley exhaled heavily before he bent to kiss my head.

  I turned my head to gaze into his eyes. His blue eyes were red and moist. Was he crying? I’d managed to hold back the tears that were just under my lids and had been since we’d come back to the hotel. But when I saw the anguish on Harley’s face, the tears spilled uncontrollably down my cheeks.

  Harley bent and kissed my cheeks, using his thumbs to wipe my falling tears. I felt his own tears fall and blend with mine as we tenderly kissed each other’s damp lips. I moved my hands over Harley’s toned chest, savoring its strength.

  Harley gently lowered me to lay on the bed. He slowly undressed me, caressing every curve of my body as he peeled off my clothes. He kissed my nude body from head to toe, lingering over my plush breasts, taking each pink nipple into his mouth one at a time. He pulled off his shirt and pants, climbed between my spread legs, and pushed his swollen cock into my wet, waiting pussy.

  Harley’s eyes never left mine as he made love to me slowly and sensually. Kissing each other’s tears, we silently wept and made love to each other as if it were for the last time.

  The morning came too quickly. We hadn’t talked much about what was going to happen next, but I knew how the conversation would go.

  “Come to Colorado with me. Just for a visit,” Harley pleaded with me. “I can show you where the spa will be. You can see the blueprints, see the resort. See what you can be a part of.”

  “I can’t. I have to go back to work on Monday. And Chloe goes to her father’s house on Sunday evening for the week,” I solemnly explained to him.

  Even if I wanted to go, to have it all, I couldn’t come up with a way to make it happen.

  It just wasn’t possible.

  Harley nodded but didn’t give up. “Then come the week after when Chloe comes back home. I’ll buy you both round trip tickets, and you’ll be back before Chloe goes to her father’s again,” he pleaded. “It can work. For now. It can work.”

  I put my head down and considered what he suggested. “Maybe it could work, but for how long? Do I keep traveling back and forth every other week? What about my job? I’m not ready to quit. How would I pay my rent? My bills? And what about you? You have a business to run.” I felt defeated.

  “I’ll pay. Once we get the spa up and running, you can move full time for the sake of the job. You can get the custody order amended. Maybe summer visitation or something for Shawn. I know of other families that live like that. And I know a great lawyer. We can fight Shawn,” Harley replied, devising a plan.

  “I don’t know if I can fight Shawn. What if he wins and takes Chloe away from me for good?” I spoke my deepest fear. “I fought hard to get joint custody, and he’s not going to give it up that easily. The battle was brutal. It’s not as easy as you suggest.”

  Harley’s plan could be a workable option for now. But what about when Chloe started kindergarten next year? I couldn’t pull her out of school every other week.

  Harley’s face hardened. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking anymore or how he felt. “I understand.” He turned to zip up his travel bag. The conversation was over.

  Irritably, I said to his back, “Why don’t you stay here with me? Because you can’t? Because you have a life and job at home? It’s too big of a sacrifice, to leave everything and move here to
be with me?”

  Without turning, Harley nodded. He picked up his bag and headed for the door.

  I was angry that he wasn’t putting himself in my shoes. He couldn’t leave his life, but he expected me to put custody of my daughter on the line and leave my life behind?

  “You don’t understand what I would have to sacrifice to move to Colorado,” I said sternly.

  Harley stopped, facing the door. “Maybe it is impossible for us to be together.” He opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

  I didn’t follow him. I put my head down and sobbed big tears.

  It was really over.

  Harley stopped and looked at his shoes. He backed into the room, closed the door, and tossed his bag on the bed. In two long strides, Harley pulled me into his embrace and held me tight. He stroked my back and ran his fingers through my hair until my breathing returned to normal.

  He put his thumb under my chin and forced me to look into his eyes. “I can’t say that. It’s not impossible, I know it isn’t. This isn’t over. I’m going to figure this out.”

  I nodded. I wanted to have hope, I really did.

  Once I was calm, we left the hotel room and took the dreadful drive back to my house in silence. There was so much I wanted to say to him, but I couldn’t say the words. I was torn in two between my comfort and my heart.

  It all just seemed so pointless.

  Though I would never have wished away the time we’d spent together, it made his leaving that much harder. My heart was breaking, and I barely held it together. I would have a rough time after he was gone, I was certain.

  Harley walked me to my door and put his powerful arms around me. We stood still in each other’s arms for a long minute.

  With a final kiss and no more words, he was gone.

  I watched until Harley’s BMW was out of sight. Before I could completely fall to pieces, I went inside and dialed Kellan’s number.

  “He left,” I sobbed into the phone as soon as he picked up.

  “We’ll be right there,” Kellan told me and hung up.