A Bride for the Mountain Man

by Tracy Madison

  Oh, she still didn’t plan on waiting for Liam for years, like she had with Rico. But...she couldn’t be far away from him just yet, either. Yes. This was the right decision. Besides which, “You live here, Rach. I’d rather start over with my best friend close by than in a strange city all by myself.”

  She didn’t talk about Liam. Wasn’t ready to share her feelings on him just yet.

  “Yes! I was hoping you’d come to that conclusion. I’ve missed you!” Rachel’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “And you know, you can stay here as long as you need. Don’t feel as if you have to move out anytime soon. I like having you around.”

  “Aw, thank you. I like being around you, too, and I certainly won’t be moving out in the next week. Depends on how long it takes me to find a job.”

  On the notebook, Meredith wrote the number 1, which she circled, and next to it: Live in Steamboat Springs. Such a simple yet complex decision. Making it felt positive. Like the exactly right first step.

  On a slippery, treacherous slope, perhaps. One that could cause her more harm than slamming into a tree and almost freezing to death. But oh, the possibilities—the reality of her dream—were endless. Beautiful. Her nirvana. Her happy ending. With Liam.

  “Actually, I have an idea on the job front,” Rachel was saying as she refilled her coffee cup. “Didn’t want to bring it up until I knew what you were thinking about location.”

  “Yeah? What sort of a job?”

  “The same sort you were doing in San Francisco. This is a vacation town, you know. Plenty of homes need staging. With your experience, you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting a door to open. Relatively quickly, I’d imagine, and without your dad’s help.”

  Well. If that were the case, she had to believe that her heart, that fate, had led her in the exact right direction. Now, she just had to keep walking. Keep following this path she was on and see what existed beyond the next bend in the road.

  Chapter Ten

  One week. Two weeks. Three weeks. Time just kept on ticking away, and it didn’t friggin’ matter if Liam was at home, working, outside, inside or asleep, that damn ache in his chest hadn’t let loose for a millisecond since dropping Goldi off at her friend’s place. That never-ending ache gave him pause, made him rethink what he shouldn’t.

  Hell. He’d even started listening to ABBA. “Mamma Mia,” in particular.

  And today he’d had enough. He had to see her, or try to, even if the doing was about the stupidest action he could take. First, though, he had to get through this meal with Fiona and Cassie.

  His sister had phoned that morning, told him that enough was enough and to get his butt over there, or she’d barge into his sanctuary and wouldn’t leave for a week.

  She meant it, too. She’d done it before.

  So here he was, with Fiona and Cassie, eating pot roast and vegetables on Sunday afternoon, trying to behave like a normal man instead of one hovering on the brink of insanity. He’d probably fooled his niece, but with the questioning looks his sister was directing his way? Nah, he hadn’t fooled Fiona. She might not know what the problem was, but she’d honed in that there was a problem. Unlikely he’d get out of here without giving her a few answers.

  “Will you be able to come see me in the Christmas play?” Cassie, who was cuter than any kid had the right to be, asked over a mouthful of mashed potatoes. “Please?”

  It never failed to amaze Liam how much she looked like Fiona, with her light, strawberry-blond hair and vivid green eyes. Folks who didn’t know better automatically assumed the two were mother and daughter and were astounded when they learned the truth, that Cassie was Fiona’s foster daughter. Fiona was trying to change that, trying to untangle all the red tape to adopt Cassie, who had been in her care for the past three years.

  Unfortunately, there was a lot of red tape.

  “Wait a minute? It’s barely November,” Liam said. “There’s already a Christmas play in the works? And of course, I will attend. Wouldn’t miss it for the world, kiddo.”

  “She’s a little ahead of herself,” Fiona said, smiling at her daughter. “But there’s always a Christmas play, and she’s hoping to be one of the angels this year.”

  “Can’t think of anyone better.” Plate now empty, Liam pushed it back some and finished his milk. Always milk at Fiona’s table if Cassie was present. It amused him, having such a rule. “You’ll be a beautiful angel, so they’d be crazy not to make you one.”

  Joy lit up the girl’s eyes. “I can’t wait! Christmas is my favorite holiday.”

  “Better than Halloween? What about your birthday?” he teased. “Say it isn’t so!”

  “Christmas has carols and presents and cookies and a tree with sparkling lights and Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman and...and...lots of other wonderful stuff,” Cassie said in a matter-of-fact, what-are-you-crazy sort of way. “’Course it’s better. Cookies, Uncle Liam!”

  A rumble of a laugh burst from his lungs. He loved his family. Thank the good Lord that Fiona was on top of keeping them together; otherwise he and his loner self would miss these moments. “Can’t argue with that. Cookies are right up there on the top of any list.”

  The dogs, who had been plopped on the floor in between his chair and Cassie’s, recognized the word cookies and leaped to their feet, instantly on the lookout. For the past three weeks, they’d spent more time pacing the living room and sniffing the sofa that had been Goldi’s bed than doing anything else. They were morose. Seemingly lost without her.

  Here, in a place she had never been, they were doing better. Made him think he should leave them here for a while to give them some relief. But he’d miss them, and then he’d be completely alone in missing Goldi. The thought didn’t sit well at all, so he nixed it.

  Misery loved company and all of that.

  The rest of dinner was a mix of quiet and Cassie chatter as they ate, with his niece talking about school, her new music teacher—who was, apparently, amazing and funny and beautiful—and, naturally, a good deal more about Christmas and the play and being an angel.

  At the end of the meal, Fiona asked Cassie, “Did you finish your homework from Friday yet? If not, please do that before any television or phone calls or anything else. Deal?”

  “Deal! And it’s almost all done. Just have to practice my spelling words.”

  “Why don’t you do that and I’ll quiz you later?” Clearing the dishes, Fiona directed a look at Liam. “You can help me before you scurry back to your hidey-hole.”

  “Sure,” he said. “I’m happy to be interrogated...help. I meant, I’m happy to help.”

  “What’s interrogated mean?” Cassie was already halfway out of the dining room.

  “To be relentlessly questioned,” Liam answered as he, too, began clearing the dishes. “But I am just teasing. Go do your schoolwork. I’ll say goodbye before I leave.”

  Hearing Cassie climb the stairs to her bedroom, Fiona turned her green-eyed, all-seeing gaze on Liam. “So, what is going on? And don’t tell me nothing, because I’m smarter than that and have known you my entire life. You can’t hide from me.”

  “You know,” Liam said lightly, “one would almost think you’re the older sibling, rather than the younger. Bossing me around like that! Why, I swear I remember this sweet, quiet little girl who used to trail after me and listen to every word I said as if it were gospel.”

  “Oh, I remember those days, too. And then we grew up.” She went to the kitchen, where she started rinsing the dishes. “Are you okay? Tell me that much, at least.”

  “Honestly, Fi? I don’t know.” And then, for the second time in less than a month, he opened up to another person. Sure, this was his sister and not the woman who’d managed to carve herself into his heart, but still. He talked, she listened and he finished with, “So, yeah. This woman shows up a
t my house out of nowhere and...I don’t know. I might miss her.”

  “You love her,” Fiona said without missing a beat or mincing words. “Only other time I’ve seen you like this, heard you like this, was when you met Christy. And yes, you miss this woman. Doesn’t really matter how long you’ve known a person if love is involved. And when you love someone and haven’t seen them in close to a month, you tend to miss them.”

  “Love? I did not say—”

  Fiona patted his arm. “That’s because you haven’t admitted it to yourself yet, and that’s just fine. You don’t have to admit anything until you’re ready to. But I can see the truth on your face, hear it in your voice, when you talk about her. You,” she said with a grin, “just have to admit when I’m right and you’re wrong. Don’t worry, you’ll get there.”

  He arched a brow. “Sarcasm, too?”

  “Some. But I don’t think I’m wrong this time, either. Do you?”

  “I don’t know. That’s my point.” Running his hand over his eyes, he frowned. “Love. I haven’t known this woman long enough to be in love. Have I?”

  “Huh. How long did you know Christy before you—”

  “Shh, you.” Days. Mere days after meeting Christy and he knew. Then, he hadn’t doubted that instinct, the surety or the strength of what he felt. “Doesn’t matter. Meredith isn’t Christy, and I’m a different man today than I was then. I don’t really know her, Fi.”

  “Gee, let me think how you could fix that. Hmm. Oh, I know! Perhaps, rather than standing around in my kitchen, you should be with her? Talking to her instead of me? Getting to know her?” His sister gave him a sugary sweet smile brimming with innocence.

  He wasn’t fooled. Oh, she was concerned, and she certainly could be one of the sweetest women on the planet, but she was also enjoying his torment. That sibling thing. More than that, though. She hated him being alone so often. Worried about him far too much. “What do you think?” she teased.

  “I sort of reached that decision on my way here, actually.”

  “Guess you needed some reinforcement?”

  “Guess so.”

  “Well, you have it.” She gave him a tight hug. “Go on now, say goodbye to your niece and follow your heart. Try not to let your shields get in the way.”

  Yeah. That was always the problem, wasn’t it? His damn shields.

  He nodded, started to walk away when a thought occurred. What had Meredith asked him for their last day together, when they were going to build a snowman? Oh, right. Turning on his heel, he said, “You wouldn’t happen to have any carrots, buttons and...ah, coal?”

  “I have those,” Fiona said after a moment’s pause. “But I don’t have a corncob pipe.”

  “Why would I need a corncob pipe?” Then, shaking his head, he said, “Doesn’t matter. Don’t need a pipe. Just the other stuff. And maybe an extra scarf if you have one.”

  She had that, too.

  * * *

  The doorbell rang just as Meredith disconnected the call to her former employer. She’d asked for a reference letter, as she had an interview later that week with one of the city’s larger real estate firms. The position was only partially described as a stager, and she didn’t yet know what the rest of the responsibilities were, but she felt confident that she’d be offered the job.

  She just wished she’d thought of requesting the reference letter sooner. Easy to understand why it had slipped her mind, with it being so occupied by a missing mountain man.

  The Get a New Life to-do list seemed a mile long, but retaining a job with dependable income had to come before locating an apartment or returning to San Francisco to pack her belongings. If she couldn’t find a job, she couldn’t stay. No matter how much she wanted to.

  A knock on her bedroom door, followed by someone cracking it open, diverted her attention. It was Rachel. “Meredith?” she said. “Liam is here at the door, asking for you. He has those dogs with him, too! And oh, my, they are gorgeous animals.”

  Lightning fast, all thoughts of a job and a place to live evaporated, and Meredith’s heart went into overdrive. “Yes. Yes, they are beautiful animals.” Oh, Lord, was this it? Had he realized...did he miss her...did he want what she did? Pressing her hands down her jeans, she said, “How do I look? Should I change or...?”

  “Um. You look gorgeous, just like always.” Blue eyes narrowed and then widened in understanding. “Oh! It’s that way, is it? You should’ve told me!”

  “I was going to. Eventually. I...well, there might not be anything to tell.” Shivers of apprehension whisked along Meredith’s skin, bringing about a multitude of goose bumps. “But he’s here. And he didn’t call or text or...he’s here. With the dogs. So, that seems good, doesn’t it?”

  “I don’t know the story,” Rachel said, laughing, “so I can’t really comment. But when a handsome man shows up unexpectedly, well...I’d say the possibility of good is right up there.”

  Rachel was right. Liam’s presence here had to mean something good, otherwise, why bother with any type of a visit? She hadn’t left any of her belongings—mostly because she hadn’t had hardly anything with her—at his place. They’d had that amazing conversation on the drive over and they’d said their goodbyes. There wasn’t any reason for him to be here.

  So, something good.

  The thought—that freaking hope—settled her brewing emotions enough that she was able to force her legs to move. She left the bedroom and walked the short distance to the living room, to the front door, opened it and...there they were.

  Her guardian angels and the man she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about, on Rachel’s front porch, looking to Meredith like a dream—her dream—come to life. A flurry of anticipation and hope swam in her stomach.

  Both of which she immediately tempered and reminded herself to keep her head out of the clouds. This man might want nothing more than to check in, make sure she was okay.

  “Well, hi there,” she said, managing to keep her voice level and smooth, as she joined them on the porch. The second she did, the dogs were butting their bodies against her legs, pushing their heads against her hands. Dropping to one knee, she accepted their kisses and scratched behind their ears. “I missed you guys, too!”

  Another few minutes of this went on while Liam, who looked as if he hadn’t slept in days but somehow retained that rugged sexiness he so effortlessly carried around with him, stood by and watched with a stern expression. Almost as if he were...not angry, exactly, but upset in some form or fashion. So, maybe this wasn’t good after all?

  Only one way to find out and stop her brain’s incessant spinning.

  Standing, she leaned against one of the porch’s rails for stability, firmed her shoulders and settled her gaze on Liam’s. There it was, that sizzle of electricity, that punch of recognition that she’d felt from the very instant she’d first looked into his eyes.

  Unfair, really. Glorious, though.

  “Hey, Goldi,” he said, his voice sounding almost as tired as he looked.

  “Hey, back.” They stood there quietly, their gazes locked for a few seconds that could’ve just as easily been a year. “What brings you this way?” she asked, trying to sound natural and not as if her knees were less than ten seconds from buckling. “Everything okay?”

  “Yup. Everything is fine.” Shoving his hands into the pockets of his coat, he leaned against the porch rail near the steps. “Had lunch with my sister and niece. They live fairly close by. Just figured I’d stop by and see how you were doing. Plus, I...ah...the dogs missed you.”

  “I missed...them.” She was going to leave it at that, but to hell with it. “I missed you, too. And you look tired. Been working a lot?”

  “Well, you know, there’s all that wizarding that requires my attention.”

  “Yeah? Saving the world or causin
g chaos?”

  The corners of his lips curled into a grin, wiping away that stern expression. Good. She adored seeing his smile. “Maybe a little of both. And yes, Goldi, I missed you, too.”

  “Did you now?”

  “I just said that, didn’t I?”

  She laughed. She couldn’t help it. “Don’t be a grump. I’m glad to see you.”

  “Feel like seeing me for the rest of the afternoon?”

  Happiness bounced through her like a kid’s rubber ball, and it took all of her willpower not to jump up and down and clap her hands. “Depends,” she said, modulating her voice to hide her extreme joy. “What do you have in mind? I mean, a girl’s gotta be a little choosy in how she devotes an entire afternoon. You only get so many of them, you know.”

  Green eyes narrowed, and those lips of his? They widened into a bona fide smile. “Well now, I have something in mind, but I’d prefer it be a surprise. What do you think, Goldi? Can you put yourself in my care for a few hours without knowing the details?”

  “Sure. I think I can trust you for a few hours at least.” Or the rest of her life.

  “Excellent.” He looked her over from head to toe. “We’ll be outside, so you need a coat and gloves. Actual gloves, Goldi, and not just a pair of socks slipped over your hands.”

  Tipping her chin, she shrugged. “Those socks worked well enough, didn’t they?”

  “That they did.” Another long, searching look that sent her head spinning even more. She’d be lucky to get through the next several hours standing if he kept looking at her that way. Though, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad. Considering what happened the last time she couldn’t stay on her feet. And then, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, he did that headshake thing and said, “You’re dangerous. Entirely too much so.”

  “I think you’re the dangerous one. Or maybe neither of us is dangerous,” she said, once again deciding to just freaking speak her mind. “Maybe there’s something else going on here.”