Wild Rugged Daddy - A Single Daddy Mountain Man Romance Read online

“It can be. Wasn’t how I planned it. I never thought I’d be doing this alone. I was the childish one. Angela was always so organized. Prepared for anything.”

  “Well, I haven’t met your son, but he looks like such a happy little boy in all the photos in your living room. I’m sure you’re a great dad.”

  “I’m trying.” I caress his back, but he’s gone. His mind is somewhere else… with someone else.

  “Travis.” When his eyes find mine, he’s looking right through me, and I’m suddenly aware of how exposed I am.

  He absentmindedly strokes my face before kissing my forehead and standing to leave.

  “I’ll get breakfast started. Shout for me if you need help getting onto the couch.” He grabs a plaid shirt from the chair in the corner and heads out the door.

  It’s been in the back of my mind that I pushed him too hard. It’s been a long time since his wife died, but it’s clear he hasn’t moved on. Everything he does, everything he is… is fueled by her memory and a child they created together. I don’t know if anyone will ever be able to penetrate his barriers. I’ve given him some light relief while his son is gone, but I’m not under any illusions that he wants anything to do with me once we get back to town. I was in the wrong place at the right time, and I can’t help asking myself—would this have happened with any helpless damsel in distress?

  Maybe it’s for the best that I’ll be leaving soon. To stay would be dangerous, and I don’t know that I could leave of my own volition right now. He has ensnared me. In a few short days, he’s grown to mean something to me. More than sex… more than I anticipated.

  There’s a storm coming, and I’m at risk of being swallowed up by a force much greater than Mother Nature.

  10

  TRAVIS

  Evidence of the snowstorm is thin on the ground, while the sun shines brightly in the sky high above Bear Paw. I’m out of excuses to have Jules stay without blatantly asking her. She hasn’t said anything about heading to town or the prospect of us seeing each other again, but I only have myself to blame—I agreed to no strings, and I’ve been all over the place with her since the moment I found her.

  In a short amount of time, she’s pulled me out of my shell more than anyone has been able to in four years. I didn’t believe it was possible. My heart says one thing, and my body says another. It was easy to fall into bed with Juliet, and that’s a hard reality for me to face.

  On the long, cold nights since we moved to Bear Paw, I’ve grown used to being alone. I see my parents occasionally, and I go to the stores in town if I need supplies. I keep my interactions to a minimum, and I like it that way.

  Eli is amazing, but I know one day I won’t be enough for him. He’s going to need kids his own age, and school, and a normal life. I haven’t wanted to acknowledge it, but I can’t force him to live the life I want. He deserves all the good experiences the world has to offer.

  The past few days have made me painfully aware of not only my responsibility to Eli, but the stark reality that I’m not making the most of what I have, instead, choosing to dwell in what I don’t. It’s easier to live in the past than face an uncertain future.

  This time with Juliet has been a whirlwind of sensual bliss. She has the mouth of a goddess, and she knows how to use it. But more endearing than her sexuality is her sense of humor. At first, she came across as a spoiled, rich girl with a chip on her shoulder, but seeing her lighthearted, sarcastic side has me rethinking my first impression.

  As we sit down to breakfast, I can’t help feeling like today is the beginning of the end for us.

  “The path should be clear enough to get you to town now.” Her eyes fly up to meet mine, a comforting look of panic in their stunning depths.

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “I know you want to get home.”

  “Sure. Why wouldn’t I?” We skirt around the issue with small talk and bouts of silence as we eat. The tension in the air is a palpable force.

  “When does your son come home?”

  “Eli won’t be back for another week. I miss him like crazy, but he enjoys this time with his grandparents.” I can see her mind ticking. A million questions on the tip of her tongue.

  “What will you do till then?”

  “I have a place in the next town over. I’ll go there after I get you back safely. Then I’ll just wait. Pull together some supplies for the journey back up here.”

  “You have another cabin?”

  “Not exactly. I could show you if you have time. If you don’t need to get back to LA immediately?”

  “I’d like that. I don’t have anywhere I need to be just yet.” With a shy smile, she focuses on clearing the dishes hobbling from the kitchen island to the sink.

  “You should still be resting that ankle. I’ll be carrying you down the mountain for the most part.”

  “I don’t think so, sasquatch. I’m capable of walking. I’ll rest when we get down this godforsaken mountain.” I placate her for now, but there’s no way I’m letting her injure herself worse than she has already. “The promise of Wi-Fi is enough to make me run the whole way!”

  “I have Wi-Fi. I might live out in the wild, but I’m not a savage.” I stifle a laugh as realization dawns.

  “You said you don’t have that stuff.”

  “No. I said I don’t have a TV.” Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, pushing her breasts together in the most delightful of ways.

  “You’re a jackass!”

  “What?” I wrap my hands around her waist pressing her against the sink.

  “There’s probably a search party out on this mountain for me, and you could have let me contact someone.”

  “I emailed the B&B. They know you’re safe. After that, the storm knocked it out for a day, but it’s working again if you desperately need to contact someone… a boyfriend?”

  “Subtle. There’s no boyfriend. Surely, the past few days are evidence of that?” Raining kisses along the length of her neck, I continue to probe her for tidbits of information.

  “I don’t know. If there isn’t a pressing reason you needed internet access, then you can’t be mad at me… right?” She moans in reply, melting against my body. “Didn’t I keep you occupied? I tried my very best to satisfy your… needs.” Her head drops back onto my chest, her lips begging for a taste of me.

  “Trav…” My name trails off in a moan as I kiss and nibble my way down, licking the seam of her lips before dipping my tongue inside—a slow, sensual caress.

  If Jules knew my true reasons for avoiding contact with the outside world, she’d know something was wrong. But, I couldn’t take the chance. Having a journalist out here is stupid enough on my part but giving her access to my laptop was a chance I wasn’t willing to take. One telling photograph or opened file, and everything I worked to conceal would be for naught.

  With my lie of omission forgotten, I carry Jules to my bedroom for the last time, intent to give her something to remember me by.

  There’s still a bite in the air that assaults my cheeks like pins and needles, pricking at my skin with unrelenting discomfort. I take one last look at the empty cabin before shutting the door behind us. It’s going to be different when I return with Eli. He brings a youthful exuberance to our life up here, but Jules brings a quieter understanding and companionship—something I’ve missed since we moved here. For the first time in years, I felt content—laying with her, stroking her hair as we fell into a blissful, post-coital sleep. My soul was at peace for a brief moment. A snapshot in time.

  Ice glistens in the morning light holding on for dear life as the sun begins to rise higher in the sky. Jules is prepared with a makeshift crutch and multiple layers of my clothes over the only outfit she had here.

  “You sure you’re ready for this, wildcat? It’s quite a trek to get back to Cricket.” I’m happy to see the reticence in her eyes.

  “Can’t stay forever, right? I’ve got a job to get back to.” My heart sinks at the thought of her budding care
er. Journalism doesn’t exactly lend itself to a relationship with me. I’m Moby Dick, and she doesn’t even realize she’s snagged the whale. How would I even begin to tell her and ask her to keep a lid on it?

  “Of course.” I don’t know what else to say. I always thought I had some swagger when it came to women, but I’m realizing I have nothing to base that on. High school? Not exactly the prime casanova years. I’ve grown adept at letting women down easy.

  Throughout the height of my career, I was happily married with no desire to cheat. Women would accost me after every game and at every event giving me phone numbers and hotel keycards. I had a few smooth lines that let them know I would pass on their offer without being a jackass about it. I don’t know what to say here that would convince Jules to stick around a little longer to see if this connection is something more than proximity and off-the-charts chemistry.

  Jules is adamant to be self-sufficient as we wade through the brush and into the thick of the forest, but I can see she’s in pain, and the crutch keeps getting caught in the wild, winding undergrowth. I wait as long as I possibly can before scooping her into my arms.

  “Put me down! You can’t climb down a mountain carrying me. I’m serious, Trav, put me down.” She wriggles and squirms, but I’m too strong for her to escape my clutches.

  “Can you just do as you’re told for once?” She punches at my chest with the force of a hummingbird’s wings.

  “You are such a caveman!”

  “Don’t act like you don’t love it, wildcat. Wild, rugged, and assertive turns you on.” I coax a smile from her reluctant lips.

  “Ugh. I hate that you’re right.” My laugh echoes out into the trees. She seems light as a feather as she curls in tight against me. “You can’t carry me the whole way down.”

  “Challenge accepted.”

  “Not even you can manage to lug me around for hours.”

  “What are you… a hundred pounds soaking wet? Just quiet down and let me conserve my energy for later.”

  “Later?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be cashing in my caveman chips tonight. Are you telling me you won’t want to jump my bones after I gallantly save you from this cruel mountain?” We joke and jibe the time away, stopping for breaks where we can. I’m more concerned about Jules having time to rest than I am for myself. I’ve done this journey hundreds of times with Eli strapped to my front and a week’s worth of supplies on my back.

  He and I have traveled every inch of this mountain together laughing, playing, exploring every tree and leaf. Eli wants to keep every leaf and twig he comes across. They all look the same to me, but he sees each one as a rare treasure. With no distractions, he’s learned so many unique skills.

  Every time I take him into town, the locals look at him with pity in their eyes as if he’s deprived in some way. What they don’t stop to think about is all the one-on-one time we enjoy. He can already read at a second-grade level. He can tell you the states in alphabetical order and name any of their capitals. All with a cute-as-hell lisp from sucking his thumb.

  “What’s on your mind, sasquatch?”

  “I miss Eli. He’s my partner in crime.”

  “He enjoys living out here?” I see the same questioning look in her eyes as everyone else.

  “What’s not to love? He’s four. I spend more time with him than any other dad would. We hunt, fish, camp. I would’ve loved that when I was a kid.” I attempt to rein in the defensive tone of my voice, but my words come out clipped. Met with silence, I concentrate on getting us the last few miles safely.

  As the small streets of Cricket come into view, I can feel my strength draining, civilization sapping my energy. Other people have become the Delilah to my Samson. Symbolic that I’ve grown my hair over the past few years.

  Stepping onto Main Street, all eyes are on us. A small crowd follows close at our heels, asking questions, reminiscent of the paparazzi. By the time I reach the B&B, Babs has already been alerted to our presence. She’s standing on the doorstep with a middle-aged man who looks somewhat familiar. He runs toward me almost ripping Jules from my arms.

  “Juliet. Oh my God. Are you okay? You’re hurt.” He turns his attention to me.

  “I can take her from here.” His posture might be threatening to someone else, but he doesn’t intimidate me. He’ll have to pull Jules from my cold, dead hands.

  “I’ve carried her for the past four hours. I think I can handle the last twenty yards.” Whispers of disapproval ripple through the crowd as I brush past him and up the steps to where Babs stands aghast.

  “Ma’am, I believe I have one of your guests.” She’s the only person in this town that’s ever given me the benefit of the doubt.

  “You must be tired. Do you want to come inside for a hot meal?” Juliet’s cheeks flush—shy in a way I haven’t seen in her time with me.

  “I’d appreciate that.” Babs ushers us through the front door, and I set Jules down on the closest seat I can find. Every muscle in my body is screaming for relief. I fall to my knees at her feet.

  “Oh God. Travis, are you okay?” Exhaustion is evident in the lines of her face. Exposure to the elements takes its toll even though I carried her for the most part. The constant jostling will have exacerbated her ankle injury. Her cold hand presses against my cheek, lifting my eyes to her gaze.

  “I’m fine, wildcat. How are you feeling?”

  “I can’t believe you’re asking me that. You just about killed yourself to get me back here in one piece.”

  “It’ll take a hell of a lot more than a stroll through the forest to get rid of me.” Babs appears with blankets, barking orders at the guy from outside. I can see the resemblance in this light. He must be her son.

  “Arron, go and get rooms ready for these two.” His brow furrows in disgust.

  “You’re not letting him stay here? Out of the question.” She squares her shoulders, growing half a foot it seems.

  “This is my house, and until you get handed the keys in my will, I’ll be making the decisions around here. This young man just delivered poor Miss Abrams back to us safe and sound. The least we can do for him is give him a warm meal and comfy bed.”

  “Mother…” She cuts him off like an errant child.

  “I won’t hear another word on the matter. Now, go and do as I ask.”

  I rest my head against the edge of the seat, Jules gently rubbing her fingers through my hair. The hustle and bustle of our audience fade into the background, their whispers becoming white noise as I focus what little energy I have left on the woman beside me. Her voice is low, her touch soft as she soothes the beast within me.

  “You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met. You saved my life, Travis. How can I ever repay that?” I close my eyes, unable to keep them open a moment longer.

  “Don’t leave.” Her words become a distant lullaby as I drift in and out, desperate to hold on for one more minute—terrified she’ll disappear in the night.

  “I’m right here.”

  The smell of coffee wafts through the air like a sweet summer breeze. Juliet is asleep next to me—a now familiar feeling in unfamiliar surroundings. My eyes struggle to focus as I try to take it all in. I remember getting Jules inside the B&B—we were going to pick up her stuff and go to my house.

  If someone told me right now that I’d been hit by a freight train, I’d believe them. Every muscle in my body aches. It hurts to move even an inch, but I still wrap my arm around Jules, relishing every delicious, agonizing effort.

  It’s dark out, but I can see the silhouette of her face, relaxed and peaceful, warm and safe. Contentment spreads through my veins eradicating a chill that’s plagued me for years. I pull her closer watching the soft swell of her breasts rise and fall with every breath.

  “Travis?”

  “I’m here.”

  “Where are we?” I tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear as she twists in my arms—her pained groans echoing my own.

  “The B&B. Go back to s
leep.”

  “Can we stay here forever? I never want to leave this bed.” She nestles herself in the crook of my arm resting her hand over my heart.

  “Nothing lasts forever, wildcat. But, how about I take you to my house later, and we can hold up there for a few days?”

  “Do you have a bed as comfortable as this one?” The sleepy rasp of her voice is sexy as hell.

  “Twice the size, and no other house guests to hear you screaming my name.” After our ordeal yesterday, she still finds the strength to wriggle against me. “There’s also Wi-Fi, a TV, a huge bathtub, and a fridge that will be fully stocked by the time we get there. Sound good?”

  “Sounds like heaven.” Her breaths become slow and even as she finds her way back to sleep. As tired as I feel, I can’t close my eyes. I’m captivated by her. She’s everything I shouldn’t want—the Capulet to my Montague.

  My first love ended in tragedy. Could I dare to dream of a second chance at happiness? Until now, I didn’t think so. But, with every passing moment I spend with Jules, she restores my faith in the possibility… the hope… of a life after death.

  11

  JULES

  This place is everything the cabin is not. Spacious with all the tech you could ever imagine. The TV in the living room is bigger than the local cineplex. Everything is luxurious from floor to ceiling. I thought the B&B was nice, but this place puts it to shame.

  Arron gave us a ride over with my suitcase and a scowl. He doesn’t think highly of Travis, that much is apparent. Before I could thank him, he was peeling out the driveway without so much as a glance back in our direction.

  “Why the hell do you live in that cabin?” Travis looks a little embarrassed at the grandeur of his second home.

  “I prefer it. This place is for Eli. I wanted somewhere to bring him when he needs more than a shack in the woods.”

  “I’d hardly call the cabin a shack. Sparse… yes, but it’s still a stunning little home. But this, you’ve been holding out on me. What are you? A media mogul? Property guru? A prince of some country I’ve never heard of? This place is… stunning.” With his hands in his pockets and his eyes fixed firmly on the floor, he shrugs his shoulders.