Page 2

“What are you talking about?” I narrow my brows dramatically, remembering how gorgeous and successful his ex is. “Shannon is great.”

“Sure is,” he nods once and takes another sip of his coffee, “for someone else.”

“I don’t know,” I lean against the kitchen counter and stare out the front window, “sometimes I think I should’ve taken the leap, ya know? Gotten married, tried to make it work with someone, even if it wasn’t perfect.”

“Nah. I say you’re doing it the right way.” He stares toward me, the scent of pine emanating off him like some toxic poison meant to keep me entranced. “Date until you’re obsessed. If you’re not, it’s never going to work.”

“Obsessed?”

“Yeah, that’s my new motto. I don’t want anyone I’m not obsessed with.”

“I’m pretty sure obsession is unhealthy. There are plenty of books about that one.” I laugh and run my fingertip around in circles over the top of my coffee mug as I try not to think about how obsessed I’ve been with Mike lately.

Last night, I spent at least thirty minutes stalking him online and ten more masturbating to a picture of the two of us together at the company Christmas party last year. We weren’t together by any means, but the photographer he’d hired snapped a shot of us next to the Christmas tree, and I may have screenshot it for my personal records.

I’m a mess.

“Crazy or not, that’s my motto. Obsession or bust.” He laughs and lands his hand on my back, sending a tingle straight to my toes. “If the weather is shitty tonight when you’re leaving, let me know. I’ll give you a ride home. We need to talk about the toy drive, anyway. The town is trying to do everything up real big this year, given that grant the governor is handing out.”

I pause and force myself to stay here on planet Earth and not up in the clouds where he’s asked to give me a ride home because he’s obsessed with me, too. “Governor grant?”

He pours the rest of his coffee down the drain before grabbing his jacket off the hook by his office door. “The governor is handing out cash grants for whichever town hosts the most successful holiday season.”

“What deems it successful? Tourism?”

“You got it. Rugged Mountain is going all out.” He stares at me, his dark gaze locked on my eyes. “I mean it. Let me know when you’re finished with your date tonight. We can brainstorm, and I’ll make sure you get home safe.” He nods once and steps out into the falling snow before turning back for a moment. “I won’t be far if you need something before then.”

I nod slowly, my clit throbbing, my breath shallow, my heart confused as hell. Why am I more excited about calling my boss for a ride home than I am for my date?

Chapter Two

Mike

My buddy Hank hands me a signed contract for the project I’ll be completing for the inn this year. It’s a five-hundred-thousand-dollar renovation that’s well needed. New floors, new roof, new windows, and an addition on the back that includes an atrium that overlooks the mountain range. It’ll give folks the opportunity to enjoy the view all year long.

“What do you look so depressed about?” my buddy groans as he shoves a plate of bear claws in my face. They’re made at Josie’s bakery in town, but the inn gets a delivery bright and early every morning. “Thought you were excited about this job. You beat out every Tom, Dick, and Harry on the mountain for it.”

I nod and scratch my hand down over my beard, thoughts of Mabel running through my head despite my attempts to shove them away. “Well, no one can beat my prices. Plus, I know the guy who runs the inn pretty well,” I laugh, though I realize as the sound reverberates how hollow it is.

What the hell is wrong with me?

She’s a beautiful woman. There are plenty of beautiful women.

I tell myself that truth at least a dozen times a day lately, but it doesn’t change the fixation that’s brewing. Mabel is different. She’s the complete package. Gorgeous, smart, sarcastic, and she’s got this sense of whimsy that I can’t get enough of. Hell, most nights if I don’t jerk off to thoughts of her, I can’t sleep or function in the office the next day.

I’m pretty sure that’s violating some kind of human resource law, but it hasn’t stopped me yet.

I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly before drawing my gaze up toward Hank, who’s leaning against the porch beam, the collar on his flannel turned up around his neck as the wind picks up. “Damn, man. Sorry about that. Spaced out for a second there.”

“Yeah,” he laughs under his breath and readjusts his cap. “I’ve seen this look once before on a buddy, and all hell broke loose. Who is she?”

I shake my head and glance back down at the porch steps. “Someone I can’t have, so let’s drop it.”

“A married woman?”

“No,” I look up quickly and scoff. “Fuck. What the hell do you take me for? She’s just… she’s off limits. So, it doesn’t matter what I think of her.”

Hank and I have been buddies since the day we were born. Our mamas grew up together and stayed close enough to own houses right next door to each other. I’d reckon to say this man is more a brother to me than a friend, though that doesn’t change a single thing. I’m not going to fucking tell him about this little crush I have.