Rekindled: A Mountain Man Romance (2 page)

T
he moment
I got that email from the Michelle girl, I knew I had to go to the reunion.

But damn, looking at Charlie, hurting like hell, I shake my head hating the reality.

“It’s bad.” Charlie’s vet, Tim, is here at the house, shaking his head after examining the old boy. “An infection like this is going to get worse before it gets better. These antibiotics will help, but I’m also going to leave pain meds, which you’ll need to give him every six hours. He’s really uncomfortable.”

My jaw tenses, I know I can’t leave Charlie tonight. What kind of asshole would do that?

“But he’ll pull through?”

“There is no reason to think he won’t but I don’t advise leaving him tonight.”

“I understand. I just want him to be okay.”

“I know you do,” Tim says, patting Charlie’s head. I have Charlie on his bed, near the fireplace, and a low fire has been stoked.

“Call me if you need anything, I’ll be making a few other house calls tonight, but I think you’ll be okay if the two of you stay put.” Tim smiles. “Not that you ever leave this cabin, North. Can’t imagine you have any place better to be.”

I smile tightly, not going to explain to this man my original plans for the evening. Finding Rosie and having my way with her.

Tim leaves and I pace my cabin, shaking my head. Hell, I wanted to see her. And I want her to know I was coming for her. Ready to walk across the dance floor and pull her in my arms, believing that she wants me as bad as I want her.

Remembering that I have Michele’s phone number, I call her. She was the coordinator for the reunion and maybe she has Rosie’s number. If not, I guess I’ll start stalking her on the Internet. Hell, I’ll even get one of those Facebook accounts if it means seeing her again.

She doesn’t answer, but I leave a message.

“This is North. Was just calling to let you know my dog is ill and I won’t be there tonight, I’ve got to stay put in my cabin. But if Rosie McClaire is at the reunion, will you give her my number? Tell her I was only coming tonight to see her.”

I
’m just putting
the finishing touches on my make-up in Katie’s old bedroom, preparing to leave for the reunion, when Michelle walks in the room holding her phone.

“Bad news,” she says, frowning.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“North left me a voice mail letting me know he isn’t coming. His dog is sick and apparently he has to stay at the cabin, can’t leave him alone. I’m so sorry, Rosie. You were so excited.”

My heart falls and I feel like a fool. I blink back a rush of tears, embarrassed that all the girls are seeing me this way.

“Hey, honey,” Katie says. “Don’t cry.”

“She’s right,” Michelle says. “You shouldn’t cry because in the voice mail, North asked about you. Said he was only coming tonight for you. Specifically.”

“You swear?” I ask, hope surging through me. “He really said that?”

“He did.” Michelle shrugs. “Do you want to call him?” She reaches her phone to me.

I shake my head. “No. It would be awkward to talk on the phone after all this time.”

“You know what wouldn’t be awkward?” Katie asks. “You going to him. You should go up to his cabin and be like, hey baby, it’s me, Rosie.” Katie laughs, but I know she’s serious. “Don’t look at me like that, Rosie, he wants you, obviously, and you want him. It’s your ten-year reunion. Make this a reunion you’ll both always remember.”

“You’re saying I should just get in my Jeep and drive into a forest. Park in front of his house and be like …. hey?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“And what if he tells me I’m a crazy person and that I need to get back in my car?”

“He said you were the only reason he was coming tonight, Rosie,” Michelle says. “He wants this.”

Going to his cabin, seeing him in a more intimate space could bolster my courage. Being in front of all our former classmates adds a layer of scrutiny I’m not up for.

“Okay.” I nod my head, realizing there is no reason on earth why not. It’s exactly what I want. “I’ll do it.”

“You’ll do him tonight?” Katie asks, eyes wide in delight.

“Katie.” I scowl. “I’m said I’ll do it, not do him.”

It’s no secret that I’ve never been laid. But I’ve always been holding out for the perfect moment. The perfect time. The perfect person.

And yeah, that might sound like a hell of a lot of expectation to put on night of passion, but when I say perfect, it’s not like a cookie-cutter, flawless, do no wrong, Ken and Barbie, perfect.

I mean perfect like the match. I mean perfect like they’re my person. Perfect like they are worth giving my body over to. And thinking about the other men who will be attending the ten-year reunion … there’s not a single man there who meets the criteria.

Going to this reunion is just going to confirm what I already know. This isn’t where I belong.

“Text me the address, Michelle. I’m going to find my true North.”

* * *

I
swear I’m lost
. I grew up just north of Forks, yeah I know, we’re on the map because of Twilight. But I didn’t go to a vampire-ridden-high school. And I sure as heck don’t live there now.

As far as Google maps tells me, North lives one hour north of here. About as far north as you can get in Washington State, make that the country.

I love this region. Though I don’t live here anymore; I live in Olympia. In Olympia I rent a room in a house that is full of other twenty-somethings. Though I’m quite aware of the fact I am inching toward the thirty-something’s range quickly.

But I can’t think about that right now. Right now I’m thinking about keeping my eyes on the road and not talking myself out of this ridiculous plan.

Of course I’m wondering what he’s been up to all this time. Why he left in the first place. Why he never came back.

Came back for me.

Then I remember back then we were just kids. Half the time, life happened to us, we were minors, after all. I remember the rumors about his father being involved in shady stuff, there was even an article about North’s father after they left, and apparently, the cops were attempting to find him.

Maybe he has a girlfriend. Maybe he has a kid. Maybe he has both. Maybe he has a lover. Maybe he doesn’t even like women. Maybe he....

This line of maybes could go on for hours. Well, specifically, one hour. Because that’s as long as the ride is going to take. And we are nearing the end of it. And by we, I mean Justin Bieber and me, because that's what I’m jamming to in my car.

I know.

But this is a judgment free zone. Right?

Siri tells me to turn left. And I do.

Then she tells me to drive two miles and take a right. And I do.

Then she tells me the house will be on the left in three hundred feet. And it is.

And that’s when I start panicking. Wishing I’d gotten a proper bikini wax and wondering if I’ve aged poorly.

Katie told me my hair and make-up looked hot as fuck. “Should that make me feel better or worse?” I’d asked her.

“Definitely better.” Then she wiggled her eyebrows and added, “And I don’t think you should wear anything underneath that coat.”

I had just rolled my eyes at her, knowing I’d never do something like that. Knowing I kind of wish I could. Because it would help with my resolve. Like, showing up here naked would make it more difficult to turn back.

My tires crunch over the gravel road and I’m in the thick forest, a canopy of trees covers my line of vision and I can’t see the sky. I just followed the route Siri told me to take into the woods to see someone who is basically a stranger.

North and I had never had a lot of conversations. But, I feel like there were moments when our eyes met and we had a connection. I know we had a connection.

I don’t even think it would be possible to have this strong of feelings for another person and not have them be reciprocated.

And yes, I realize I’m setting myself up for a complete and utter disaster.

But.

I think the disaster might be worth it. Because waiting ten years for someone who was never yours is a really, really long time. And I’m tired of being a virgin. I’m tired of wondering what if. I’m ready to throw caution to the wind and I’m ready to take the risk.

Though, I did pack condoms. Ha.

There’s a pickup truck in the driveway and a very large outbuilding with a sign on it, reading North Star Carpentry. Beyond it, there is a modest cabin with smoke coming from the chimney.

It’s a late June evening, but the Northwest is known for its wet climate and tonight the air is heavy, and clouds cover the sky. A rainstorm looms.

I park my Jeep and open the door. It’s not warm out, low sixty’s maybe, and I wonder if I’m wearing the wrong thing entirely. Katie insisted I put on a push-up bra. Thankfully I was already wearing one because I wasn’t really interested in borrowing her underclothes, and I was grateful I’d bought a new pair of panties to go with my dress.

Michelle told me to be liberal with the razor and then she painted my toenails. I slipped on the dress I’d bought for the reunion, and couldn’t help but second-guess my purchase.

“It’s way too tight in the bust,” I’d told her.

“That’s the point, Rosie.” Then she slapped my ass.

And as I step out of the Jeep, I notice that the sleeveless, short tunic dress has two buttons across the chest that are stretched tight. It’s too late to do a costume change, and for a second I wish I’d taken Katie’s advice and not worn a damn thing.

The chill of the evening rolls over me and I wish I packed the sweater. Though I do have a tote bag, because I’m not totally spontaneous. I have a toothbrush and a change of clothes, basically, all the things I had packed when I left Olympia this morning.

I shut my door carefully, and hang my purse over my shoulder, setting my phone on vibrate. And walk to North’s front door.

I swallow. Raise my knuckles and rap them against his door. Nervous as hell. Anxious as all get out. Also, completely ready for this night to begin.