Page 29 of Playing With The Mountain Man

“It does sound nice, but honestly, Cody, I don’t think I’m the best company. There’s a very good chance that the minute I sit down I’m going to fall asleep on you.”

I hated that she was so exhausted, but not enough to give up a night with her. Even if all we did was snuggle on my couch until she fell asleep, I’d be happy.

“Well, how about you come back to my place and I can feed you. Then if you want to crash, I’ll bring you home,” I suggested.

“I don’t want to make you drive up and down the mountain just for me,” Tillie told me stubbornly. “Honestly, I’d be fine with a piece of toast. I’m not even that hungry.”

“Dinner’s already in the oven. And I don’t mind. If it means I get to spend even an hour with you, then I’ll drive you wherever you want to go,” I explained earnestly.

Tillie stopped what she was doing and cocked her head to the side. I felt like I was being appraised from head to toe. I only hope I measured up. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

I set the chair I was holding on the table and prowled toward her. “Every single word,” I assured her before leaning down and pressing a kiss just below her ear.

I saw the shiver pass through her and only hoped I’d done enough to convince her.

“And you won’t be annoyed if I fall asleep?” she asked, slightly breathless.

“Sweetheart, if you fall asleep in my arms, I’ll be a very happy man,” I promised her, already picturing many nights in our future that would end like that.

“Okay then. Let me finish up here, and then we can go,” Tillie agreed, and I wanted to fist pump the air.

“Tell me what I can do to help,” I instructed.

“You don’t have to …”

“Tillie. Tell me what you need,” I repeated, not one to sit idly by when the quicker we got everything finished off, the quicker we could head home.

She huffed and her shoulders sagged. I knew I’d won. And I never knew winning could feel so good. “I need to stack all the chairs, then mop the floors. Everything else is done.”

“Right. Well, you go find the mop, and I’ll finish the chairs,” I delegated.

“Cody—”

“If you say I don’t have to, I may have to bend you over the nearest table and turn your ass pink. Is that what you want?” Her cheeks burned. Interesting. I tucked that nugget of information away for a later time.

“Has anyone ever told you you’re bossy?” she questioned over her shoulder as she sashayed her ass across the diner only to disappear into the kitchen.

“Only you, sweetheart. Only you.” I chuckled, focusing on getting the chores done as quickly as possible.

Working together, we finished up, and soon enough, Tillie was turning off the lights and locking the door. It wasn’t until she was standing beside me at my truck’s door that I spotted the backpack slung over her shoulder.

“I like the look of that,” I commented, pointing to her bag and opening her door.

“Don’t get too many ideas. It’s just a change of clothes. I didn't think you’d appreciate me reeking of coffee and getting bacon grease on your couch,” Tillie replied as she swung up into the passenger seat.

“Coffee and bacon are in my top three favorite food groups, so there would be no complaints here. But you’re also welcome to walk around my house naked any time you want,” I told her with a wink.

Not to be outdone, Tillie gave me one of those, let’s get into trouble grins that I couldn’t resist. Or maybe it was just her I couldn’t resist. Either way, I was a sucker for that smile.

“Be careful what you wish for, Cody. You just never know what I packed.”

She yanked the truck door shut and left me standing there reciting baseball stats, willing the hard-on I was now sporting to go down. After adjusting myself, I hurried around the hood and slid behind the wheel.

As we passed the town limits and started the climb up the mountain, I reached across and took Tillie’s hand. It’s funny how twenty-four hours can change things. When she threaded her fingers through mine, everything felt right with the world

The radio played low, some country song about a guy who couldn’t wait to peel his girl out of her clothes. While I grinned at the words, feeling every single one of them, Tillie was singing along under her breath, staring out the window like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Even though I only lived twenty minutes from town, driving like this made the time fly. We pulled up out the front of my cabin, I killed the engine, and turned to face her.