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And then out of nowhere there was this mountain man who seems to have created a world just for me. A home I’ve never had. A family I never thought I would get.
I kiss the arm wrapped around my body and send a silent plea to the universe to let me keep this little piece of happiness, and I would never ask for anything else ever again.
Please.
Chapter Six
Callan
“What time is it?”
I turn around to find Emily seated up on the bed rubbing sleep from her eyes. She looks so fucking gorgeous with her long black hair ruffled and eyes filled with sleep. So, fucking irresistible.
I lean in and press my lips over hers, slowly guiding her back to lie down. It takes everything in me to not pull the cover back and climb back in bed with her. “It’s only five, you should get more sleep.”
She shakes her head, “I can’t. I need to get to my apartment and change before heading to the diner.”
“They don’t open until eight, right?”
“Hmm,” she hums, burrowing deeper into the pillows. I can see her battling the need to carry on sleeping and get up. Considering the night we had, she needs the rest. I wasn’t going to take it much further yesterday, but resisting this girl proved to be harder than anything I’ve ever had to do and before I knew it, I was fucking her in my kitchen, in my living room, and in my bathroom. I wasn’t nice about it either. Pouring into her body all those nights I went without her. Suffice it to say, she needs as much rest as she can get.
“Why are you up?” she whispers when I draw the sheets over her body.
“Habit,” I tell her, my eyes locked with her sleepy ones and realize that I want to wake up to those beautiful eyes watching me every day for the rest of our lives. “Back in the military, we’d wake up at five, sometimes earlier to exercise, so it’s almost impossible for me to sleep past the time.”
“So, the rumor is true. You were in the military,” she says with a small yawn.
“The Marine Corps, yes. I’ll tell you all about it when you wake up. Unless you want to join me for my morning run.”
“God, no!” She shakes her head frantically, tugging the covers over her body, and for some reason, that brings a smile to my lips. I have been doing a lot of that lately-- smiling, and it’s all thanks to this precious girl.
“Get some rest, I’ll wake you up later and drive you to work.”
“You promise?”
It’s at the tip of my mouth to tell her to quit, that I will provide her with anything she needs, but I figure this is not a conversation to have with a barely conscious person, so I settle for something I can say. “I promise.”
I wait until her breathing has evened out before leaving the bed. I change into my sweats and running shoes. By the time I make it downstairs, Brutus and Barry are already up and standing by the door, their tails wagging eagerly to join me on the run.
This is a normal routine for us, except this time, I have a woman waiting for me to come back. We take our usual route and start our run up the mountain. This early in the morning, the world is cloaked in darkness, with the faintest hint of light on thehorizon. Even without the light, I know this path like the back of my hand.
The cool air nips at my skin as we go higher up in elevation. My dogs’ excited panting is the only sound breaking through the early morning, but we’re soon surrounded by the tranquil sounds of nature awakening around us.
By the time we make it back to the cabin, the sun has painted the sky with hues of orange and pink. I use a clean towel to wipe the dogs’ paws before letting them into the house, where I fill up their water and food bowls. I grab water for myself and head upstairs to grab a shower. Emily is still sound asleep when I walk in so I try not to disturb her as I sneak into the ensuite.
Twenty minutes later, I walk out to find her still asleep, and as much as I hate waking her, I did promise her to do so.
She stirs when I draw the covers over her shoulders. “Hey, princess–”
“Is it time already?” she whines, sitting up but her eyes are still closed, hair a mess of black strands. She looks so cute as a pout tugs on her lips.
“You can always call work and tell them you’re not coming in today.”Or ever.
“No.” She shakes her head, rubbing sleep from her eyes once more. “I cannot afford to get fired. I had to beg the owner to give me work even though I didn’t have much experience.”
I brush hair strands from her face, and she turns her pretty moss-green eyes on me. “You don’t need to work if you don’t want to.”
Her brows crinkle in confusion. “How come?”
