Page 13 of Mountain Grump Protector

Making my way down the hall, I can’t help but notice how quiet it is. No television blaring with whatever sports game is on, no yelling, no smashing bottles.

Just…quiet.

And there, standing at the stove with his back to me, is Cal.

For a second, before he notices me there, I stare.

Because this man is honestly totally unfair to look at this early in the morning.

It’s not that I didn’t notice before, but I was preoccupied and not able to fully appreciate exactly how incredibly sexy my savior is.

And massive.

His broad shoulders stretch beneath a dark grey shirt with the sleeves shoved up enough to expose thick, tanned forearms. His dark hair is still damp from the shower, and even from across the room, I can smell his clean, soapy scent.

He’s annoyingly attractive. Beyond attractive, really.

If I were looking. And I’m not looking. I’m never looking.

Not for a man. Absolutely not.

For my whole life, men have been nothing but a major pain in my ass. No, thank you.

As if sensing me standing there, he glances over his shoulder. “I made you tea.”

A wave of gratitude and something else I can’t identify hits me. “Tea?”

“You said you don’t drink coffee.”

“I don’t.” I step forward and take the mug he’s offering me.

“I guessed.”

“Thank you.” I look down into the mug of black liquid and inhale deeply.

“There’s milk and sugar,” he says. “I wasn’t sure what. You⁠—”

I take a splash of both and take a sip. “Perfect.”

And it is. I wrap my hands around the mug and let it warm me before I step toward the window and look outside.

I should be on guard, and I need to remind myself to keep my walls up. After all, I am in a strange man’s house, isolated from…well, everything. He hasn’t told me yet what he wants from me. But I have a few ideas.

Still, at this moment with a cup of tea in my hand, the birds singing in the trees and the blue sky outside, for a moment I let myself believe that my entire life isn’t totally screwed up and I’m not currently in the middle of the most messed up situation my family has managed to get me mixed up in.

And that’s saying something.

He doesn’t say anything while I take my time with my tea. It’s not until I turn away from the window that Cal says, “I made breakfast.”

It’s only then that I notice the plate of food on the counter. Eggs, bacon, and toast. The moment I set eyes on it, my mouth waters.

“What’s that?”

“Breakfast.” He sounds like he’s trying not to laugh.

I tilt my head and narrow my eyes. “Why?”

Cal grabs a towel and wipes his hands. “Because it’s the first meal of the day.”