Hungry Mountain Man Page 13

  “What does this have to do with me?” Lucinda asked. I paused for the waitress to place our food in front of us.

  “Recently, she’s started a case to take Riley from me. She has a one-bedroom apartment that isn’t nearly large enough for a little girl, but she won’t move to another area and pay less for a bigger place. She lives just at the edge of Manhattan in the busiest part of the city. It’s no place for a kid, but she’s coming across as someone that misses her daughter and wants the chance to raise her. She’s claiming to have a job and have her feet on the ground now – that she’s a different woman.” I watched Lucinda’s face as she picked at a fry on her plate.

  “Maybe that is all true. Riley is beautiful and she might want to be a mother again. Can’t you two agree on joint custody for Riley’s sake?” Lucinda asked. I sighed.

  “She gets child support if she gets full custody. That’s her focus: her living a better life that does not involve caring for Riley. I know Blake, and while I might have spent some time blind to her selfishness, I know now that she’ll never get Riley. She won’t nurture her. She’ll use the money for herself.”

  “That’s a tough place to be in,” Lucinda sympathized, pulling a tomato from her burger. “Is she going to hurt Riley?”

  “I don’t want to think that she’d abuse her own daughter, but I do think that Blake might neglect her. She’s young and wants to go out a lot. She doesn’t want to bond with her daughter,” I explained as I glanced over at Liam. He was watching us. I looked back at Lucinda. “I might agree to supervised visits if she were happy with that, but she’s after money more than anything. I can’t just hand Riley over.” I felt emotion wash over me and was surprised by the raw sympathy that crossed her face. “I love my daughter more than anything. I can provide for her and raise her the right way.” I picked up my sandwich and took a bite, trying to sort through my thoughts. “My attorney is well-aware of the fact that New York favors mothers in these cases most of the time, and he’s made a few suggestions to me.”

  “What?” Lucinda asked. I licked my lips.

  “I need to be married when I go to court. I need to be with a safe, caring wife that will be everything that Riley needs so the judge can see that. He even suggested that I should be expecting a new baby so that Riley will have a family with me.” I stared into her eyes as she blinked a few times. “I have a contract drawn up that promises you one million for marrying me as well as another million to have my baby. That can get you a new lab, Lucinda. That can make your life easier. And you’ll save my daughter.”

  “You want to pay me to marry you?” She asked as the blood drained from her face. I looked around, wanting her to keep her voice down. Liam caught my panicked look. Thankfully, people were busy talking around us. I reached a hand across the table to cover hers.

  “It’s not that calculated, Lucinda. I like you and so does Riley. We both know that. I just need to do this fast and I want to offer you some incentive. You’re in a tough place right now, and we can help each other.” Pain flashed over her face as she pulled away from me and rested her head in her hands. “I have no intentions of hurting you in any way. Everybody will be safe.” I leaned back as I wondered what was going on inside of her head.

  “I know how much you love your daughter. Anyone can see that,” Lucinda said softly as she held her chin in her hand, looking pained. “Maybe the judge will be smart enough to know it as well. I can’t do this.”

  “Wait, Lucinda,” I said as she stood up to leave the diner. I reached for my wallet and dropped a couple of big bills on the table, abandoning my food. Liam did the same. I told the waitress that the money was on the table as I rushed out, no doubt getting the attention of the other patrons in the diner as I pushed the heavy glass door open. She was walking down the sidewalk. I reached her and grabbed her shoulder. She stopped walking.

  Her eyes were flashing as she turned to face me. “Ask the blonde to do this for you. She seems like she’d be willing to please you.”

  I had to think for a moment about who she was referring to. The night played back through my mind as I clutched her shoulders and stared at her. “You saw me that night?”

  “Yes, I saw too much of you that night.” She looked disgusted for a moment. I wondered how long she had watched us. “If I say yes to this, will you get to have company over as you wish?”

  “I have not had anyone over or gone to their house since I met you,” I assured her as she looked suspiciously at me. “That was only when I didn’t have Riley over. I have been a little bitter about the divorce – I haven’t acted great.”

  She looked at me with so much honesty before she laughed bitterly. “I am a virgin, Max. I have never had sex, and I can’t even wrap my mind around the idea of someone paying me that much for my first time. I think your daughter is one of the sweetest children I’ve ever met, but I can’t agree to this. I’m saving myself for someone special.”

  Lucinda was a virgin? I knew that she displayed some kind of fear when it came to me, but I never would have guessed that. “How? You’re gorgeous.” I told her as she widened her eyes and pain passed through them.

  “I’m just a girl. I am sure you can find someone to do… this for you. You’re gorgeous, too.” Lucinda turned to walk away and I watched her, trying to imagine the woman that masturbated for me as a virgin. She must have done something with some man in the past. I scratched my head as I felt someone approaching me.

  “Did she say no?” Liam asked as I looked at him with a smirk.

  “Yeah. I don’t think she’s into the idea,” I replied as I stared into the sky.

  “She’d be perfect for the court and she’s beautiful. Is there something between you?” Liam asked as I tried to think about what to say.

  “Attraction,” I admitted as I turned to head back down the sidewalk. “But I guess not enough. I’ll figure out a Plan B.”

  I didn’t want a Plan B. I wanted Lucinda.

  Chapter Ten – Lucy

  I rushed right home, stunned by Max’s proposal. God, it was an epic proposal – one that I never would have expected but that I had dreamed of for years.

  Okay, so I didn’t sit around and dream about Max begging me to play his wife. I just wondered what might have been if we weren’t interrupted that night. I knew now that we were still attracted to one another, so it was harder to fight. We were adults living our own lives, and my brother wasn’t here to protest this time.

  I cleaned up my apartment with the blinds closed, wanting to stay out of Max’s sight. I planned a new experiment in the lab as his words played through my mind again and again.

  If I signed off to marry him, just on paper, I could open a new lab all to myself. I could get a different place. He didn’t tell me when this court date was, but it seemed like an urgent matter. I could see the concern for Riley in his face as he explained the situation. It was hard for me to picture her away from her dad.

  I liked her, too. I really did.

  I leaned back in my chair and considered my options. My lab was gone and the insurance company was taking their sweet time with my case. I knew that I wasn’t insured for the amount that Max was offering me and would have to work hard to get ahead of the game.

  With just one million, I could find a new location that would better serve my needs. I could get a small staff and start working towards what I loved. I’d have to play the part of a doting wife and stepmother, but would it be that hard? I liked them both.

  I blushed. If I weren’t a virgin that feared men, I might jump on the second part of the offer. Max was hotter than ever before and just the idea of being under him made me shiver.

  I heard a knock at the door and jumped, falling on the floor. I was a hot mess. I stood and peered through the curtains on the side window, seeing Mrs. Hastings. I opened the door with a bright smile, leaning against the door. “Hi.”

  “I went to see my sister yesterday and she sent me home with too many leftovers for me to ever eat. Would yo
u like to come over and have an early dinner with me?” Her voice was sweet and my stomach growled since I had walked away from my delicious hamburger.

  “Sure,” I told her, hoping that it was too early to run into Max and Riley. I grabbed my key and walked downstairs with her, entering the house to see several Tupperware containers on the table. “Wow. Did you guys have a party or something?”

  “Just a get together. Virginia always goes overboard,” Mrs. Hastings told me as she got a plate from the cupboard. She went to work, opening everything as I licked my lips. We both made a plate before we took turns heating them up in the microwave. “Let’s sit outside.”

  I wanted to protest, but it was gorgeous out. That was one thing I’d taken notice of earlier. Max and Riley might not be home until later. I hoped they wouldn’t be. We got some tea before we went out to the table on the front porch, talking about her trip and her family.

  I heard a car door and a small giggle. I froze with a piece of chicken in my hand. Mrs. Hastings was already calling out to Riley, telling her to come get some food. I took a deep breath and picked up the same piece to take a bite as Riley came over and wrapped her tiny arms around my back.

  If I said yes, she’d have a better chance of staying with her father. It was just a ceremony that I could reverse when the time was right. I looked up at Max as he approached, surveying the area warily as Mrs. Hastings told him about all the food. She took Riley inside and I stared at him awkwardly as he shifted on his feet. “Should I apologize?” he asked. I shrugged.

  Max and Riley joined us at the table and I pushed my food around before excusing myself, saying that I had an early morning to prepare for. I took my plate upstairs and tossed it into the trash before taking another shower and dropping into my bed.

  Max would know how to make me feel good. I was certain of that. I knew that he wouldn’t want to harm me. I could probably confess my past to him and he’d find a way to show me how to enjoy myself. He knew how to kiss – then and now.

  If it was short enough, my family would never find out. It would be over before it really began, although he did want me to have his baby. Would Cam kill me if I made that call to him?

  I was in my late twenties now, and he didn’t need to protect me. It was absurd that I was still a virgin at my age, but life had taken a toll on me. If I had normal girlfriends, they would suggest letting go and having fun, but I kept to myself. I had acquaintances in the field, but no friends that I couldn’t go without talking to. I was a self-professed workaholic.

  A hot mess is what I was. I turned on the television and tried to pay attention to the sitcom playing while I got lost in my thoughts. Maybe I should find out more about this before I just turned the idea away. It could help us both. I tossed and turned all night and watched the sky lighten through my blinds as I sighed. I got up and made some coffee, tossing the idea that formed in my head last night as I sipped it.

  I waited a few hours until I showered and then went to ask Mrs. Hastings where Max worked. I told her that I had a question for him and she waved her hand in the air and told me to call his cell. She jotted down the number and handed it to me before going off to the market. I sat at the table on the porch and reached for my phone in my jeans. I took a deep breath.

  Me: It’s Lucinda. I was hoping to meet you for lunch today. I’d like to talk.

  It took a few minutes, but Max got back to me as I was heading back up to my apartment.

  Max: Lucinda? Are you sure?

  Me: Yes. What works for you?

  Max: How about one o’clock at the same place?

  Me: I won’t walk out on you this time. See you there.

  I kept the jeans and peasant shirt on as I left the apartment and got into my car. I drove into the city and parked across from the diner by a stroke of luck, walking in early. I looked around and noticed that the same table was empty. I sat down and pushed my heavy hair over my shoulder.

  I had to be crazy to be there, but I wanted to look at it as an opportunity. I would also get to be married to my childhood crush in secret for a little while.

  I looked up, seeing Max walk in as he looked around. He raised an eyebrow as he walked over and took the seat across from me, shaking his head. “Should I be worried that it’s the same table?”

  “It just worked out that way,” I said as I tapped my finger on the table nervously.

  “Why are we here?” Max asked as he looked at me. The waitress came by and I was relieved that it was a different one. I ordered the same thing as yesterday and Max glanced at me in surprise as he did the same.

  “I have been thinking about your… offer,” I admitted. He looked curiously at me, leaning forward with interest and staring at me. “I don’t want Riley taken away from you, first and foremost. You two are good together. I also want my life back. We can work together to get all of that.”

  “You’ll marry me?” He asked in a low voice as I held up my hand.

  “I have a weird condition,” I said as I blushed. “I will do all of this as you want, but I want to wait until after we’re married to have sex. It’s silly, but it means a lot to me. I want to get to know you first.” I looked at the frustration in his eyes. “When is the court date?”

  “It is in four months,” he replied as I gulped. “Yeah. This is a worst-case scenario. Blake has been pulling out new things to make the judge favor her. This was Liam’s idea. I wouldn’t think of getting married again if it weren’t for him and my meeting a woman like you.”

  “A woman like me?” I asked as he smiled at me.

  “You’re a good person. You don’t have an agenda and my daughter likes you. She can see it, too. I’ve been so intent on believing that a woman couldn’t be like that, so I found everyone that wasn’t. Blake scarred me when she proved who she really was.” He looked past me with pain in his eyes as I sipped my tea.

  I took a bite of my burger and it was delicious. I wanted to finish it today. “Did you love her?” I asked him as he swirled a fry in ketchup.

  “I loved the idea of having a family, but no. I didn’t love her. I just didn’t think she couldn’t love Riley like I did. That’s why it tears me up that she’s fighting for her when she doesn’t really want to be a mom.” He looked at me. “You told me no when I offered you money the first time. You need it and your first answer was no. Blake is willing to lie to get more of it from me.”

  “So, how does this work?” I asked as he looked thoughtfully towards the window.

  “We’ll get married in a couple of weeks after what we’ll tell everyone was a whirlwind relationship. Love at first sight.” A pang hit my heart as I thought back to our first kiss. I would have married him back then, but he didn’t remember it. “You can stay over for appearances. Your stuff is next door.” He shrugged. “We need to look like we’re happy and in love. Spending time together is the only way we can achieve that.”

  “Just without sex,” I reminded him. Darkness clouded his eyes.

  “Not for too long,” he said as I bit into a fry and met his gaze. “We’re getting married soon.”

  Chapter Eleven – Max

  We made a plan over lunch before I returned to work. Was it bad that I was obsessing about Lucinda even while I looked at other women? I finished by six and went to Mom’s to pick up Riley, hugging her a little tighter today. I had hope now. Mom asked me how my day was and I looked at her as I smiled.

  “I had lunch with someone today. I’ve known her for a couple of weeks, but we got together for the second time today.”

  “A date? Who is she?” Mom asked as she sat down at the table with a quizzical look in her eyes.

  I glanced at Riley, who was playing nearby. “She’s a neighbor. I just saw her and we got to talking. She’s cool.”

  “Has Riley met her?” Mom asked as I nodded. I went on to tell her that Riley didn’t know that we were dating yet but liked her a lot. As did I. I felt guilt when my mom smiled happily at me. This was all she had wanted since I spli
t up with Blake. I hoped that there was a chance that this did work out. Lucinda was a great woman.

  I went home after dinner and noticed that nobody was outside. I took Riley home for a bath and read a few books to her before bed. I felt anxious about seeing Lucinda. Once Riley was asleep, I went to my bedroom window to see hers open but the bed empty.

  I looked at my phone that was charging on the table beside my bed, grabbing it to see if she sent any messages. I had a few from patients, but I pulled up Lucinda’s information and asked her if she wanted to come over.

  Lucinda: I’ll be over in a few minutes. I’m just cleaning up the kitchen.

  I slipped the phone into my pocket and headed out to the living room. I had another bottle of wine in the fridge – we could sit outside and talk. I thought her condition to this arrangement was a bit absurd given the way that she kissed and got herself off in front of me. Those were bold moves and I knew that she wanted me. If we spent time together regularly, how long could she deny that? It was human nature.

  I heard a knock at the door and went to get it, seeing Lucinda in a flowing pink dress. She smiled at me as I leaned down to peck her lips in the light of the porch, sucking in her breath. “Appearances,” I reminded her as she nodded, a dazed look in her eyes. I brought her inside by the hand and closed the door. Lucinda followed me as I poured her a glass of wine and invited her outside.

  We walked to the table and sat down as she looked over the yard. “This is perfect for Riley.”