A Subtle Tenderness Read online

  “I’ll be right back Miss Ophelia, make yourself comfortable.”

  Ophelia watched the large man walk away from her and enter his cabin. When she had first seen him, Ophelia was more relieved than scared. She had been right to seek out help. As she sat and waited, Ophelia realized that she was alone with a stranger. He looked very capable of doing, well…anything. First off he was well over six foot tall, well-built and menacing. Well, menacing was too harsh a description. Ophelia just felt like he was seeing through her with his eyes.

  When he helped her up the rest of the way to his cabin she felt small and defenseless next to him. Heath was quietly studying her while she drank her water. At first sight she thought his eyes were black but then the light hit them and they were the deepest color of blue that she had ever seen. He reminded her of the mountain men that she read about in the hundreds of romance novels she edited. She was grateful he made her feel safe. Heath seemed to be genuinely concerned for her safety.

  Ophelia watched him walk to the truck carrying a wicked looking knife and a rifle which he carefully loaded into the back of the truck. Her heart beat faster as Ophelia realized her vulnerable situation. Once he was in the car she took a moment to study him, careful not to be too obvious. He had sandy brown hair, nice features, a few days’ worth of facial hair growth and a nice firm mouth. Her eyes strayed to his hands as he drove; they were large and looked rough from hard labor.

  Heath looked her way and Ophelia gave him a grateful smile. He had a solid muscular frame and there didn’t appear to be an ounce of fat on him. Heath smelled like the forest, earthy and male. She liked it. What was she doing checking out the mountain man who may have just rescued her? Ophelia looked out the window and noticed lamp posts on either side of the gravel drive that lead to the main road. He pulled up in front of the deer and her car.

  “Stay here Miss Ophelia. I don’t care for you to witness this.”

  Ophelia nodded understanding what Heath was about to do. She watched him walk over to the deer and begin to talk in a low calming voice. Heath came back to his truck and secured a tarp, and instead of using the rifle to put the deer down he bent low still talking to the animal and ended his suffering with one well-placed flick of his knife. Ophelia looked away when she realized what Heath had just done. Ophelia felt sick and tearful that the animal had to die but at least it wasn’t suffering any longer. When Ophelia turned back to watch Heath, he had covered up the carcass and was surveying her vehicle. Minutes later he called to her.

  “Miss Ophelia, will you come here for a moment?”

  Ophelia got out of the truck and walked toward him careful not to look at the tarp or the blood pooled beneath it.

  “It’s wedged up against this tree pretty good,” he said with a smile in his steady voice. “I thought I might be able to fix it but it appears the buck and the tree may have busted your radiator. Look at the liquid on the ground.” There’s a tow company in town an hour’s drive from here. I can take you there tomorrow and have the car towed to their garage but the garage won’t be open until Monday.” Heath looked at her somberly and continued. “You can stay with me tonight. I have plenty of room in my cabin. Do you have someone you need to contact?”

  “My parents, but I can call them tomorrow when we get to town,” Ophelia said with resignation. She knew there were few motels or road side inns this far up in the mountains and the few that Ophelia had seen she wouldn’t even think of staying a night in them. Notch, Georgia was a secluded community. Ophelia would gratefully take his offer of a room for the night. Glancing back at the tarp she looked at Heath and spoke quietly. “Thank you for that.” He nodded with understanding.

  “I noticed you didn’t ask about a hotel or inn.”

  “That’s because I know this area vaguely, well not this part of the mountain. My Aunt lived outside of Notch, and I used to visit her often. I was on my way to her home, I mean my home now. She just recently passed”

  “Notch, huh,” Heath said teasingly. “I figured you for a city girl.”

  “I might surprise you Heath,” Ophelia smiled up at him and continued. “I know my way around these parts or at least I used to.”

  “Is there anything you will need from your car?”

  Ophelia grabbed her duffle bag, grateful she had a few changes of clothes in the bag and all of her daily and nightly essentials. Heath secured her bag in the truck. She locked up her car careful to replace her mag light and watched as he wrapped the buck securely in the tarp.

  “Miss Ophelia, I am gonna need your help with this buck.” He turned to Ophelia and gave her a direct gaze. “You gonna be up to it.” Ophelia understood he was asking her to help him get the buck in his truck.

  “Of course, I’m strong, I can help lift the buck,” she said defensively.

  “I know you’re strong, Miss Ophelia. You survived an accident and hiked up part of a mountain in search of help for a dying animal. That’s not what I’m asking. Are you going to pass out or get weak kneed when we try to move this carcass?” Ophelia looked down into dark serious eyes as Heath secured the tarp around the buck.

  “No, I can help...I can do this. I won’t faint,” she said with certainty, “but I can’t promise anything about the weak knees.” Ophelia watched him smile as he stood.

  “That’s good Miss Ophelia. That will do just fine. Now, you will only have to hold the ends of the tarp, I will do most of the lifting as we hoist him in the truck. It will be the same when we get back to my cabin”

  Ophelia nodded and watched him back the truck right up to the deer. She watched his large capable hands and did as he instructed. She watched in amazement as he nearly lifted the massive weight by himself and it was heavy. Ophelia grunted and strained as they completed the task in seconds. Mercy he was strong. She watched him secure the buck and stood there looking at the blood that had pooled on the ground.

  “Miss Ophelia, you ready?” She nodded as Heath assisted her back into his truck.

  Once inside the truck, Heath reached over and opened his glove box and produced a package of baby wipes and offered her one. Ophelia giggled as she took one and began to wipe her hands. “I never figured you for a Huggies type of guy.”

  “They come in handy from time to time and they smell nice.”

  Ophelia turned toward him as he drove them back up the mountain toward his cabin. This man looked rough around all the edges yet she was utterly at ease in his presence. Heath didn’t talk much, didn’t move to turn on the radio. He was a man secure in himself and that confidence surrounded him like armor.

  “Are you hungry Miss Ophelia?”

  “Yes, I am. Ophelia, Miss Ophelia was my aunt. Just call me Ophelia.”

  “Well, Ophelia I made some rabbit stew earlier.”

  Ophelia knew that if any of her friends had heard this they would probably gag. She had eaten rabbit stew many times with her aunt and uncle and Ophelia loved deer steaks. She was hungry. The last meal she had eaten on the road hadn’t been very appetizing.

  “That sounds fine. I am so hungry I could eat a horse right now.”

  “Horse was on the menu Wednesday, we’re fresh out,” Heath said teasingly. They rode in companionable silence until he backed the truck up to a shed at the far end of his property, and then with strenuous effort they removed the carcass from the truck. Heath carried her duffle as they walked to his cabin and he ushered her in. Whatever Ophelia thought a log cabin should look like this was not it. Heath set her duffle down on a cushioned settee near a front window and quickly showed her around.

  “Make yourself comfortable, we’re standing in the living room, bathroom to your left next to the bedroom,” he continued moving farther into the cabin as he spoke and turned on lamps. “Fireplace, kitchen, make yourself at home, I’ll get you something to eat before I go and take care of the buck.”

  Ophelia followed him to his kitchen and watched as Heath washed his hands and prepared her a sandwich and a bowl of stew. She sat at a mahogany b
ar as he served her and placed a glass of ice and a cold beer beside it. The stew smelled delicious and Ophelia had no qualms about asking for seconds after her first bite.

  “This is yummy,” she said with genuine appreciation.

  “Enjoy. The pot is on the stove. Ophelia, help yourself to anything you like. You are my guest so please make yourself comfortable. It may take me an hour or so to prepare the deer.” With that said Heath walked outside.

  Ophelia savored the meal and washed her dishes. She looked around the modern well lit kitchen. The ceiling was stained pine, there hardwood floors and wood cabinets. Stainless steel appliances and sink, you would be hard pressed to find a more well designed kitchen in most modern cities. The floor plan was open and it was much bigger than it appeared from the outside. Detailed wood furniture was everywhere.

  Handcrafted book shelves and tables that doubled as storage, everything had a purpose. The furniture was large and comfortable but there was minimal clutter. Looking around Ophelia saw the small staircase that led to a large loft that was attached to or supported by the centerpiece of the dwelling. A massive stone double sided fireplace that separated the kitchen from the living area.

  She walked around Heath’s home and marveled at how simple and beautiful it was. Ophelia stopped at the window and watched him at a distance as he cleaned out the back of his truck pumping water from a hand well. Heath had divested himself of his shirt and Lord was that man built. Just like his home he was full of surprises.

  Ophelia watched him for a few more moments realizing she had begun to fantasize about the reclusive man. His home smelled of wood and man. She had been a witness to just how strong and kind that man was. Fresh out of a bad break up that had her moving to the opposite side of the country. She definitely did not need to be mooning over Grizzly Adams even if he did have a hell of a body.

  Chapter Three

  Heath liked the monotony of hard work, especially when it was used to divert his thoughts from what was really on his mind…Ophelia. The woman made him curious to know more about her. She made him hungry to find out intimate baser things about her. The ride to and from her car had been torture. Ophelia smelled so good and feminine. It had been a long time since he had even felt like being with a woman. To have it hit him with a full impact like this was disconcerting to say the least.

  He liked her smile and the way she handled herself with the buck. Heath felt his dick harden when she licked her lips after tasting the stew. He had never been attracted to any certain type of woman. Having traveled to many countries during his years of service he had experienced sexual joy with women of many cultures. Ophelia was a fine looking woman and he had to admit the womanly curves of her hips and backside made him long to experience the secrets she held between her thighs.

  Heath immediately felt chagrined at the direction his thoughts were taking. Ophelia had trusted him and he could just imagine what an intimidating figure he presented when they first met. She wasn’t a tiny thing but she barely came to the top of his chest and her complexion was the dreamiest shade of milk chocolate that he had ever seen. Heath had seen her studying him in the car and he felt better that he gave her time to see that he posed no threat to her safety. He prepared the deer by removing the entrails, cutting portions to be smoked, sections for steaks and parts that would be used later to make sausage or burger meat.

  One hour turned into two and it was well past dark before he came into the cabin. Heath found Ophelia asleep in one of his living room chairs. Not wanting to wake her he went to his bedroom stripped and showered taking pains to shave and make himself presentable. Heath dressed in sweats and a worn cotton t-shirt, changed the sheets and started a load of laundry.

  He had a guest bed in the loft but Heath wanted Ophelia to sleep in his bed. The image of plump, soft curves in his bed gave him some predatory satisfaction. Heath had gone through too much in his short life for him to deny that he not only was attracted to Ophelia but he wanted her. Amazed that he could be pulled into her spell so quickly, he had spoken less than fifty words to her and what happened to her mattered to him.

  Heath stood in the kitchen beer in hand and watched her sleep in his oversized sofa chair. There was something universally sexy about a woman with curves. It wasn’t late but he wanted her to get situated so he spoke her name softly several times before she woke slightly disoriented.

  “I hope I didn’t startle you. I wanted to show you to the bedroom you will use tonight.” Heath took her duffle into his bedroom. “Let me know if there is anything I can get you.” He said as he took his leave. Heath made a small fire and took a seat in front of it and nursed the flames to life. He was infinitely aware of every sound Ophelia made while she was in his domain. It pleased him when Ophelia reappeared from his bedroom.

  “I know you told me to make myself at home but I would feel awkward if I didn’t ask for something to drink.” Before Heath could move to get her a beverage Ophelia stopped him by going into the kitchen. “Please don’t trouble yourself, I can get it. You’ve done so very much for me today. I can’t thank you enough.”

  Heath joined her in the kitchen and watched her pour a glass of lemonade. Sitting at his bar facing her he studied Ophelia’s movements.

  “I hope you don’t mind, I made lemonade earlier.”

  “I don’t mind Ophelia. I love lemonade.” He smiled and took a swig of his beer. Ophelia leaned against the counter and looked about his kitchen.

  “Your home is beautiful, Heath. The furnishings, the style, everything is warm, unfettered and comfortable. How did you find all of this? Most of this furniture looks handcrafted just for this cabin.”

  “It was. My mother and dad did most of the handcrafted items. It took me years to build this cabin to the specifications that I desired. We did the majority of the work ourselves.”

  “You and your dad built cabins. You are a pretty useful guy to know.”

  “I noticed you don’t have a television, what do you do for entertainment?”

  “Read, listen to music. I can watch movies on my laptop but generally I sit by the fire at the end of the day and fall asleep.”

  “You have some really good classics. I read a lot also; it’s sort of my profession.”

  “Really, what do you do for a living Ophelia?” Heath learned forward as he gave her his attention.

  “I’m a book editor.” Taking a sip of her lemonade Ophelia moved to sit on the stool next to him. “I read a lot of romance novels.”

  “Sorry, just the classics here, there might be a copy of War and Peace or Jane Eyre, but nothing current.” Ophelia smiled and played with her glass for a moment. Her scent was cloying with him. He was encouraged that she felt at ease in his presence. He liked a woman with a direct gaze. Ophelia was not a shy girl but a woman with presence.

  “It’s quiet here. I can see why you love it. No car horns or people yelling in the street. Don’t you get lonely living up here by yourself?”

  Heath fixed her with a direct gaze that Ophelia must have interpreted negatively because she immediately apologized. “That was… I’m sorry for asking such a personal question. I don’t mean to be rude.”

  “Yes, sometimes I get lonely here but you can feel lonely in a crowd. Now let me ask you a personal question.”

  Now Ophelia fixed him with a direct gaze giving him her full attention. “Okay.”

  “Weren’t you just a tad bit afraid of coming up this mountain today? You had no idea who or what you would encounter.”

  Ophelia searched his eyes and found no mockery in them and then she answered. “I was apprehensive, even when I met you. You’re kind of larger than life and you looked a little feral earlier.” Ophelia laughed as she said the last part.

  “Feral?” Heath repeated and grinned as he let the word roll off his tongue.

  “Woodsy then,” she amended.

  “That’s worse.” Heath chuckled. “That sounds like a cartoon character.” He liked the ease of their conversation. “
How long are you going to be staying at your aunt’s place?”

  “Indefinitely, if everything works out it will become my main residence.” Ophelia toyed with her glass while she answered.

  “Is it a place on the mountain?”

  “Yes,” she gazed back up at him, “but not so far up as this.”

  “Does she have neighbors?”

  “Yes I remember she has one close neighbor. Why do you ask?”

  “You will be living alone outside Notch, just like me.”

  “Yes, it appears I will.”

  “Do you think you will get lonely?”

  “Yes, I am certain I will, but you can be lonely while you’re with someone. I think that’s far worse.” She said earnestly.

  “Then we have this in common,” Heath said his gaze never leaving hers.

  “To peace and solitude,” she held her glass up to his for a toast.

  “To peace and solitude,” Heath repeated.

  Ophelia flashed him a mega-watt smile and his heart nearly stopped. Heath heard and felt the blood rushing to his dick when his eyes settled on her lips. He warred with his self-control. Heath wanted to taste her lips to and essence. There was an awkward silence for a moment and then she stood up to leave as he turned toward her and she stumbled forward into his embrace. Ophelia felt good in his arms, she was soft in all the places he was hard.

  Ophelia held his shoulders trying to get her balance, Heath enjoyed her touch. He nuzzled the side of her face for the briefest of moments before she began to untangle herself from his embrace. When Ophelia looked up their faces were mere inches apart and he breathed in her fragrance as their eyes met.

  “Thanks, I must be more tired than I realized. Goodnight Heath.”

  Heath released his hold on her slowly and nodded but didn’t speak. Ophelia walked quickly to his bedroom and turned back once to give him a shaky smile. He heard the shower start and he began to think about Ophelia all soapy and wet in his shower. Heath stepped outside briefly and took a breath of fresh night air and wondered how he would make it through the night without relieving himself.