Page 2 of Mountain Man's Redemption

I ignore her, focusing my gaze forward once more. I’m almost at the front of the line now, and I’m itching to leave the bakeryand escape those beady eyes. From behind me, I hear the door open again, and Rita tuts loudly.

“Damn criminal,” she mutters. “I don’t know how he dares to show his face.”

I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of looking around, but I can’t help it. Her words pique my curiosity, and I casually turn my head toward the door to see who she’s talking about. It takes my brain a second to process what I’m seeing.

Holy crap…

A bearded giant is walking into the bakery, keeping his head down as he joins the back of the line. He’s the biggest man I’ve ever seen—broad and burly—wearing a flannel shirt that strains against his wide shoulders. Tattoos peek out from beneath his sleeves, and my mouth goes dry as I stare at him. It’s like his presence has sucked all the air from the room, his giant frame taking up all the space. But despite his intimidating figure, the man seems determined not to look up. He avoids eye contact with everyone, scowling at the floor with his arms crossed.

“You beware of that one,” Rita hisses in my ear. “Garrett Black. He’s no good.”

“I don’t?—”

“He’s a criminal. Doesn’t belong in this town.”

I flinch as Rita shoots a withering glare in Garrett’s direction. It feels like I’m back in Plainville, trying to ignore the dirty looks and the ugly murmur of voices, all muttering the same words.

Scandal…affair…money…arrested…

This time, the words are directed at somebody else, but that doesn’t make me feel any better, and I feel a twinge of sympathy for Garrett. I try to catch his eye, hoping to give him a reassuring smile. But he doesn’t look up.

I wonder what he did to make her call him a criminal.

Probably nothing at all. People like Rita don’t let the truth get in the way of a good piece of gossip. I know that all too well.

“Excuse me?”

The soft voice makes me whip around to face the pretty young woman behind the counter. With a jolt, I realize I’m at the front of the line.

“Sorry! Can I get a slice of cherry pie, please?”

“Of course.”

As the girl busies herself with boxing up the pie, I take off my gloves and stuff them in my back pocket. Then I unzip my wallet, my hands trembling slightly. I can feel Garrett’s presence behind me, looming up like a mountain, and it takes all my concentration not to look at him again.

Crap. Focus.

Rita is muttering something, but I tune her out as I pay for my pie. Then, with a quick thank you to the clerk, I turn to leave without another word. I take a few steps toward the door, focusing on the pie box in my hands, but when I’m almost level with Garrett, I can’t resist. My eyes flicker upward, and I stop in my tracks.

He’s looking right at me.

For a moment, I’m totally frozen. He’s so handsome. Ridiculously, stupidly, insanely handsome. His intense brown eyes root me to the spot, burning into me as I take in his rugged features, from his strong nose to his thick brows. There’s something wild about him—almost like he was carved from the stone of the surrounding mountains. I’ve never seen a man like him before, and blood pulses hot and quick in my veins, an unfamiliar shudder running down my spine. Then, all at once, I remember where I am…standing in a bakery, staring at a stranger.

Blushing, I tear my gaze away from Garrett and rush for the door, barreling into the crisp April morning without a backward glance.

2

GARRETT

I parkmy truck outside the bakery and kill the engine. My jeans are mud-stained from the woods, and a dead leaf clings to my boot as I dust myself off. Then I turn on the radio. Static. More static. A pop song. I turn it off again.

Goddammit, I’m stalling.

I need to get out of the damn truck, but instead, I run a hand over my beard, frowning.

Is it really worth it?

I hate coming to Cherry Hollow, especially during the day. My cabin is up in the mountains a few miles away, and that’s where I like to stay as much as possible. If I need to stock up on groceries or supplies, I head to Cherry Grocery just before closing time, when there are fewer people around. Otherwise, I rely on my own two hands to fish and forage for what I need from the woods.

---