Page 3 of Mountain Man's Secret Crush

It’s difficult to explain to a six-year-old that her uncle has post-traumatic stress disorder from his military service, but I try anyway. “You know Uncle Bay doesn’t like loud noises, and the festival will have a lot of loud noises with the parade and fireworks.”

What about Charlie? I thought Charlie was supposed to help Uncle Bay so he wouldn't feel bad?

“Charlie is a good dog, but sometimes dogs also dislike certain loud noises.”

I miss the old Bay, who loved being around people. As kids, we would all go to the Summer Festival, visiting our special spot by the lake, which only the four of us knew about, and watch the fireworks until it was finally time to go home.

Now, Bay spends most of his time tucked away in his cabin high up in the mountains, where his only neighbors are wild animals and the occasional lost hiker.

“Hmm, maybe Uncle Bay and Charlie need someone to look after both of them.” She’s not wrong, Bay needs someone to share his life with. Hell, we all do. But Bay deserves it the most.

“That’s not a bad idea, Miss Molly.” I hold the door open to the bakery, letting her walk in first. “Who do you think we should set him up with?”

Her tiny button nose crinkles like a baby rabbit. “Not Junie.”

“What’s wrong with Junie?” I try to hide my shock at why Molly wouldn’t want Bay to date Junie. Not that I want him to either, but I thought Molly liked Junie. If she doesn’t, I’m not sure how to make things work. I need both of my girls to get along.

“Bay needs someone who likes him. Junie likes someone else.” I let Molly lead me to the line of people waiting to place their orders, and I glanced at the counter, searching for Junie.

“What do you mean Junie likes someone else?” This conversation is taking a bad turn. How would my niece know that Junie liked someone else?

I keep my gaze on Junie as the line moves closer to the counter and our turn to order when I hear Junie’s sweet voice over the murmur of the customers waiting for theirs.

“Welcome to Mountain Morsel. What can I get you?” Junie politely asks the guy at the front of the line.

“Actually, I was wondering if you’d like to go to the summer festival with me tomorrow.”

My stomach clenches. I’m too late. I knew it wouldn’t be long before every guy in town started lusting after Junie.

“I’m sorry, David. I already have a date.”

For a moment, I thought she was going to turn him down, which, to her credit, she handled gracefully. But at least if she went out with David, it wouldn’t be so bad. He seems like a nice enough guy. But now I’m stuck with a nameless, faceless guy who’s taken my place with Junie.

“I figured. A woman as pretty as you probably has all the guys falling at your feet.”

Junie finishes taking David’s order. Molly and I move closer to the counter, and I steel my heart against the pain ripping through it, knowing I’ve lost Junie.

One of my old classmates, Cassi Martin, steps into my path, stopping me before Molly and I can place our order.

“Brooks, hon, I was wondering if you'd like to go to the summer festival with me tomorrow.” Cassi’s voice still has that little whine in it that I remember from high school.

She always believed she was superior to everyone in Templeton Ridge. After graduating, she left and never looked back.

Now, ten years later, she is divorced and living back with her parents in a town she swore she would never return to.

Usually, I’d tell her no. But something inside me broke when Junie admitted to having a boyfriend, and the one word I didn’t want to say slips out before I can stop it. “Sure.”

three

Junie

“Great! You can pickme up at my house at noon.”

I blink back the tears, not wanting Brooks to see how upset I am. It’s my fault. I should have talked to him sooner.

“Umm, sure. At your parents' house, right?” Brooks’s deep voice washes over me, but his words aren’t for me—they’re for some other woman who’s on the receiving end of his words.

A woman who clearly isn’t happy about something, if her scowl is any indication. “My house, my parents’ house. It’s all the same.” Cassi brushes her hand over Brooks’s bicep, making my stomach tighten as I think about Cassi touching him. The thought of them getting married and planning to have a family together flashes through my mind.

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