Page 1 of My Devoted Mountain Man

Prologue

Erika

I’m in a frenzy as I put the final touches on my best artwork yet. The best part? I’m getting paid handsomely for it. I stand back and look at the finished product. I smile to myself, knowing this beauty will hang in a prominent place in a business building downtown.

I can’t help but do a little dance around my apartment. This is a big deal for me. I’ve still got six months of art school and maybe an internship if I’m lucky. Having a portfolio of artwork I’ve sold could be the one thing that gets my career going.

Looking inside the fridge, I take out one of the little champagne bottles I’ve got so I can celebrate when I finish a piece. I take it out, pop it, and drink it right from the bottle. Ican’t help it. I’m giddy and want to experience this feeling for as long as possible.

The door to the apartment opens, and my body tenses. I’ve been living with my boyfriend Devlin for a year now, but he’s not the most supportive person when it comes to my art.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“I finished my piece. I’m celebrating.”

“I see.”

He probably doesn’t, but I won’t be bothered by it. I wonder for the millionth time if I should end things with him, but it’s relatively comfortable, and I hate conflict. I realize he’s been silent for a minute, and that doesn’t bode well for me.

“What are you going to do with it? We’ve got no more space in this apartment to store your paintings.”

“I’m selling it.”

“This? You’re going to sell this? No one will buy it, Erika. This is garbage.”

A chill goes through me, and I stand up next to him in front of the painting.

“This is my best work, Devlin.”

“I can’t believe after three and a half years of art school you’re still producing subpar work like this.”

“You’re not an art major, what do you know?”

My words have fire in them, but inside I’m breaking into a million little pieces. I thought…

“I’ve got to go. Do you want me to toss this in the trash for you?”

“No, I’ve got it.”

As soon as he’s out the door, I start to destroy my canvas. Hours and hours of work are wasted. I’m just not talented enough to make a living at this. With tears in my eyes, I promise myself never to try to sell my art again.

Chapter 1

Erika

It’s been a month, and Fletcher the silver fox, mountain man who has made my little art gallery famous, hasn’t come in with any new pieces for me to sell. I have never gone up the mountain here at Hunter’s Peak, but I won’t let my fear keep me from finding out what’s wrong with the man I can’t stop thinking about.

I stop at the grocery store and ask Cassie for directions up the mountain. Things can be rugged up there, and I’m scared I might get lost.

She’s kind, and I take notes in my planner as she chats away.

After we gossip for a while, I decide it’s time to tackle the mountain. I get into my Mini Cooper and give myself a pep talk.I can do this. I know I can. Following the instructions, I take a ‘shortcut’ that Cassie uses often.

The road out here is rough, and the undercarriage of my car is too close to the ground, so I feel every bump I drive over. Mostly gravel, but I’m worried about what it’s doing to my baby. It took me a long time to save up for this car, and I don’t want anything to happen to it.

Then I hear it, a loud bang underneath my car, and it immediately stalls.

“No, no, no, no, no.”

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