Page 1 of A Very Mountain Man Wooing

ONE

Whit

What’sa guy got to do to get a girl like her?

I’ve been asking myself that same question for the last five months. Every time I see Anise, my heart threatens to beat out of my chest.

If only she felt the same way about me.

She smiles at something Mabel says as she sweeps up the floor around her station at Snips. She’s the most beautiful thing that I’ve ever seen in my life. Black hair as dark as night twisted up into a knot on top of her head. I’m sure she thinks it looks messy, but to me, it just shows off her slender neck and those high cheekbones.

She’s wearing tight yoga pants and a loose-fitting sweater, but the image of her curves in that tight-fitting dress that she wore once is burned into my brain. My mouth waters at the memory, and I shift in my seat.

Anise tends to dress more casually than her best friend, Grier. Grier is always wearing high heels and dresses, but Anise usually has on jeans or yoga pants.

She glances at the window, and I swallow as her dark blue eyes pass over me. I glance over, spotting Hunter’s truck, and I smile to myself as I climb out of my own vehicle and head his way.

“Is today the day that you finally ask Grier out?” I ask him, and he barely peels his eyes away from his girl to answer me.

My eyes are drawn back to Anise, and I know I need to ask her out. I need to do something. I’m not sure how much longer I can go on like this.

Hunter and I were in the military together. Neither of us has any family left so when he got out and moved to Fallen Peak; I decided to join him. I thought I had made a mistake until we got to town and I saw Anise for the first time.

I knew right then and there that she was meant to be mine, and I’ve spent the last few months trying to figure out how to convince her of that.

We climb out of Hunter’s truck and head up to the front door of the salon. We’ve been getting our haircuts here at least once a week. Hunter has been coming every day lately, and I know he’s close to snapping.

“Hey,” I greet Anise, and she gives me one of those sweet smiles.

“Back for another haircut?” She asks, and I swallow hard.

“If you have the time.”

She nods, and I follow her over to her chair. I can hear Hunter, Mable, Jonah, and Grier talking, but I tune them out. All of my focus is on my Anise.

“How have you been?” I ask gruffly as I settle my tall frame into the chair.

“Good. Busy,” she says, and I notice that she seems tired.

There are faint circles under her eyes, and I frown.

“Have you been sleeping alright?” I ask her quietly, and she clears her throat.

“Just a trim today?” She asks, forcing her voice to sound upbeat.

“Anise…”

“I’m fine. I promise,” she says, and I still want to argue with her.

“Just a trim.”

She grabs her scissors and gets to work while I study her in the mirror.

It’s time to play my most favorite game. The getting to know Anise game.

“Where were you living before you came to Fallen Peak?” I ask, and she bites back a smile.

“In the south.”

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