My Mountain Man Valentine (Be My Fake Valentine Story)

Chapter One

TESSA

A light flurry of snow drifted across Main Street as I turned the key in the lock of my bookstore. The little brass bell above the door gave a cheery jingle, welcoming me into The Velvet Book. The warmth of the interior instantly soothed me—the faint scent of old paper, fresh coffee from the small machine in the back, and the lingering traces of vanilla from the candle I had burned the previous evening. These were the things I loved most about opening the store on a cold Montana morning, especially in early February when the temperature hovered well below freezing.

I stomped the snow from my boots and shut the door.

Outside, Hope Peak’s familiar mountains loomed in the distance, their slopes capped in fresh powder and half-shrouded by low-hanging clouds.

In the soft light of morning, the peaks looked especially majestic and just a little bit foreboding.

This was the time of year when Valentine’s Day fever slowly took over the town—shop windows displaying pink hearts and red roses, the local baker rolling out sugar cookies adorned with icing roses.

Yet for me, Valentine’s Day always arrived with a peculiar mix of hope and unease.

People called it the holiday of love, but too often, it reminded me of the losses and uncertainties that shadowed my life.

I flipped on the overhead lights, illuminating rows of tall, rustic bookshelves.

The Velvet Book had been in my family since before I was born.

My parents opened it decades ago, right when Hope Peak first started drawing tourists looking for winter sports and summer hiking.

In all that time, much of the store had remained the same: the well-trodden wooden floors that creaked in the same places, the sturdy shelves my dad built by hand, the local photographs showing the mountains in all their breathtaking glory every season of the year.

We had added modern touches—cozy reading nooks with armchairs and fairy lights, plus the small coffee station—but I could still feel my parents’ presence in every corner.

Some days that comforted me more than anything else in the world; other days, I felt the ache of missing them intensify with every reminder of the past.

I reached the main counter, where I set down my keys and shrugged out of my jacket.

After flicking the switch on the coffee maker, I inhaled deeply as it began to bubble and hiss, smiling at the familiar soundtrack to my morning routine.

My breath slowed when I glanced at the pastel hearts taped to the shop window.

Valentine’s Day brought extra foot traffic, with people searching for romance novels or sweet greeting cards, so I usually dressed up the store with mild, tasteful decorations.

Yet the sight of those pink and red hearts always made me wonder if I would ever have my own happily-ever-after.

I told myself that I was too busy running the bookstore to dwell on that thought, but my heart disagreed.

A firm knock on the glass startled me from my thoughts.

I peered up to see Mrs.

Clement, her coat and hat dusted with snow, waiting on the other side of the door.

I hurried over to unlock it, letting in a gust of icy air as she entered.

“Good morning, Mrs. Clement,”

I greeted her. “You’re out early today.”

She tugged off her gloves and blew on her hands to warm them. “My cat, Peanut, decided four in the morning was a perfect time to tap-dance on my nightstand. I thought I’d get up and be productive. Any chance you have that new thriller by Morgan Roth in yet?”

“I sure do,”

I said, guiding her to the New Releases shelf along the far wall. She followed me closely, glancing around with the keen interest of a regular who liked to see if I had rearranged anything. “Here it is,”

I said, handing her the novel.

She cradled the hardcover and chatted about local happenings as we returned to the counter.

According to her, Angelique Bishop—who I’d known since grade school and who happened to be Ryder Hawke’s ex-girlfriend—had been spotted at the old sawmill, complaining about her frozen eyelashes while filming some kind of influencer video.

Mrs.

Clement found the whole concept both entertaining and suspicious, and I silently agreed.

Angelique always had a talent for making every situation about herself.

After she left, I processed a small wave of customers.

A few regulars—an older man looking for historical non-fiction, a teenage girl in search of a new fantasy series, a mother-daughter duo excited about Valentine’s Day romances.

By mid-morning, the bookstore had calmed, allowing me a moment to straighten the Valentine’s display near the window.

I arranged a small stack of paperbacks with bright pink and red covers, scattered some heart-shaped confetti, and propped up a few homemade bookmarks I liked to give as freebies.

While I worked, the door’s bell chimed again, and I looked up to see my brother, Levi, stepping inside.

His sandy-brown hair looked slightly tousled by the wind.

A puffy black jacket covered his broad shoulders, and he stomped the snow off his boots before crossing the threshold.

Though he wore a faint smile, I knew something weighed on him.

He almost always had a thoughtful, if slightly worried, expression on his face.

“Hey, Levi,”

I said, motioning for him to join me by the counter. “You’re out and about earlier than usual.”

He let out a breath and rubbed his gloved hands together. “Truck delivery came sooner than I expected at Skyline, so I finished unloading at the pub and thought I’d come check in on you.”

His hazel eyes roamed the store, noting the small holiday touches. “Got your heart displays up again,”

he added in a mild teasing tone.

“As always,”

I replied with a small shrug. “We do see a spike in business whenever I decorate for Valentine’s Day. People love a romantic read this time of year.”

He nodded but said nothing about that, and I sensed the tension in his silence. “Coffee?”

I offered, tilting my head toward the fresh pot.

“Sure, thanks,”

he replied. We moved to the reading nook near the front window for a bit of privacy. I poured him a steaming cup, and once he took a seat in a worn leather armchair, he gave me that same concerned look I knew too well.

“Word around town is that Angelique Bishop’s back,”

he said. “My staff mentioned seeing her. I guess she was prancing around Skyline Bar & Grill last night, snapping photos for some new social media stunt.”

“So I’ve heard,”

I murmured. I lowered myself onto the old couch across from him. “I’m not sure what she wants, but rumor has it she’s here for brand endorsements or something.”

Levi grunted. “Probably...She’s trouble.”

He blew across the rim of his mug, then added, “If she ropes Ryder into one of her wild projects, I don’t want you caught in the crossfire.”

My cheeks heated at the mention of Ryder’s name. “I’m not planning to be,”

I assured him carefully.

“Just…be careful.”

Levi’s tone softened. He had been protective of me ever since our parents died, but sometimes it felt more like he was guarding a fragile artifact than trusting his adult sister to handle her own life. “Zebras never change their stripes. Angelique’s the type to stir up drama,”

he went on, “and Ryder…well, you know how he is with extreme sports and risk-taking. With both of them in the picture, there’s bound to be trouble. Remember the fireworks when they broke up? The entire town ended up watching them shout at each other behind Skyline Bar & Grill, and then Angelique posted all those videos—Ryder storming off, her crying on camera—like it was some reality show.”

I bit my lip. Levi, Ryder, and I had known each other all our lives. Levi and Ryder had been inseparable, cutting class in their teens to conquer the nearest mountain trail or attempt some precarious stunt on the slopes. But after the plane crash that claimed our parents, Levi shifted gears. He chose responsibility over spontaneity, while Ryder stayed the same adventurous soul. I understood why Levi worried, but sometimes I wished he didn’t see me as a glass figurine poised to shatter.

“I’ll be fine,”

I assured again. “Angelique’s drama is her own, and I’m just running my bookstore. Life goes on.”

He studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly. “All right. Just promise you’ll tell me if anything weird comes up. I know I can’t protect you from everything, but as your big brother, I still want to try.”

The genuine concern in his voice deflated any irritation I felt. “I promise,”

I said gently. I stood, smoothing my sweater. “Now, I should probably check on the counter before more customers come in.”

He took the hint, finishing his coffee. After a tight, quick hug, he left, pausing at the door to glance back as though verifying I was truly okay. I offered a reassuring wave. Once he disappeared into the snowy street, I shook my head, both fond and exasperated. Levi meant well, but I longed to prove I could handle my own life—and maybe even a bit of risk.

About ten minutes later, the door opened again. This time, it was my best friend, Caroline Belle. She swept in on a swirl of cold air, her honey-blonde hair pulled into a neat ponytail, cheeks rosy from the chill outside. Caroline taught at Hope Peak Middle School and possessed an innate warmth that made everyone around her feel at ease.

“Caroline!”

I greeted, crossing the store to meet her. “Did you get a snow day?”

She laughed, setting her purse down on the counter. “Not quite. But the kids had a delayed start this morning. I thought I’d stop by and see if you had any new reads for my advanced English class. I’m also looking for something fun to read over the weekend. Plus, I might be avoiding the rowdiness at the cafeteria for another half hour.”

I chuckled, leading her toward the “New Arrivals”

area. “I can only imagine the Valentine’s fever at a middle school.”

She rolled her eyes in a good-natured way. “It’s ridiculous—little cut-out hearts taped to every locker, candy-grams ready to be delivered. But the kids love it, so I’m happy to play along. How are you doing? I saw Levi leaving, and he didn’t exactly look thrilled.”

“He’s worried about Angelique,”

I explained, bending to grab a few middle-grade novels from a lower shelf. “Apparently she’s back in town, flaunting her influencer lifestyle. He thinks it might drag Ryder into some fiasco.”

Caroline made a small “huh”

sound. “I saw her filming something near the school—some kind of ‘snow day fashion tips.’”

She shook her head as though baffled. “I guess not everyone can handle our frosty Montana winters gracefully.”

I handed her the stack of books. “These might be good for your advanced students. They’re compelling but still age-appropriate. And if you need something with a bit more romance for yourself, I have a new shipment that came in yesterday, right over here.”

She followed me to the romance section, skimming titles. Then her blue eyes lit up. “Did I tell you who else is back in town? Knox Slater.”

A memory flickered in my mind: Knox Slater, the resident “bad boy”

when we were in high school. “Yes, Levi mentioned it in passing,”

I replied. “I heard Knox returned to look after his younger sister.”

Caroline nodded, lowering her voice. “I ran into him. He seems different now—still has that edgy vibe, but he’s clearly stepped up for Linzie, which is a good thing. She’s in my class. I know things have been tough for her at home, so at least Knox is trying to be a responsible guardian.”

I gave a thoughtful hum. “That’s… actually kind of sweet. I remember you used to have a massive crush on him, right?”

A flush colored her cheeks. “Okay, maybe I did. The dangerous allure or whatever. My parents were always like, ‘Stay away from that Slater boy.’”

She laughed, though there was a note of nostalgia in it. “But talking to him now, I can tell he’s really trying. And he’s not half-bad to look at, either.”

I smirked. “Well, you might be in for a surprise, Miss Belle.”

I picked a romance novel off the shelf and handed it to her. “Speaking of second chances, you might like this one.”

She glanced down at the book and gave a rueful grin. “Thanks. You know, maybe you’re the one who needs a second-chance romance more than I do. Or better yet, a first-chance one. When was the last time you went on a date?”

I hesitated, cheeks warming. “Caroline…”

She set the book against her hip. “Come on, Tessa. Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Don’t let Levi’s overprotective streak hold you back. And don’t let your own fears hold you back, either.”

“I know,”

I said quietly. “But it’s…complicated.”

She sighed gently and changed the subject. “Well, if you do decide to be adventurous and break out of these four walls for a change, let me know. Meanwhile, I’ll take these books for my class—and this one for me.”

She held up the romance novel with a playful wiggle of her eyebrows.

I led her back to the register, scanning her books and slipping them into a paper bag. “I appreciate your concern,”

I told her softly. “You’re probably right that I shouldn’t let fear stop me. It’s just that… I don’t know. The bookstore is my main priority. I have to make sure that our accounts stay out of the red zone. It wasn’t easy to find out after Mom and Dad passed that they weren’t the best at record-keeping.”

She reached out to squeeze my hand briefly. “I know. Take your time. But remember, you deserve a real-life love story too.”

After Caroline departed, a handful of regular customers filled the store during the lunch rush—buying thriller novels, browsing cookbooks, or checking out the romance display. I chatted with each of them, feeling increasingly grateful for the sense of community that existed in Hope Peak. Even though it was a small town (or maybe because of it), we all felt connected.

By early afternoon, I found a quiet moment and made myself a cup of tea. Standing behind the counter, I gazed out the window as the snowfall picked up, tiny crystals fluttering down and swirling in the wind. My mind drifted to the last conversation I’d had with Ryder. We had bumped into each other at the local grocery store a couple of weeks back, and he had teased me about stocking up on “emergency chocolate.”

Somehow, what should have been a mundane exchange had left me smiling for the rest of the day.

I reminded myself that Levi considered Ryder’s wild streak a liability, something that might endanger me emotionally—or even physically. Yet, a small part of me found Ryder’s risk-taking exhilarating, as if he lived life in Technicolor while I was still in black and white. I took a sip of tea, wishing I had the courage to ignore the what-ifs and explore those sparks.

Right then, the bell jingled again. I quickly swallowed my tea and straightened, expecting another regular. Instead, a tall, broad-shouldered man in a ski jacket stood at the threshold. For a split second, my heart lurched—dark hair, confident stance—but upon closer inspection, I realized it wasn’t Ryder. The man removed his knit cap, revealing close-cropped dark hair and a chiseled face I recognized: Knox Slater.

“Hi,”

I greeted, forcing myself to sound natural. “Welcome to The Velvet Book.”

His eyes flicked across the store before settling on me. “Hey, Tessa, right?”

His voice had a low, rough edge to it that matched his tough-guy persona from high school. “I was in here a few times, back when your parents were around.”

I tried not to let the mention of my parents pinch my heart. “Yes, that’s me. Good to see you again, Knox. How can I help you?”

He cleared his throat, looking somewhat uncomfortable. “Well, my younger sister, Linzie—she’s at the middle school—told me she’s not a big fan of the library selection there. Caroline Belle suggested I pick up some books. Linzie used to love fantasy, but lately she’s been…moody.”

I nodded, stepping out from behind the counter. “I can imagine it’s been an adjustment for her. Let’s see what might spark her interest.”

Knox followed as I led him to a shelf of middle-grade novels that ranged from whimsical fantasy to humorous adventures. He scanned the spines with a thoughtful crease in his brow. I selected a few that had been popular with kids in town—lighthearted but with plenty of action.

He tucked the books under his arm. “Thanks,”

he said gruffly. “I appreciate the help. I’m not exactly the best person to pick out…you know…teenage-friendly reads.”

“No problem,”

I assured him. “If Linzie doesn’t like these, feel free to exchange them. We have a decent selection of graphic novels, too.”

He nodded. When we reached the counter, he set the books down carefully. “And if you see Caroline, maybe let her know I actually listened to her advice?”

I noted how his features softened when he mentioned Caroline. “I can do that. I’m sure she’ll be glad to hear you’re trying. This whole situation can’t be easy.”

He gave a slight shrug. “I’m used to dealing with stuff on my own, but…Linzie’s different. She’s only 13, too. She needs stability right now, and I’m doing my best to provide it.”

The afternoon progressed in a slow, steady rhythm. A few more customers popped in—an elderly couple browsing travel guides, a college student searching for a poetry collection. Between visitors, I took inventory and jotted down notes for the next week’s promotional display. The sky outside turned from pale gray to a murky silver as dusk neared, the snowfall briefly pausing before the clouds threatened another burst.

Just as I debated closing a bit early, the bell rang one more time. I turned, half expecting to see Caroline returning to pick up a book she forgot or perhaps Levi making his rounds. Instead, it was Levi indeed—but his shoulders were tense, and he carried a hint of urgency in his eyes.

“Hey,”

I said softly, stepping around the counter to greet him. “Everything okay at Skyline?”

He gave a curt nod. “Fine, mostly. Just came from the bar, and guess who showed up to do a ‘video tour’? Angelique. She breezed in with her phone, said she wanted to show her followers the ‘rustic side of Hope Peak.’”

He practically spat the words. “She also mentioned wanting to ‘team up’ with Ryder for some thrilling footage on the mountain.”

My stomach twisted in discomfort. “Was Ryder there?”

He shook his head. “No, but she was talking like it’s a done deal. Something about filming him doing extreme snowboarding in real-time for her followers.”

His jaw flexed. “I didn’t tell her much, just that I needed to get back to the kitchen. But Tessa…”

He paused, running a hand over his face. “I’m worried. I don’t want you anywhere near that mess if she comes to you and asks you to help out.”

I stiffened slightly. “I’m not planning to volunteer for her videos, Levi. I run a bookstore. Unless Angelique wants to film a reading tutorial, I doubt I’m in danger.”

He exhaled slowly. “I know. I just worry. You’re too nice, and I don’t want you to let anyone pressure you into doing something you’re not comfortable with—especially if it means putting yourself in danger.”

Annoyance warred with understanding inside me. I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Levi, I appreciate your concern. Really, I do. But you have to trust that I’m capable of making my own decisions. I’m not some naive kid anymore.”

His gaze flicked over my face, and I saw the conflict in his eyes. He did trust me—mostly. He just feared that heartbreak, or worse, might find me again. With a reluctant nod, he said, “All right. But you’ll let me know if anything happens?”

I offered a small, reassuring smile. “Yes, big brother.”

He gave me a quick hug, then left.

In the silence that followed, I let out a long breath, realizing how tightly my shoulders had been knotted.

It often felt like Levi saw me as still grieving and fragile—a state I had existed in for a while, admittedly.

But I wanted to believe I had learned how to stand on my own two feet.

If only I could show Levi, and myself, that I was ready for more.

I looked out the window at the deepening twilight.

The streetlights glowed yellow against the wintry dusk, their illumination dancing on the thin layer of snow.

I lingered by the front display table, where the Valentine’s Day books and decorations seemed to glow under the soft overhead lights.

My thoughts drifted toward Ryder again, the recollection of his easy grin and confident stance tugging at me in ways I usually tried to dismiss.

I closed the shop in that contemplative mood, switching off the main lights and locking the door.

Outside, the wind gusted, carrying more snow in swirling eddies around my boots.

As I made my way home, I kept my collar turned up against the chill, but no matter how cold the wind felt on my cheeks, a warmth spread through my chest.

Something was shifting in Hope Peak, and in my own heart.

Caroline’s words echoed through my mind: You deserve a real-life love story too.

Maybe this Valentine’s Day, I would finally take a chance, rather than simply sell romance novels to everyone else.

And if that chance involved Ryder Hawke, well… I only hoped my heart could handle whatever came next.