My Mountain Man Valentine (Be My Fake Valentine Story)

Chapter Two

RYDER

I stepped off the snow-packed trail behind my wilderness office, breathing in the crisp morning air that drifted down from the mountain peaks.

Even in early February, Hope Peak, Montana, could pack a biting chill, and today was no exception.

My breath plumed in front of me as I unlocked the small log-sided building that served as my main base of operations.

I guided tours all over this part of Montana—rafting in the summer, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter.

It was work that let me roam freely among the pine forests and lofty ridges, exactly the way I liked.

The inside of my office smelled of pine and old coffee grounds. I flicked on the overhead light, illuminating the map-lined walls. There were topographical charts of the surrounding trails, a few tacked-up photos of past groups I’d guided, and a desk that always looked on the verge of disorder despite my best attempts. Outside the single window, I caught sight of swirling snow and the tops of evergreens bending in a gentle wind.

I still felt keyed up from the morning’s tour—just a few brave souls wanting an early trek, all novices who clung to me like I was their lifeline on the snowy trails. Guiding them gave me the familiar buzz of excitement. They had finished half an hour ago, departing with flushed cheeks and broad smiles, vowing to return in the summer.

I set my pack on the desk and exhaled, letting the day’s responsibilities settle in. Usually, I thrived on that energized sense of motion. But a niggling worry clung to the corners of my mind, and it had a name…Angelique Bishop.

I had heard the rumors swirling around Hope Peak these past two days—my ex was back and in the midst of filming some over-the-top content for her social media. Last night, a friend texted me to say she’d seen Angelique wandering around Skyline Bar she was an intelligent, caring woman who’d weathered unimaginable loss and got her family business back on its feet.

I sighed and returned to my desk, flipping aimlessly through the day’s schedule. The idea of Angelique lingering in Hope Peak, determined to dredge up the past, set my teeth on edge. If she threatened my business or stirred up rumors about me, I could handle it. But I worried what she might do if she decided to target Levi or even Tessa in some twisted attempt to get my attention. That was the last thing I wanted.

I found my gaze drifting to a photograph pinned above my desk: Levi, Tessa, and me from years ago, arms slung around one another after a successful day of skiing. Tessa had a shy grin, her cheeks flushed from the cold, while Levi’s boyish smirk reminded me of the adventurous risk-taker he used to be. A flicker of nostalgia warred with the guilt I felt for letting our friendships drift apart.

Even so, they were still the people I cared about most. An idea began to form in the back of my mind, one that made me chew on my lower lip in hesitation. What if Tessa could help me fend off Angelique’s meddling? If I showed the world—Angelique especially—that I’d moved on and was in a solid relationship, maybe she’d back off and leave me alone.

Except, Tessa and I weren’t in a relationship. And if I asked her to pretend we were, I might be crossing a line—especially since it would bring Levi’s inevitable disapproval, given how over-protective he’d become of his sister. But the alternative was letting Angelique paint me as free game, likely dragging me into her influencer chaos.

I snatched my keys from the desk and shrugged on my coat. I needed air. With Angelique’s perfume still lingering in my office, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Outside, a sharp breeze cut across my face, clearing some of the fog from my thoughts. The sun was hidden behind pale clouds, but it cast enough light to turn the snow a bright white. I crunched across the short path that connected my office to the main road, heading toward my truck.

A few passersby in puffy coats and knitted hats waved as they hurried along the sidewalk. That was the charm of Hope Peak—you couldn’t walk more than a block without seeing someone you knew. I paused for a moment, gazing down the street that led toward the downtown area, where Tessa’s bookstore nestled in the row of old-fashioned storefronts. The Velvet Book. She’d inherited it after her parents’ plane crash—a tragedy that had reshaped all our lives in different ways.

“Is this a terrible idea?”

I asked myself under my breath. Probably. But the more I considered the possibility, the more it seemed like my best shot at shutting Angelique down. I couldn’t exactly trust anyone else with a fake dating arrangement—some random woman from town would either say no or end up complicating everything. Tessa, though…She was kind, reasonable, and I already trusted her enough to know she wouldn’t manipulate me the way Angelique had.

My only real fear was how Levi would react. He’d hate it, no question. He already thought I lived too close to the edge, risking life and limb on half-frozen slopes or sheer cliffs. But if I was honest, I wasn’t sure it was just my need to keep Angelique at bay that drew me toward Tessa. Something about her gentle presence, her quiet strength, made me want to be around her. Even if it was only an act.

I climbed into my truck, turned the ignition, and let the engine warm up. My phone buzzed with a text message from one of the local outfitters. They wanted to partner on a multi-day tour next month, which should have been good news. But instead of feeling relief, I just felt restless. Angelique’s sudden reappearance had me rattled. I couldn’t focus on anything else until I had a plan.

“Okay, talk to Tessa. Propose a fake relationship. Sounds easy enough,”

I muttered to myself, though my pulse gave a nervous thump at the thought of it. Tessa would probably think I was crazy, or at least desperate. But maybe she’d understand I was trying to keep drama out of both our lives. The memory of Angelique’s meltdown behind Skyline Bar & Grill burned fresh in my mind—an entire crowd gathering, phone cameras rolling, Tessa among them, wide-eyed. I never wanted to see that look on Tessa’s face again.

Easing the truck into gear, I drove through the winding streets of Hope Peak, passing cozy cabins and older houses with steep roofs laden with snow.

The mountainous skyline dominated the horizon, hazy gray clouds hugging the peaks.

I recalled the days when Levi and I used to run up those trails, itching for that adrenaline rush.

Now, Levi had grown more cautious, avoiding joining me for hiking or climbing expeditions even when I knew it was his day off from the bar.

Meanwhile, I’d kept climbing mountains, teaching others how to hike them, but still admittedly enjoying the rush I felt every time I reached the top of another peak.

The bookstore was only a few blocks away, but I decided to take a longer route, circling around the outskirts of town to gather my thoughts.

What if Tessa said no? That was a real possibility.

She wasn’t exactly the daring type, and this plan might feel too risky or just plain silly.

I imagined trying to explain it—Hey Tessa, I have a self-absorbed ex who might ruin my life again, so can you please be my pretend girlfriend for a couple of weeks? The notion sounded ridiculous.

But the stakes were high, and I couldn’t ignore the flicker of excitement that came with the idea of spending more time in Tessa’s company.

Eventually, I found myself parked outside The Velvet Book. The street was quiet for a Saturday afternoon, though a couple of bundled-up locals strolled by with shopping bags. The storefront glowed from within, strings of fairy lights illuminating the rows of books beyond the glass. My heart gave a small, unsteady jolt. I wasn’t afraid of heights, of avalanches, or even of my wilder stunts—but the thought of this petite, pretty brunette turning me down gave me a strange twinge of dread.

Steeling my nerves, I stepped out of the truck and walked toward the door, leaving footprints in the fresh powder. The brass bell jingled as I entered, and warm air, tinged with the smell of paper and brewing coffee, enveloped me. My gaze landed on Tessa almost immediately—she stood behind the counter, sorting through what looked like a stack of new arrivals. She looked up, and her brown eyes widened in a flicker of surprise.

“Ryder?”

she asked, setting down the book in her hand. I noticed the faint pink in her cheeks, though whether it was from the cold air that had swept in or something else, I wasn’t sure.

I forced a small grin. “Hey, Tessa. You busy?”

She shook her head, fidgeting with the pile of books. “No, not really. What’s up?”

I took a moment to inhale the comforting scents of The Velvet Book. This place had always felt a world apart from my own, like the hush of a library where stories could take you anywhere. Right now, it felt like a refuge from the swirl of complications in my mind.

“I was hoping we could talk,”

I said, trying to keep my tone casual. “Maybe somewhere less…public?”

I nodded toward the few browsers wandering among the shelves.

Tessa’s brows inched up with concern, but she nodded. “Sure. Let me just finish up here, and we can go to the reading nook.”

She turned her head. “Or, if you’re freezing, I can make coffee. You look like you’ve been out in the snow all day.”

I was freezing, but I suspected the jolt of caffeine wouldn’t calm my nerves. “Coffee sounds good,”

I lied, offering what I hoped was a reassuring smile.

She beckoned me around the counter, toward a small area where a modest coffee station sat next to a table covered in heart-shaped bookmarks and Valentine’s-themed décor. The pink confetti and stack of romance novels reminded me how close the holiday was. My gut clenched again, reminding me that I needed to deal with my ex before the upcoming holiday afforded her another chance to create an uncomfortable scene.

Tessa poured steaming coffee into a paper cup and handed it to me. “Is something wrong?”

she asked softly, her eyes brimming with quiet concern.

I swallowed. Time to do this. “I…well, there’s something I want to ask you. It’s…a favor, actually.”

Her expression tightened with caution. “A favor?”

I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. “Yeah. You see, Angelique’s back, and she’s already approached me about filming some extreme sports stuff. I shut her down, but that doesn’t mean she’ll stop.”

I paused, letting out a shaky breath. “I thought…maybe if we pretended to be together, she’d leave me alone.”

Tessa’s soft cupid’s bow lips parted slightly, and she stared at me for a long moment. The hum of the bookstore’s heater and the soft rustling of customers flipping through pages provided the only background noise. Finally, she managed a careful whisper. “Together? You mean, you want me to be your pretend girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

My voice came out more desperate than I intended. “Just for a little while. Until she’s gone.”

She blinked, setting her coffee down on the table with trembling fingers. “Ryder, that’s…that’s a big ask.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the weight of her hesitation. “I know. But you’re the only person I trust to help me shut her down. If you say no, I’ll understand. I just…”

My gaze flicked to the Valentine’s decorations, and I laughed ruefully. “I guess it’s weird timing.”

An awkward silence stretched between us. Outside, the wind rattled the windows, and inside, the overhead lights gleamed on the spines of hundreds of books. Tessa studied me, as if searching for some deeper motive behind my request. Maybe she suspected there was more to it than Angelique and my need for a quick fix. And she’d be right, I thought, my heart pounding.

Finally, she let out a slow exhale. “I…need a little time to think about it,”

she said. “This kind of thing could blow up in our faces if we’re not careful.”

Relief and apprehension collided in my chest. “Of course,”

I said, nodding.

She gave me a quick, tentative smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. In that moment, I realized how deeply I hoped she’d agree, not only to sidestep Angelique’s schemes but also for the chance—selfishly—for me to spend time with her in a new way. And that realization both excited and terrified me.

“Thanks for hearing me out,”

I said softly, lifting my cup of coffee in a small salute before taking a sip. The bold flavor warmed my insides, though my mind was still in tumult.

She nodded, busying herself with tidying the coffee station. “I’ll let you know soon,”

she promised, “once I wrap my head around it.”

I offered one more smile, then turned to go, weaving my way between shelves stuffed with books. At the door, I paused. Over my shoulder, I saw Tessa watching me, her expression caught between curiosity and worry. Swallowing hard, I pushed open the door, letting the cold rush in, and stepped out onto the snowy sidewalk.

The winter air cut across my face, but I barely felt it. My heart pounded with uncertainty, waiting for Tessa’s decision. In the meantime, I could only hope my attention-hungry ex-girlfriend wouldn’t stir up too much chaos. Because if Tessa said yes to my crazy plan, we’d be in this together—and if she said no, I’d be left wrestling with the fallout alone.