My Mountain Man Valentine (Be My Fake Valentine Story)

Epilogue

TESSA

Two Weeks Later

After the chaos at Skyline, Angelique vanished from town for a solid week—no ominous texts, no confrontations. Word spread that she was staying at the High Country Lodge, but she stopped posting lavish influencer videos in public spaces. The sheriff’s office confirmed she’d been questioned. I could have pressed charges for harassment, but for the sake of my own peace, I decided against it—provided she left me in peace.

Eventually, she released a tearful social-media “apology,” claiming stress and heartbreak had driven her to lash out. The post gained her some sympathy, but most of Hope Peak rolled their eyes at the melodrama. Soon after, she packed up and left, trailing her entourage of camera equipment behind. The rumor mill said she’d be filming in California next, but who knew if that would pan out. At least she wasn’t here.

Levi and Ryder spoke more freely now, easing back into a friendship that had frayed after our parents’ death. Levi apologized for trying to control my life. Though he still had reservations about risk-taking stunts, he saw Ryder was more than a daredevil. In return, Ryder softened some of his wilder edges, making an effort to plan quieter outings—snowshoe treks, not death-defying climbs—inviting Levi along whenever possible. I joined them once, smiling at how naturally they fell into old camaraderie.

As for me and Ryder, we didn’t bother pretending anymore. He spent nights at my place almost as often as I stayed at his cabin. We made future plans—small things at first, like expansions to The Velvet Book, improvements to his tour office. But deeper conversations cropped up: the possibility of traveling together in the off-season, maybe hosting summer reading sessions for kids near the mountain trails. Big dreams that felt all too real in the best way.

On an early Sunday morning, I found myself curled beside him on my sofa, a cozy blanket draped over our legs. The bookstore was closed for the day, and the mid-February sun streamed through frosted windows. We nursed mugs of coffee, quietly discussing the next steps for our lives—an idea that once would have terrified me but now made my pulse flutter with excitement.

“You’re sure you want to keep up this double life?” I teased, taking a sip. “Leading wilderness tours and stocking romance novels in your spare time?”

He laughed, leaning in to kiss my temple. “Positive. And I’ll even handle the next holiday window display if you want a real show. Think we can top Valentine’s Day with St. Patrick’s decorations?”

My lips curved. “I’d love to see you try. Maybe you can climb a ladder for once without terrifying me.”

His grin softened. “I’ll keep my adrenaline jumps for the mountains. No more scaring you. Promise.”

Outside, the wind rattled a thin layer of snow from the eaves. I rested my head on his shoulder, memories of Angelique’s meltdown drifting through my mind. I felt a twinge of pity—her jealousy had twisted into a cruel game. But she was gone, or at least no longer looming over us. I’d chosen not to press charges after her halfhearted apology. She’d left me in peace, so I let it be.

Levi might always watch me with protective caution, but he’d given Ryder and me his blessing in his own understated way. Caroline, too, beamed whenever she saw us together, waggling her brows and cracking jokes about fate. Whatever negativity Angelique had tried to unleash had only pushed us closer, forging a bond more genuine than any staged relationship ever could.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Ryder murmured, brushing his thumb across my knuckles.

I exhaled a soft breath. “Just… grateful,” I said. “That we found each other, even if we started off in the strangest way. And that we’re free from fear now.”

His gaze locked with mine, filled with a tender warmth that made my heart clench. “I’m grateful, too,” he replied softly. Then he leaned in, capturing my mouth in a slow, sweet kiss. It held the promise of new beginnings—no more secrets, no more threats.

When we parted, I smiled, nestling closer. Outside, Hope Peak’s mountains stood guard under the winter sun, white peaks glistening. Inside this small living room, wrapped in Ryder’s arms, I felt I’d finally found my place: no more looking over my shoulder or worrying how we’d begun. We were here, together, making plans for a future neither of us had dared to imagine. And that, I realized, was the best Valentine’s gift I could ever hope to receive.

Can a bad boy with a past win the heart of the girl next door?

CAROLINE:

I never thought my quiet life as a middle school teacher in Hope Peak, Montana, would be shaken up by the return of Knox Slater—the town’s notorious bad boy and my high school crush. Tasked with caring for his troubled younger sister, Knox is rough around the edges but surprisingly determined to do the right thing. The more time we spend together—planning Valentine’s Day events, helping his sister, and sharing stolen glances—the harder it is to remember why my parents warned me to stay away from him. Especially when his kisses make me feel anything but shy…

KNOX:

Coming back to Hope Peak wasn’t part of the plan, but taking care of Linzie meant I had no choice. What I didn’t expect was to find Caroline Belle—the straight-A high school student with a cookie-cutter family who was way out of my league—slipping into my life. Her gentle kindness and those sweet curves make her impossible to ignore. I thought I wasn’t good enough for her, but every time she looks at me with those big, trusting eyes, I’m ready to risk it all. The question is, can I convince her to take a chance on a bad boy like me?