Protective Mountain Man (Seduction Summit Lodge #5)

Chapter 1

1

PORSHA

“ Y ou have to be fucking kidding me.” The woman looked at her husband as she continued to tap those long, pink-painted fingernails on my counter. “We’re stranded in this backwater town, and they don’t even have anywhere for us to sleep. This is entirely your fault.”

I’d feel sorry for the man, but he looked just as outraged as the woman next to him. In fact, I knew what his next words would be before he even opened his mouth.

“I’m sure you could find a room for us,” he said, turning back to stare me down. “What do they pay you?”

I stared at him for what was probably seven or eight heartbeats before finally finding the words to respond. “I’m sorry, sir. As I said, we’ve been sold out for over a year.”

“What do you plan to do with all these people?” the woman asked.

She gestured to indicate the lobby surrounding us. Stranded skiers were packed onto the couches and clumped over near the door, most still wearing their ski suits.

“My boss is trying to get here to help,” I said. “So if you’ll just take a seat, we can let you know as soon as he arrives.”

There was no “we.” It was my first day, and I was alone behind this desk. The only other employees were in the bar and grill. My new boss had called and assured me he would be here soon, but the roads were covered in ice.

My dad had dropped me off in his winter-ready SUV, knowing how important it was that I get to work on my first day. Luckily, my boss was up the mountain a little, so if his vehicle could handle the roads, I had full faith he’d be here…eventually.

“This is ridiculous,” the woman said, speaking to her husband. “A place like this needs a plan for these situations.”

I kept my pasted-on smile as the two of them wandered over toward the fireplace. Then I took a deep breath—my first breath in a good ten minutes.

I stared out the front door at the parking lot, now covered in white. More snow was falling right in front of me. My eyes narrowed and my head tilted a little as the sea of white flakes parted around a dark form. That dark form was moving toward the door.

A person. Was it Alex? It could be. I’d interviewed here just yesterday and had been given the job on the spot. My new boss was like the mountain men who lived in cabins way up here, not really mixing with locals unless they had to.

The automatic door slid open, letting in a blast of Arctic air. I winced, my gaze automatically shifting to my left. The unhappy couple definitely wasn’t going to like the lobby becoming chillier. But that couple appeared to be in an argument. The woman was pointing at me as she spoke animatedly to her exhausted-looking companion.

I had a smile on my face as I turned back toward the door, prepared to tell my new boss everything that had happened. I’d be professional and polite, though. I still had to work to prove that I deserved this job. My first job ever.

But my smile fell slightly when I got a look at the man walking toward me. He definitely wasn’t the dude who’d interviewed me yesterday. Yes, this man was similarly built, with broad shoulders and a bulky form that looked like the guys I saw lifting weights at the gym where I worked out, but this guy’s expression was darker, scarier.

My heart sped up a little as he drew closer. He didn’t look so dangerous. Maybe it was also because he shoved his hood off his head, revealing a close-cropped dark haircut and a full beard. He definitely looked like those guys who lived by themselves in cabins farther up the mountain.

“May I help you?” I asked.

I gave myself a pat on the back for my professionalism. I had no idea who this guy was. He could be related to the owner.

“You must be new.”

My eyebrows arched at that one, but I held the professional semi-smile I’d kept on my face since getting a look at him close up.

“It’s my first night,” I said, suddenly feeling a little defensive. “How did you know?”

“I haven’t seen you here before. Name’s Brock. Of Seduction Summit Towing. I also own Brock Solid Repairs downtown. I’m up and down this mountain often, grabbing vehicles that need a tow. I stop by for a cup of coffee whenever I need it.”

This guy was gorgeous. I had to stay focused on the conversation or I’d get lost in those intense grey eyes and the strong set of his jaw. I just wanted to run my hand over his beard while I kissed those perfect lips.

So much for keeping my mind out of the gutter. I refocused on the conversation and blurted, “The restaurant’s that way. They have iced and hot coffee and whatever syrups you need. I guess you know all that, though.”

He shook his head. “I usually just grab a cup here at the front desk.”

“A cup of coffee?” I asked.

I looked around. Nobody had mentioned I needed to serve as a barista too. I had noticed a coffeepot in Alex’s office, but nothing at the front desk.

He pointed toward Alex’s office. “I can just grab it.”

My eyes were still wide as I stared at him. “I haven’t made any. I don’t drink coffee. Not that kind, anyway.”

His face tended to stay in the same position. Only his lips moved. Well, that and he occasionally blinked and clenched his jaw, but that was hard to tell under the beard.

But now, I saw a hint of an expression. I’d call it a micro-expression. His eyes narrowed just slightly and his jaw twitched. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he actually wanted to smile at what I just said.

“What kind of coffee do you drink?” he asked.

Oh, that was what he found amusing. “My favorite is peppermint mocha with oat milk, but for some reason, that’s only sold at Christmas. I think peppermint is good all year, but they could at least extend it through the winter. Am I right?”

Okay, I was babbling. Worse, I was talking to him like I might interact with one of my college friends. This was my first job not related at all to my major, but it was an important big step into adulting. Time to act like an adult.

“I’ll go make it,” Brock said. “Just hand me the key.”

Oh, right. I was giving him free access to my boss’s office. That wasn’t a very good idea. I’d totally make a fool of myself if I tried to make a cup of coffee in something that clearly wasn’t the one-cup coffeemaker my parents had. But I had to weigh that against pissing off my new boss by letting a guy into his office. A guy who claimed he had permission to stop by for coffee but who could have been anyone.

“You wait right here,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

As I pushed open the door to the office, it hit me that I’d abandoned my post with a lobby full of guests. I could get in trouble for that too.

One thing was clear. I sucked at this adulting thing.