Summer Solstice with the Mountain Man (Mountain Man Summer 2026 #3)

Chapter 1

Floyd

Popping open the hard cider, I settle into the patio chair.

Lake Summit spreads out before me at the edge of the property.

I take a sip as the late May breeze rustles through my hair, bringing the sweet scent of the mountain.

Swallowing, I let out a contented sigh just as my phone buzzes on the table.

I wearily look over at it, but my attitude changes when I see that it's my younger sister.

"Hey, Flo," I say when I answer the call.

"Happy anniversary!" she shouts into the phone and then blows what I can only assume is a child's party horn.

"Damn, sis, are you trying to make your old ass brother go deaf?" I say, laughing.

"You're not old ass, you're just an ass," she teases.

I choke with laughter on my cider. When I recover, I say, "And exactly what anniversary am I celebrating?"

"Your retirement from teaching anniversary! You had your retirement party exactly one year ago today," Florence says.

"Oh, damn. You're right," I say, leaning back in my chair and staring out at the lowering sun painting the lake with shades of pink and orange.

"So I take it you still love your mountain?"

"100%, I do. How is everything down in Corvid Valley?"

"It's been fine, but I have to admit, I have felt pretty envious that you bought your dream mountain home and are actually living up there now," she says wistfully.

"Oh, really? What's this about?"

"I don't know. I thought I'd wait until retirement too, but it's not like I have to. You know?"

"Florence McAlpin, what are you planning?" I ask playfully.

"I've just been looking at some Branwen Beach rentals lately, especially late at night with a glass of wine," she says with a chuckle.

"Well, I can support that. You would basically still be the same distance away from me."

"True," she says. "Well, let me know if you ever want to come with me to look at places."

"That would be fun."

"What an amazing older brother I have," Flo says.

After we hang up, I continue lazily chilling on the back deck, enjoying the stillness of my home.

When I finally drain the last sip of cider, I stand and stretch, staring out at the glassy lake.

A Steller's jay is telling someone off not too far away, and the mountain breeze whispers through the trees.

Right then, my phone rings, and I see it is one of my neighbors with whom I've become friendly in the past year.

"Hey, Murphy. What's up?" I say, answering.

"Hey, neighbor. I was wondering if you are at your place right now."

"I am, mate, just hanging out."

"I have a family spending the week at my short-term rental up there, and they're having an issue getting into the back shed that holds the lake toys and whatnot. I'm stuck here at Sea-Maid Kingdom until at least dark," he says.

"Want me to head over there and help them out?"

"If it's not too much trouble," Murphy says.

"No, man. I was planning on taking a swim, anyway."

"I owe you a beer!"

Hanging up, I walk down the steps to my grassy backyard and head toward the lake where sand greets my feet.

When I reach the edge, after kicking off my sandals, I walk into the water, feeling its delicious coolness greet my legs.

Once I am halfway in, I dive underneath, feeling the water whip through my long hair.

My body shifts into my merman form, and I kick my tail as I swim toward Murphy's cabin.

The water feels welcoming, pushing against me as I make my way through the lake.

While I enjoyed swimming in Corvid Valley Lake, living up on the mountain with a cabin directly on Lake Summit has practically changed my life.

I feel younger, stronger, and more in tune with the world around me because of these now daily swims.

Reaching the shore behind Murphy's cabin, I see two young children playing.

I'm grateful that my shifter heritage is not as ancient as Murphy's, since my ancestors evolved to shift without requiring us to strip down to our birthday suits.

When I reach shallow water, I shift back into my human form and stroll out of the water, my khaki shorts and t-shirt plastered against me.

The two boys gawk at me, and one of them shouts, "Mom! Dad! That merman helper guy is here!"

I take a couple of minutes to get the shed door open while the father profusely thanks me.

"Sorry you had to come out. I didn't want to get too rough with it," he says sheepishly.

"No worries at all. I needed to get in my evening swim, anyway."

After he thanks me again, I say goodnight to him and his wife as their two boys excitedly explore the shed's contents.

Walking down to the lakeshore, I turn one last time and watch the family, who are obviously having a fun vacation together. A pang of envy squirms in my gut as I observe them.

Smiling to myself, I turn back to the lake, walk in halfway, then dive under and shift into my merman form.

As I swim home, I can't help but think that even though I achieved my dream of living on this mountain lake, I still haven't accomplished what matters most: falling in love and becoming a father.