Burly and Possessive (The Men of Silver Pine Ridge #1)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

LEESA

W here are you?” my best friend Clara asks, her voice filled with alarm. “Derek is in a state, but won’t say what happened.”

I take a deep breath. I shouldn’t be on the phone while driving, but Clara has been calling me non-stop for the last hour.

“He cheated on me.”

“WHAT?” Clara shrieks and I pull the phone away from my head.

I pull over to the side of the road, and slump back in my seat. “I can’t talk about it right now. There was no mistaking what I saw.”

“That fucking bastard. I’ve never liked—”

“I know, I know,” I say, already exhausted. I don’t need to be reminded that she never liked Derek—especially right now. “Look. My phone is about to die.”

“Where are you? I’ll come to you and we can create a revenge plan.”

“I don’t—”

Great. My phone dies. Clara is about the only person I could handle seeing right now, though truth be told, I’d be perfectly happy to not see anyone I know for a while.

I reach for my purse…only to find it’s not on the seat beside me. “What the hell,” I mutter, undoing my seatbelt and turning to look in the backseat.

Dammit. No purse, means no phone charger, means no wallet or money. I am so screwed. Calm down, Leesa, I tell myself. All I need to do is get to a store, explain the situation, and surely someone will help me charge my phone. Then I can call Clara back and have her bring my purse and come get me.

I take a moment to collect myself. It’s not going to do me any good if I start crying again. I’ve been afraid to look in the mirror, because I’m scared of what I’ll see.

I turn the key…and nothing happens. I’m in the middle of nowhere and close to a mountain. Without my GPS, I have no clue where I actually am. When I left the church, I didn’t care where I was going or planned a destination—I just drove. The only important thing was to put space between me and my cheating ex.

It’s not like I know much about how to fix a car, but my body is thrumming with nervous energy, so I get out and pop the hood. The problem could be staring me in the face, but I have to admit I’d probably not know what to do even if I could identify the problem.

I am well and truly stranded, and it’s going to be dusk before too long. While I’m debating how far I could walk in these heels, a truck passes me, then slows down and pulls to the side of the road.

“Hey there.”

The voice startles me, a low rumble that cuts through the stillness of the mountain air. I turn to take a good look at the source of the voice, and I forget to breathe. A sinfully handsome rugged man is walking toward me. My heart slams against my ribs as I clutch the layers of my wedding dress tighter around me.

My pulse races, a mix of fear and confusion surging through my veins. The man stops a few feet away from me, his broad figure framed by the headlights of a truck. He has a muscular body that unexpectedly sparks a fizzy reaction in my body, and a beard that my fingers itch to reach out and stroke.

What the hell, Leesa?

I’m clearly in shock, because how in the world could I feel any attraction to another man, when just a few hours ago I was about to walk down the aisle and marry another man? I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out.

The man’s voice comes again, deep and gravelly but not unkind. “You alright?”

Am I alright? No, I’m not. I’m standing on the side of a mountain road in a wedding dress, mascara running down my cheeks, and my car just died—because of course it did. I have no purse, no idea, no money. Why not accept help from a hot stranger? The day couldn’t get worse.

“I…” My voice cracks, and I try again. “My car broke down.”

He steps closer, his eyes never leaving my face. “I guessed as much. Not many people pull over here.”

The man’s gaze shifts from my car to me, and I feel his eyes moving over me, taking in the wedding dress, the tangled mess of my hair, the ruined makeup smeared under my lashes. I’m not sure I even want to know what I look like in his eyes.

“Can I take you somewhere? Or are you waiting for someone to pick you up? Did you call a tow?” His tone is casual, but his eyes reflect a seriousness that makes me pause.

“No. No one’s coming. My phone died.”

“My name is Ethan Jackson. People call me Jax.” Jax steps forward, extending his hand to me.

I hesitate a moment, then slip my hand into his. A zing of heat lights up my body as his strong hand wraps around mine, and he shakes it. What the hell was that? How can my body respond to this man, when I was set to marry another man earlier today?

“Leesa Doherty,” I say, my knees suddenly a little wobbly as I stand closer to this man and look into his eyes. His gaze contains a fire in them that takes my breath away. Up close, I can see lines on his face that indicate he’s a little older than I am, but he’s easily the sexiest man I’ve ever met. If anything, it makes him even sexier.

“It’s not going anywhere tonight.” He releases my hand and gestures toward my car. “I live a few miles up the road. I can give you a ride to wherever you’re going.”

I hesitate, glancing between my useless car and the stranger in front of me. My gut tells me I should be more careful, more skeptical. I don’t know this man—he could be anyone. But the truth is, I’m tired. So tired of everything. I don’t have anywhere to go or any way to pay for a hotel, and the thought of standing out here alone in the dark is terrifying.

I don’t have much choice.

“I…don’t know where I’m going,” I admit, wrapping my arms around me and shivering. I explain about my lack of purse and wallet.

I hear the echoes of every warning I’ve ever had about talking to strange men or getting in their car, but right now, I don’t care. Another voice in my head is saying I can trust Jax. Nothing in his eyes or demeanor makes me think he’s a psycho, but I’m clearly not the best judge of men. Look at who I thought I was going to marry.

Jax looks at me for a long moment, as if hesitating. “Come with me,” he eventually says, turning and walking back to his truck.

With a deep breath, I grab my phone and follow him.

He opens the passenger door and holds it for me. “Careful getting in,” he mutters. “You don’t want to damage your dress.”

You have no idea how much I want to burn this damn thing , I think. Instead, I awkwardly lift the layers of fabric and climb into the seat. The truck smells of pine and something smoky, and it’s unexpectedly comforting.

“So,” he says after a few minutes, his voice cutting through the low hum of the engine. “You wanna tell me what happened?”

Heat rises in my cheeks, my heart thudding painfully against my chest. Of course, he’d ask. Who wouldn’t? I mean, it’s painfully obvious what happened because what woman stands on the side of a remote road wearing a wedding dress and with tears running down her face?

“I…walked out of my wedding,” I admit, my voice small as shame fills me. But why should I be ashamed? I didn’t do anything wrong. He did. Still, I can’t help but feel like I did something wrong. Why would he have cheated unless I wasn’t good enough?

He glances at me, his expression unreadable in the dim light. “Care to elaborate?”

I don’t want to, but I force myself to answer. “Not really.” My throat tightens as I speak, the memory of it all filling me with emotions I don’t know how to deal with.

I glance at Jax. He’s handsome in a rugged way—strong jaw, blond hair and beard, broad shoulders. But there’s something else about him, too. Something deeper. He exudes a quiet power that unexpectedly makes me relax a little.

Yet…my body responds to him in ways it shouldn’t. Every time he looks at me, my skin sizzles under his gaze. It’s not like he’s leering at me, but there is definitely something intense going on behind his eyes when he looks at me, but he keeps a distance like a gentleman. Still, my mind races, wondering how he would touch me and how he likes to be touched.

“So, do you have anyone to call?” he asks after a while.

“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “Not really. I have people, but I need some space, if that makes sense.” After I’ve said the words, I wonder if I made a mistake. Bride goes missing. Found dead in the wilderness.

Sure, I could call Clara back, or my mom, but what would be the point? My mom will tell me I’m overreacting and should’ve married Derek anyway. My best friend Clara will switch between anger and sympathy, but that’s the last thing I want right now. And as for my ex? I don’t even want to think about what he’ll say if I call him. No, I’m done with all of that. I need space—even from my best friend.

Jax doesn’t push. He nods, his gaze focused on the road ahead.

After a while, we turn down a narrow dirt road, the headlights bouncing over the uneven ground. My nerves twinge as the truck jolts over a bump, but I watch as the trees thin out and an enormous cabin comes into view.

“This is me,” Jax says, pulling up and killing the engine. “Welcome to The Lodge.”

The building is larger than I expected and it looks like a miniature ski lodged, nestled against the mountainside. There’s a porch that wraps around the front and large windows. It’s not what I expected at all.

I blink, staring at the place in front of me. I’ve been so caught up in the whirlwind of today that I didn’t even think about where we were going. Now we’re here, reality hits me all at once. I’m about to stay in some stranger’s home in the literal middle of nowhere.

But when I look at him, I realize I’m not scared. Maybe I should be, but I’m not. I just feel exhausted, and something tells me that I can trust Jax to look out for me, not try to hurt or take advantage of me.

He opens the door and climbs out of the truck, grabbing something from the back before gesturing for me to follow. I step down carefully, still struggling with the ridiculous dress, and he leads the way up the porch steps.

“You can stay here tonight,” he says, unlocking the door and pushing it open. “We’ll figure out the rest tomorrow.”

I step inside. The Lodge is roomy, but it feels homey—like it’s been lived in. A plaid blanket is thrown over the back of the couch, and shelves lined with books and knick-knacks fill the walls.

“Make yourself at home,” Jax says, moving toward the kitchen. “You want a drink?”

“Um…” I hesitate, the thought of alcohol swirling in my mind, but the idea of something to take the edge off is appealing. “Sure. Whiskey’s good.”

He nods, pouring two glasses and handing one to me before settling into a chair across from me. We sip in silence for a moment and for the first time since I left the church, a calmness settles over me. It doesn’t erase my sadness and anger, but for now I feel like I can breathe again.

“So,” he says, his voice low and gruff, “what’s next for you?”

I look into the amber liquid swirling in my glass, not sure I have an answer. “I don’t know,” I admit, my voice soft. “I didn’t think that far ahead.”

He leans back in his chair, studying me. “You can stay here for as long as you need.”

I meet his gaze, surprised by the offer. Have I misjudged this man? “I don’t want to impose.”

“You’re not.”

The silence stretches between us again, but this time, it’s not awkward. It feels like I can take him at his word.

After a moment, he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Look, I know it’s not much, but this is a safe place for you to land. I’m not a creep, I promise.”

I chuckle lightly, shaking my head. “I’m sorry, but you’re a strange man I just met. There’s no way I can know that.”

He shrugs, a lopsided smile creeping onto his lips. “Fair point. But trust me, you won’t find a better place to rest your head tonight. You can call my sisters if it will make you feel better.”

I watch him, the way his expression shifts from amusement to something more serious. It’s like he’s decided he’s my protector. Not what I was looking for when I fled the church, but I find I don’t mind.

“Okay,” I finally say, the word slipping from my lips before I can think better of it. Having sisters doesn’t make a man safe, but he seems like a good man. He hasn’t checked my body out once and hasn’t made me feel uncomfortable. Instead, he seems patient and genuinely interested in helping me. “You’re not giving off any weird vibes. I’ll stay.”

He nods, and something flutters in my stomach. Is this a bad idea? Should I be more cautious? Jax doesn’t give off a dangerous vibe, but I’m not sure I’d even care right now if he did.

“Let’s eat something,” he says, rising to his feet. “You must be starving.”

“Maybe that’s a good idea.” I haven’t thought about food since breakfast this morning, but the mere idea of it, now, makes me realize I’m starving.

“Right. I’ll get something going,” he says, standing. “But first, let’s get you out of that dress.”