Smoldering Mountain Man (Hot Mountain Nights #5)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Marcella

The day I decided to walk through the trails of Appleridge Mountain and pick wildflowers, I must’ve been losing my shit.

Not only was I not a hiker or outdoorsy type, I could barely read a map or follow a trail. I wasn’t a good planner either, so choosing to talk my walk after dinner when the sun was quickly descending in the sky might not have been the brightest idea I’ve had.

As the sky got darker, I became more lost.

I lifted my cell phone, hoping for just one bar of service, but nothing.

No connection found.

Shit!

Don’t panic. Don’t panic.

Damn it. If only Brielle wasn’t busy tonight, I would’ve dragged her out with me, or she would’ve done what she does best- convince me to ignore my crazy ideas. Tell me to pick wildflowers in my backyard or some shit.

I stopped mid step and looked around. Okay, Mar, get your shit together. Try to figure this out.

I turned around and retraced my steps for a few minutes, but all my surroundings looked the same. I tapped my phone again, walked around with it up in the air, and still nothing.

I was fucked.

A branch rustled behind me and something howled. An icicle ran down my spine and my head spun every which way as I tried but failed to locate the source of the sounds.

A hot flash of panic whipped through me. I dropped the flowers I’d picked and sprinted forward, not caring in which direction I ran. Not caring if I was on the trail or not. I wanted out.

Tears flew down my cheeks as the woods grew denser. Suddenly, my foot caught on something and down I went, crashing into the hard ground beneath me. I let out a loud yelp as my ankle bent at an odd angle and a sharp pain shot up my leg.

“Oh no!” I cried. I couldn’t move my foot. My legs and hands were scratched from the rough ground beneath me, and it felt like bugs were crawling all over me. My phone was no longer in my hand and when I looked around me, it was nowhere to be found.

I cried out both in agony and despair, afraid I wouldn’t make it out of these woods alive. No one was going to find me, I couldn’t move, and I had no phone. I was going to die here. Alone.

I screamed and screamed until my voice went hoarse. It was no use. No one would hear me out here.

There was hardly any daylight left, and I could barely see anything around me. Panic overtook me and my body shook as tears fell from my eyes.

I was stupid. So stupid.

I closed my eyes and breathed in deep, hoping to ease the panic. A plan. I needed a plan.

“Is anyone there?” A loud booming voice echoed through the trees and my eyes shot open.

I must be delusional. There’s no way I just heard a voice.

“Hello? Does someone need help?”

I shook with the thought of help arriving. Was I dreaming? Losing it because my ankle was throbbing and doubled in size?

“I’m a trail guide. I can help you.” The voice said as the light grew closer.

“I’m here! Please! Help me!” I called out, my voice raspy.

Within seconds, a tall, beefy man stepped out from the shadowy bushes, a bright light shining from his forehead.

I’d never seen a guy so damn tall, his head bumped the branches above him. His shoulders were broad and muscular and suddenly, all I wanted was for him to scoop me into his arms and carry me off into the night.

Rescue me like the princess I am!

Mar, you really are delusional.

“Whoa! Are you alright, miss?”

A thrill ran through me at him not calling me ma’am. “Uh, not really. Got lost, ran off, fell on my ass…and now I’m pretty sure my ankle is fucked.”

The sexy man laughed, the sound deep and low in his throat, almost a growl. If my ankle wasn’t throbbing so much, I’d be a melted puddle on the ground by now. As he stepped closer, his face came into view, and I nearly choked on my saliva.

The man was hot. And not just ordinary hot. He was the hottest guy I’d ever seen. Where the hell had he been hiding? I’d been in Appleridge for months now and never once saw him around.

He kneeled and that’s when his manly scent hit me and I nearly came on the spot, my panties drenched.

A slight smirk stretched across his handsome face, and I sucked in my bottom lip out of habit, my flirty, sexy side instantly showing herself.

“I’m Ryerson.” He held out his large paw of a hand and when I slipped my fingers around his, a buzzing energy ran up my arm.

It was a warm and comforting feeling. One I’d never felt from a simple touch before.

“I work as a trail guide on the mountain.”

“Marcella. Nice to meet you. And yes, I know what you’re thinking. I’m a stupid chick who got lost in the woods when I have no business even being out here. But I never expected?—”

“I would never think of you as some stupid chick. Shit like this happens all the time. The mountain can overtake the best of us sometimes.” Ryerson squeezed my hand before letting go. “What happened with your ankle?”

“I panicked and ran after hearing some rustling in the woods. Tripped on a damn tree root and down I fell. My ankle hurts like a bitch and I can’t move it.”

“Good thing I came along then. I doubt you have any cell service. I’d hate to think of you stranded here alone all night. Some of the critters around here aren’t the friendliest.”

“Don’t tell me. I’d rather not know.” I shuddered at the thought of being in these pitch-black woods alone.

“My cabin isn’t too far from here. I heard your screams. Good set of lungs you’ve got there.” Ryerson winked and my dumb heart fluttered. “Let’s see if you can stand.”

He helped me get to my feet, his hands beneath my arms as I slid mine around his neck. my mind spun with embarrassment and desire, two feelings I never thought could happen at the same time.

Damn it, Bri! I swore I wouldn’t fall for one of these men!

Chill out girl. Who the hell said anyone is falling for someone?

I pushed my swirling thoughts to the side and focused on the present. But as soon as I put some weight on my ankle, a bolt of hot pain thundered up my leg. “Ow! No, no. I definitely can’t stand!”

Ryerson held on to me tighter. “Okay, no worries. I’ll carry you.” Without a chance to protest, he lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing, my full figure not too much for his strength. He didn’t even flinch.

“Wait! I need to find my phone. It went flying when I fell.”

He placed me down gently and wrapped one arm around my waist as I balanced on one knee. Ryerson reached into his back pocket and retrieved a flashlight. It didn’t take long for him to spot my shiny purple glitter case.

“Yay! You found it. What would I do without you?”

He laughed as he slipped both my phone and his flashlight into his pocket and scooped me into his arms once more. “Up shit’s creek without a paddle?”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “Who even says that?”

“Me. I’m an old fart.”

“No way.”

“Sure am, just hit forty last month.”

My mouth fell open. “Wow. I would’ve said late twenties.”

He laughed again, more loudly this time. “It’s dark out. You haven’t seen all my wrinkles.”

“I doubt there’s one.” I said. As he began to walk, I peered up at his face, now only inches from mine and suddenly I forgot about the stabbing pain in my ankle. “Do you always make such daring rescues like this?”

His eyes dropped down and landed on mine. I swallowed hard, the ache between my legs growing. “No one ever as beautiful as you.”