Temptation in the Mountains

Chapter 1

Addy

"Addy, we're here!"

Paige's cheery voice cuts through my gloom as she unbuckles her seatbelt and exits the car.

I blink, looking at our surroundings.

Pine trees?

I vaguely registered that we were driving upward on our trek here, but I completely checked out after listening to Connor's voicemail.

Hey, Addy. My dad really needs your help... and I... I miss you. Can we get dinner this week?

Irritated that I'm still thinking about it, I shake my head and look through the windshield, where Paige points to a colorful wood sign boasting Duhring Park Hiking Trails.

Ah, shit.

My door flies open, and I fight the instinct to kick out at my sister as she excitedly grabs my arms and hauls me from her little blue car.

She pulls me toward a dirt trail, twirls like a forest nymph in her short sundress and flip-flops, and announces, "We’re going hiking on Passion Ridge!" I stare at her as she giggles and repeats, "Where better to channel what you need than a place called Passion Ridge?"

I know I'm being rude. I’d rather stab myself in the hand than hurt my sweet angel of a sister, but I can’t even muster a flustered smile as I continue to stare at her.

"Ta-da!" She tries again when I don't respond, holding her arms out like she's presenting me with the ultimate prize.

"We’re not going hiking, Paige."

Her smile doesn't even wobble at my refusal, and she has the nerve to clap with glee. "I knew you’d say that, but I promise, we’re not going by ourselves." She wiggles her eyebrows.

Double shit.

Paige loops her arm through mine and walks me toward what looks like a downtown main street a few blocks away. "I hired us a guide! And, if his pics online are even close to accurate, he's a sexy hunk of a man. We’re going to let him lead us through the woods and become one with nature while you stop waiting around for stupid Connor to come to his dumb-ass senses."

Sighing, I stop and turn her toward me. "Paige, I am not hung up on Connor." She starts to protest, but I hold up my hand. "No, I get it. He was a terrible boyfriend, and I know I deserve better than the way he treated me. But it'll be a very long time before I open my heart to anybody else."

"Addison Rae Portwood!" Paige yells so loudly that a flock of birds screech and take flight from the surrounding trees.

"Paige, I almost peed myself!"

She takes a breath and continues more calmly, "I do not want you to open your heart. Are you fucking kidding me? We’re not meeting the loves of our lives in our late twenties. That is destined to happen in our thirties. Do not open your heart for a very long time. No. Just open your legs. Preferably with a hottie. It's cheaper than a massage and therapy combined. In fact, make sure he buys you dinner first, so you come out ahead on this one."

I tilt my head back, squeezing my eyes shut.

The last six months have been the worst of my life, and my amazing sister has been my rock the entire time. But her quest for me to open my legs has landed me in a way too trendy nightclub where I embarrassed her by reading a book on my phone, two awkward-as-hell coffee dates, and a speed dating scenario where I burst into tears when the first guy who sat with me asked what my favorite movie was. In fairness, she had me at speed dating about a week after I found Connor in my boss's office with not one but two other women, so I was a little raw.

Oh, and because my former boss is Connor's dad, I lost my job along with my boyfriend (and, let's face it, most of my dignity).

Addy, I hate to lose you. You practically run this place, but I can't have any awkwardness in the workplace. You understand.

I shake my head as my former boss's words ring in my ears, determined not to dwell on the past.

I look down at my sister's feet, suddenly seeing my way out. "Paige," I try again to reason with her, "you can't hike in flip-flops."

"Pish, of course I can." Considering the matter settled, she grabs my arm, talking animatedly as we go. "I live in flip-flops. Besides, Danny said we can do an easy one. I told him we have no experience whatsoever." She laughs, and her long blonde hair flies behind her as she speed walks down the street looking for something. Her blue eyes and small frame are a stark contrast to my dark hair and curves for days. Our features are similar: same nose, full cheeks, and pouty lips. But we’re on opposite sides of the DNA coin when it comes to everything else.

Your face is pretty. Too bad your sister got the skinny genes.

Connor’s voice rings in my ears. Dick.

I stop dead in my tracks as I finally process Paige's words.

"Paige, is this a blind date?" My chest tightens. My palms sweat. I'm frozen in place as I desperately try to get air into my lungs.

Paige rolls her eyes as she turns to me. She grabs my shoulders when she sees my panic. "No! Addy, I would never do that."

I raise a skeptical eyebrow.

"Okay, fine. I would never do that again.” She sighs. “I thought it would be fun to do something neither of us has ever done with a hot guy who is not a blind date. I promise on Enzo's life."

Enzo is the love of Paige's life, so I know she’s being honest. Her little gray schnauzer will live as long as his vampire namesake because she won’t risk giving him bad karma.

I give her the side eye as she crosses her heart.

I know I can't fight her nuclear-powered energy when I'm running on fumes, so I shake my head and will myself to live in the present.

When life gives you shit, find out what you can make with it. Or is that lemons?

"Fine."

Paige claps her hands and spins to open the glass door of The Reading Grounds, a funky-looking coffee shop. As she ushers me inside, she mutters, "But if the situation presents itself, it wouldn't kill you to get laid."

I barely register her comment as my mood instantly morphs when I see bookcases lining the shop's colorful walls. "Oooh, books!" I clap my hands excitedly. "And coffee. I'll stay here." This is the coolest coffee shop I have ever seen.

"No, Addy." Paige steers me away from the books.

I reluctantly drag my gaze from the stacks that promise to increase my already huge Tbr list. And freeze.

My mouth drops open. I might be drooling, but I’m helpless to do anything about it as I seem to have lost control of my motor functions. Because the sexiest guy I’ve ever seen is standing a few feet away.

I stare at the burly god, who looks like he spends his spare time lugging trees from one spot to another. With his bare hands. Just for fun. When he's not holding up crumbling buildings and saving damsels in distress, of course.

A tattoo peeks out from the sleeve of his T-shirt, which does nothing to hide the corded muscles of his tanned arms. My gaze trails from his chest to his stomach until it reaches his hiking pants. I squeeze my thighs together as I picture unzipping those pants with my teeth and diving in. My cheeks heat.

"Danny, right?” I hear Paige ask. “I'm Paige, and this is my beautiful, single sister, Addy. We’re ready to hike!"

"Hi, Paige. And beautiful, single sister, Addy," a deep voice replies.

I finally look up to see golden hair flopped over melted chocolate eyes that crinkle in the corners as he flashes me a mega-watt grin.

My stomach flutters, and I soak my panties.

"Wow," I breathe before realizing he can hear me. Because he's standing right in front of me.

I mentally thunk my forehead.

"Wow yourself," he says with a wink and a panty-dropping grin.

I must look like a maniac as I return his grin, my cheeks heating like furnaces.

For once, I don't need to lose myself in the pages of a book to read about a brawny mountain man. The real thing is standing in front of me. I want to study him in the wild like a horny anthropologist. If my vagina could talk, it would beg me to follow Paige's advice.

It occurs to me that Danny does this for tourists all day long—makes all the ladies feel good about themselves and flirts his way to a better tip.

Eh, I can live with that. Because he'll be leading the way today, and I guarantee he has a great ass.

I glance over at a grinning Paige. "Which way to Passion Ridge, Danny?"