Adrian's Mountain Bride

Chapter 1

One

Blair

“Ma’am?”

Gasping at the sound of a male voice, I spin around and nearly fall on my ass.

A giant bear of a man is standing in the doorway. He winces and lifts up both hands, palms out. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Did you not hear me pull up?” He glances over his shoulder.

I look past him through my open front door and see a truck parked out front. Not a beat-up old truck but a brand-new shiny black F150. It’s so new, I bet it has the ability to power the house in the event of a storm. Maybe I should have purchased a truck last week instead of an SUV.

“Ma’am?” he repeats.

I jerk my gaze back to him. “Blair.” I wipe my palms on my jeans and walk toward him, holding out a hand. I’m freaking out a bit. After all, there’s a strange man nearly inside my new home, and he’s gigantic.

On the flip side, he seems harmless. Is that a thing? Maybe I’m being too trusting. He’s got money. The truck, for one thing, but also his clothes are expensive.

I would know. I’ve also got money. He could easily size me up and figure that out, too.

I was hoping to blend into mountain life, and no one would ever be any the wiser, but this guy arrived only minutes after me.

I’m wearing designer jeans, leather boots that cost three hundred dollars, a blouse that set me back nearly that same amount, and too much gold jewelry.

Why did I show up looking like this? Why did I even bring this stuff with me?

I don’t need material possessions now that I’m up in the mountains.

Gold and diamonds are useless. I need a backhoe and some seeds.

Though I’m not sure yet what a backhoe is.

In my head, it sounds like something I would use.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” he tells me as he releases my hand. His grip was firm and warm. I kind of hate that he’s let me go.

Shaking the absurd thought from my head, I smile at him.

He’s harmless.

I hope.

If I’m going to live out here in the mountains completely on my own, I’m going to have to learn to face the locals and not panic every time I encounter someone.

The realtor told me the crime in this area is almost nonexistent.

The few incidents in the past decades were nearly all domestic squabbles.

I did my research. Extensively. There was a massive fire about a decade ago that wiped out the property adjacent to mine. It was never determined how it started. That doesn’t scare me too much. Probably electrical.

The man who owned this property died about a year ago in some sort of ammunition accident of his own doing. That’s kind of freaky, but it didn’t happen here in the house, and besides, I’m not the superstitious type.

Most of the remaining crimes I found were indeed domestic. They make me shudder because sometimes they involve activities that are beyond backward, like selling a daughter to a neighbor and shit. No fucker is going to be selling me to anyone.

“Blair?”

I’m once again jarred back to the present. My mind is wandering more than usual today. “Oh, I’m the new owner. I bought this house and the property.”

He gives me a half grin. “Yeah… I know who you are. Blair Snyder. I live on the adjacent property. Two of my brothers are married to the women who sold you this land.”

“Oh.” Good to know. He’s my neighbor. Now, I have no business finding my neighbor attractive because the last thing I need is to pay any attention to a man.

I don’t need a man. Ever. I’m going to make my own way in life, live off this land, enjoy the fresh air… That’s the plan. It doesn’t include hot men from next door.

“But you shouldn’t be in this house, Blair.”

I frown at him and look around. “Why wouldn’t I be? I own it. It’s my home.”

His brows both rise. “You didn’t plan to move into the actual house, did you?”

I shrug. “Well, not forever. But until I can build something a bit more modern.”

“Modern? Blair, this building is probably going to collapse in the next storm. It’s not structurally sound. The support beams aren’t trustworthy, and there’s a cellar under it. The house itself might fall into the hole at any minute.” He backs up and motions for me to follow him.

I roll my eyes. “It can’t be that bad.” This is exactly where I was planning to live until I can build a new house.

He reaches out a hand, snags mine, and tugs me right out the front door. The moment we’re on the porch, he breathes easier. “Jesus, woman. Do you have a death wish?”

I jerk my hand free of his and prop my palms on my hips.

I’m only five-five. He towers over me at nearly a foot taller, but I straighten my spine and stand tall.

I won’t let his size, or broad chest, or sexy beard, or firm handshake, or twinkling blue eyes, or plaid, mountain man shirt, or fucking well-fitting expensive jeans, or fancy truck intimidate me. I won’t.

“I’m sure I’ll be fine for a season. In the spring, I’ll start on the construction.”

He looks around. “Are you planning to move here alone?”

This makes my hackles rise. “Yes, big guy. I’m a grown woman. I don’t need a man to take care of me.”

He chuckles. “Feisty.”

“Don’t you forget it,” I bark.

He holds his hands out again, palms up in surrender.

“Listen, I saw your SUV on our surveillance cameras when you passed the entrance to our property, so I came over to introduce myself and check on you. I’m Adrian Gallant.

I hadn’t expected to find you inside this piece of shit.

We all assumed whoever bought it would immediately bulldoze the house.

You really can’t trust the structure. If you’re planning to stay here for the winter, you’ll need to invest in a nice RV that you can hook up to the water and electricity. ”

I shake my head. “I don’t think that will be necessary, but thanks for your concern.”

His brows furrow, and he sets his hands on his hips. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing here, Blair?”

The answer is no, but I’m not going to admit that to him. “For your information, I’ve done plenty of research, and I have Google.”

He tips his head back and chuckles. Oh no. He’s laughing at me. “Google? Tell me you’re kidding.”

I narrow my gaze and plant my hands on my hips, matching his stance. “Have you never heard of it?” I counter.

His laughter increases. Part of me is struggling not to smile because damn, this man is hot when he laughs. Eventually, he runs a hand down his face, but he’s smirking as he faces me again. “Do you have a fancy smartphone and a computer, Blair?”

“Of course.”

“Got that phone on you, by any chance?”

I’m confused, but I reach into my back pocket and pull it out. When I hold it up with raised brows to show him, he continues smirking. “How about you Google something for me, princess.”

Now he’s getting under my skin. I do not like men calling me princess. It’s insulting. It may have been accurate at one point, but I’m turning over a new leaf, starting a new life. I can get dirty and work hard. So, fuck him.

As soon as that thought enters my mind, I find myself lingering on what it would be like to actually fuck him. I bet he’s good in bed.

“Blair?”

I jerk from my wandering thoughts and lower my gaze to my phone. Right. He asked me to open Google. “Don’t you have your own phone, Mr. Fancy Pants?” I grumble. Why does he need mine?

I tap the screen, and nothing happens. I can’t even see my home screen. The upper corner says SOS. Shit.

Fuck.

Ohhh… Oops.

“Yeah, there’s no mobile internet here, princess. You’ll need a satellite before you’ll be able to even send a text.”

I cringe. Hadn’t thought of that.

He nods to the right. “We have internet on Gallant Mountain. You’re welcome to come over and use it anytime, but it’s not going to help you in an emergency.

I can’t leave you stranded here, Blair. I’d worry all the time.

I’m not kidding about this house. It’s not structurally sound.

A breeze will probably send it toppling to one side.

I’m not sure how it’s managed to remain upright as long as it has. ”

I inhale deeply and slowly. Fuck. Just fuck. I haven’t even been here an hour, and already I have a pile of unexpected issues.

Well, two problems. But they are big ones. No internet. No house. I wonder how long it will take to get a camper and a satellite… I turn my back on him to look at the building I’d intended to live in.

“Where are you planning to stay tonight, princess?”

“Stop calling me that,” I bark, spinning back around to pin him with a glare.

His brows lift. He’s smirking again. “Why are you even here? It’s obvious you come from money. I’m betting you went to an Ivy League college and have a fancy degree in something useful like business management. What brought you to the middle of nowhere?”

“That’s none of your business, Mr. Fancy Pants.

I could say the same about you.” I let my gaze wander up and down his frame.

Damn, he’s fine. He keeps getting better.

I bet there’s a six-pack under that expensive flannel.

I wish it weren’t unbuttoned at the collar so far that I can see the top of his chest. It’s hard for me to focus on anything else.

Adrian Gallant is a real man. Not a boy. He’s got hair on his chest. It’s sexy as fuck. Great… I jerk my attention up to his eyes, but now one corner of his lips is lifted because he saw me ogling him.

I’m seconds from fanning myself. I need to get a grip.

Squaring myself, I stand as tall as I can. “I take that back. I bet you own a designer tux, but I doubt you wear it regularly. I’ll call you Mr. Fancy Jeans.”

He laughs again, the corners of his eyes wrinkling. “Sure. Now, answer my first question, princess. Are you planning to stay in this house tonight?”

“Yes.” It’s true. The realtor didn’t specifically tell me this structure isn’t safe.

He glances at my SUV. “You got that thing loaded down with your belongings?”

“Yes.”

“That’s all you brought up here? No U-Haul?”

“No, I didn’t bring a moving van, Mr. Fancy Jeans. I wanted to start fresh. I didn’t own anything I wanted to bring with me. Planned to build a new life. What was I going to do with a four-poster pink bed with a canopy?”

His brows shoot higher than before as he stares at me.

I hold my expression for as many seconds as possible before breaking into a chuckle. “Kidding. I don’t own a canopied bed. Well, I mean, I did when I was five, but not recently.”

He blows out a relieved breath. “Well, you can’t stay here, and trust me when I say you don’t want to stay in town. The only place to rent is the efficiency apartment over the mechanic’s shop. It’s a dump. I’ve seen it. That leaves the nearest city, or my place.”

My body jerks as I process everything he just said, ending with suggesting I stay at his place. Is that what he said?