Daddy on the Mountain (Grumpy Christmas Mountain Man #13)

Chapter 1

BECCA

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as the tour bus wound its way up the mountain. The Lake Tahoe Weekend Adventure Tour had seemed like such a good idea when I booked it. I could get in shape, enjoy nature, and maybe meet a nice guy.

But three hours into the drive and I was already regretting my too-tight leggings that were cutting into my belly, and the granola-bar breakfast was sitting like a rock in my gut.

The super-fit couple sitting across the aisle were sharing PB&J sandwiches and stealing kisses, while I hugged my pink Stanley cup to my chest and tried not to think about how alone I felt.

The tour guide was a perky blonde woman who had the loud clap down to a science. "Alright, adventure seekers! We're about thirty minutes from our first trailhead. Remember to hydrate and apply sunscreen before we start our seven-mile trek!"

Seven miles. I gulped and squeezed my water bottle tighter. When the website said "moderate hiking," I'd pictured a pleasant stroll through the woods, not scaling half a mountain. But that was exactly why I needed to be here.

No nice guy wanted a chubby girl who got winded climbing a flight of stairs.

My phone buzzed with a text from my roommate, Kate. She was concerned when I told her I’d be doing this solo hike. Well, not solo but without a personal friend. The other seventeen people on the bus didn’t count. Meet any hot mountain men yet?

I smiled and typed back. Just a bus full of couples and retirees. No one who could be a good Daddy.

She knew what I meant. We'd had many wine-fueled conversations about how nice it would be to have Daddies to take care of us. For a long time, I’d dreamed of being someone's baby girl. Just the fantasy of having a strong Daddy who would make decisions and keep me safe, and maybe even tuck me in at night, was part of the reason I’d been single for the last few years.

And even when I was dating, I wasn’t doing anything else.

My virginity wasn’t something I was particularly attached to, but I was stuck on the silly notion that losing it needed to be special, so I hadn’t given it up yet.

But soon. Hopefully.

Unfortunately, men worthy of claiming it were hard to find, especially when you weren’t a tiny little thing who could be carried around.

Kate didn’t miss a beat, always positive and encouraging, even though we both knew she was full of it. Be patient and have fun. Your mountain Daddy is out there somewhere.

I responded with a heart emoji and tucked my phone away as the bus lurched around a corner.

Maybe she was right. Maybe there was someone out there for me.

And it was part of my New Year's resolution.

Starting with this hike, I was gonna get in shape, lose fifteen pounds, and stop being such a disaster.

No one wanted to take care of a girl who couldn't even take care of herself.

The trailhead parking lot was already crowded when we arrived. Our group spilled out of the bus, stretching and adjusting backpacks. I tugged at my leggings, trying to make them sit more comfortably on my hips, and snapped the lid onto my Stanley.

"Cute water bottle." A woman that looked twenty years older than me and a million times more fit was adjusting her high-tech hydration pack. “Looks kinda heavy.”

"Thanks." I smiled and resisted the urge to explain that I'd spent too much money on it because the pretty pink color made me happy. That would sound childish, and I was trying very hard to be a proper adult today. “Yeah, I guess I’ll get an arm workout today too.”

The tour guide handed out trail maps and whistles. "Partner up for safety, everyone! No one hikes alone. If you come across any wildlife, just wave your arms and whistle."

My stomach dropped as everyone paired off instantly. I stood alone, clutching my map, until the guide noticed and waved me over.

"You can buddy up with me, dear. I'm Trish."

“Cool. Thanks.” I nodded gratefully and tugged at my hiking pants. They were giving me a wedgie. "I'm Becca."

"First time hiking?" Trish asked as we started up the trail.

"Is it that obvious?" My brand-new Patagonia hiking boots were adorable, but they might have been a bit loose, because my socks were already bunching up around my ankle. That couldn’t be good.

"Just a hunch." She winked. "Don't worry, we'll take it nice and easy. I had an eighty-year-old with me last week…and a classroom of third-graders yesterday. You’ll be fine."

Her reassurance only gave me more anxiety. What if I couldn’t do what an eighty-year-old could do? My heart rate seemed to be pounding in my teeth, and my breaths were shallow. “Uh-huh.”

I managed to keep it together for about fifteen minutes. Then the group started to spread out along the trail. As expected, the fittest hikers disappeared around bends while Trish bounced between the front and back, checking on everyone.

As the minutes passed, I found myself increasingly alone. That was good because no one needed to witness my breathing heavy and flushed face.

"You've got this, Becca!" Trish called back encouragingly when she noticed me falling behind. "Just around this ridge is an amazing view. Worth every step!"

I waved and took another swig from my Stanley. The water was still deliciously cold, but my stomach was starting to protest. Between the exertion and the high-protein bar I inhaled on the bus, I knew the rumbling in my tummy spelled trouble.

Oh no. Not here. Not now.

I pressed a hand to my abdomen as a cramp twisted through my gut. My efforts to get healthy were conspiring against me.

There was no sign of a restroom on the trail, and I cringed at the thought of the alternative. But as I kept trudging up the mountain, I could barely see the last hiker's bright blue backpack through the trees.

Another cramp hit, and I made a split-second decision. There was a dense patch of trees off to the right of the trail. I could duck in there, quickly take care of business, and catch up to the group. A wilderness potty detour was going to make for a great story someday.

Someday far, far, far into the future.

Before Trish came looking for me, I took advantage of the alone time and veered off the path.

Finding a suitable spot took longer than expected. Every time I thought I had enough privacy, I heard voices or footsteps on the trail. That caused me to push deeper into the forest, clutching my Stanley and the small pack of tissues I'd brought.

Five minutes turned into ten, but I eventually found a perfect spot to take care of my emergency. When I turned back to the trail, I realized I had no idea which direction it was. The trees all looked the same, and the dense canopy above made it hard to see which way the sun was moving.

"Don't panic." I squared my shoulders and stood a little taller. "It’s a public park with hundreds of people around. I just need to listen for other hikers."

Standing as still as I could, I held my breath and strained my ears to pick up all the sounds around me. Unfortunately, all I heard was the rustling of leaves and the occasional bird call. No hiking boots on gravel. No chatty tourists. No sign of civilization.

“I’m gonna die out here.” I pulled out my phone to check my location against the pin of where we were meeting up, but I had no service.

Of course. "Hello?" I took a few steps toward a trail that might have been the right one. It didn’t look familiar, but it didn’t look unfamiliar…

"Trish? Anyone from the Tahoe Adventure Tour? "

In the vastness of the forest, my voice was swallowed up, and I knew I had to find my own way home.

The direction I was moving seemed promising, so I just kept walking, clutching my Stanley cup like it was a lifeline.

At least I had water. That and two extra protein bars I stuffed into one of my zippered cargo pockets that morning.

They might keep me alive, but I needed to be smart about eating them.

They were the same ones that had started this whole mess I was in.

An hour passed and then another and not a single human crossed my path.

My cute new boots had rubbed painful blisters on the backs of both my heels, and each step sent a jolt of pain up my legs.

The forest seemed denser in some areas and more open in others, but what I thought was a trail seemed like it was more of a feeding path for animals.

Not for humans. And definitely not used by giant tour groups. FML.

My phone battery dwindled to 15% as I kept checking it for service. "You wanted adventure, Bec, and now you might die on a mountain because you had to poop."

I took a small sip from my Stanley, rationing what was left because my day of nervous drinking had depleted most of it. Was Trish wondering where I was? Had she even noticed I was missing?

Kate might worry if she didn’t hear from me, but she had a Christmas party to go to, so it was just as likely she wouldn’t think about me until tomorrow.

I’d definitely be bear food by then.

I stumbled on a root and yelped as my already aching foot twisted.

Splayed across a fallen log, I let a few tears escape.

I didn't just want to be rescued. I wanted someone to be worried about me. There wasn’t anyone in my life who would even care enough to come looking.

No one would scoop me up and tell me everything would be okay now that they were here.

"Get it together, girl!" I wiped my eyes and ended my pity party. It was getting cold, and I needed some kind of shelter if I was not a forest dweller. “Nothing like getting lost in the woods to kickstart a weight-loss regimen.”

The terrain began to slope downward, which I took as a good sign. If I could find a stream, maybe it would lead to civilization.