Her Mountain Man Neighbor (Crave County: Mountain Men Love Curves #8)

Chapter 1 Grace

GRACE

I rest my head on my hand and stare out the window. The trees outside blaze with color—reds and oranges catching the afternoon sun. Leaves drift lazily to the ground, carpeting the forest in gold as I take a sip of cocoa and sink deeper into the squashy armchair.

I can’t believe it’s October already. It’s officially been a month since I arrived at Holden’s cabin—a month since I left the Hamptons and said goodbye to my old life forever. Everything has changed so fast, and I’m still scrambling to catch up.

It all started with my sister, Mila. Our parents tried to force her into an arranged marriage, but she couldn’t go through with it. She jilted her groom and escaped into the woods, where a mountain man called Holden found her and kept her safe.

But that wasn’t the end.

After my sister fled the wedding, my parents decided I should take her place as the bride.

They had an agreement with the groom’s family and were determined to keep up appearances.

I trembled all the way up the aisle, tears streaming down my face…

until Mila came back for me just in time.

She brought me to Holden’s cabin, and I’ve been living here with them ever since.

It’s a beautiful place—a cozy log cabin tucked away in the forest. I love the peace and quiet, the gentle sounds of nature all around me. Holden insists I can call this place home for as long as I want, but I know I can’t stay forever. I need to learn how to stand on my own two feet.

But it’s so much harder than I expected.

All my life, my parents have dictated everything, from my clothes to my hobbies.

I was never allowed to get a job or earn my own money.

Now that I’m free to do what I want, I feel so lost. The real world seems huge and terrifying, and I’m completely unprepared for it.

I grew up in a bubble—stifling and privileged—drifting around high-society events and following orders from my parents. That’s all I’ve ever known.

But that’s behind me now.

Things need to change.

I turn away from the window, catching sight of Mila and Holden sitting on the couch.

There’s a movie playing, You’ve Got Mail, but neither of them is looking at the TV screen.

They only have eyes for each other. I see the knowing glances, the secret smiles when they think I’m not looking…

and don’t get me started on the noises coming from their bedroom every night.

God help me. The noises.

I’m third-wheeling big time, intruding on their new life together, and it’s time to do something about it.

I need to find a job. Save some money. Rent an apartment.

I need to do all the things that normal people do without letting fear hold me back.

A positive mindset—that’s all I need. Staying optimistic and looking on the bright side is how I lived with my parents for twenty-two years.

It’s my survival mechanism, and I can’t let it fail me now.

It’s going to be great.

Everything is going to work out.

I take a breath and force a broad smile before I get up from the armchair and join Holden and Mila on the couch.

“You okay, Gracie?” Mila asks, beaming at me as I sit down. She’s always beaming these days, happiness glowing from every pore. That’s the effect Holden has on her, and I’m thrilled my sister has found somebody who loves her so much. She deserves it.

“I’m good,” I tell her, returning her smile. “Just thinking about how I should start looking for a job soon, so I can save up some money to move out…”

Mila eases out of Holden’s embrace, leaning toward me. “Are you sure you’re ready?” She frowns with concern. “There’s no rush. I know this has been a really hard time for you.”

She’s right about that. After Mila and I both refused the arranged marriage, our parents cut us off without a second thought.

They swore they’d never speak to us again, and I believe them.

Mila took it in her stride, happy to have them out of our lives for good.

But for me, it wasn’t that simple. I always believed that deep down…

really, really deep down…my parents loved me.

The thought was like a little flame of hope, keeping me warm in my darkest moments.

Now it’s been snuffed out for good. They never loved me. They never cared.

“You’re right,” I mumble. “It has been tough…but I don’t want to wallow in self-pity forever. I need to get it together.”

Mila reaches out to give my hand an affectionate squeeze. “Well, if that’s what you want, then I’ll support you all the way.”

I squeeze her hand back. No matter what happens, at least I’ll always have my sister.

“You want me to ask around about jobs in Cherry Hollow?” Holden says. “Try to find you something in the town?”

“That would be great! Thank you.”

I feel a rush of affection for him. He’s been so good to me since I arrived, treating me like his own sister.

Heck, the way things are going between him and Mila, I’ll probably be his sister-in-law for real before long.

Right on cue, Mila snuggles back against him, and he wraps his arms around her, pressing a kiss on her head.

She looks up at him, their eyes meeting, and I swear the air seems to thicken with tension.

Uh-oh…

“I think I’m going to take a walk,” I say, jumping up from the couch.

I never used to be a big walker, but I try to get out when I can to give the lovebirds some alone time. Judging by the way they’re looking at each other right now, this is a good time to make myself scarce.

“Okay.” Mila tears her gaze from Holden’s to look at me. “Make sure you’re warm enough. It’s chilly out there.”

“And watch out for the river,” Holden adds. “It’s flowing fast today.”

“And don’t go too far,” Mila says.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.” I smile at them. It’s nice to know they care. “I’ll be back in about an hour.”

They wave me off as I pull on my boots and stride out into the crisp October air.

I look back over my shoulder, catching a glimpse of Holden and Mila through the living room window.

They’re already kissing like their lives depend on it, and I shake my head, smiling as I turn away.

Love isn’t exactly my area of expertise, but I never knew it could make people so crazy.

I leave Holden’s cabin behind me, striding through the golden woods.

Something smoky and warm hangs in the air, the smell of fall, and my feet crunch against the fiery leaves as I follow the sound of Sugar Creek.

Holden was right about the flow; I can already hear the water crashing through the trees from here.

After a few minutes of walking, I reach the river.

It splits the earth like a scar, the water frothy and churning.

I’ve walked this way several times before, always leaping across the river to reach the other side of the bank.

There’s a path over there leading to a gorgeous vista of the surrounding mountains.

But today, I feel a knot of apprehension in my gut.

The riverbank is wetter than usual, my feet sinking into the mud.

The water is rushing so fiercely that the sound almost hurts my ears as I seek out the narrowest part of the river.

Screw it, I think to myself. I can make it.

It’s an easy jump. I’ve never missed it before. Steeling myself, I bend my knees, preparing to leap across the river. But as I shift my weight, my boots slip against the muddy bank. The world lurches as my legs slide out from beneath me, my heart lurching with them.

Crap!

I land in the mud with a squelch, my back slamming against the ground.

The air is sucked from my lungs, and for a moment, I can’t breathe.

I begin to slip down the riverbank, my feet almost touching the bubbling water below.

With a flash of panic, I reach behind me, clawing uselessly at the mud as gravity draws me down.

There’s nothing to grip, nothing I can use to pull myself up.

“Help!”

Suddenly, someone grabs me. Two powerful arms wrap around my torso, dragging me back up the steep riverbank and onto flat ground.

I catch a fleeting glimpse of a bearded face hovering above mine before I’m suddenly pulled to my feet.

I wobble, my legs still shaking, but a pair of strong hands grip my shoulders firmly from behind, steadying me.

My back throbs, a deep ache forming between my shoulder blades.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

The deep voice sends a jolt of surprise through me, and I whip around to face my rescuer.

Oh God.

A giant of a man is scowling down at me.

He looks like he’s been carved out of the mountain itself—all hard lines and rough edges.

A flannel shirt clings to his broad chest, the green fabric barely visible beneath a thick layer of mud.

His sleeves are rolled up to reveal his muscular arms, which he crosses as he surveys me.

Those gray eyes, dark and stormy, pin me to the spot, his mouth down-turned beneath his thick beard.

He’s the hottest man I’ve ever seen…

And right now, he looks seriously pissed off.