Hiding with a Mountain Man: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Pine Ridge Protectors Book 2)

Chapter 1

Blaze

I sit in my impressive corner office, absently tapping a pen against the desktop as I gaze out the huge picture window at the mountains in the distance. My eyes drift to the framed articles on the wall highlighting some of my most high-profile work. This is what I”m good at - protecting people, solving problems, eliminating threats. It”s what drives me.

Suddenly, the intercom on my desk crackles to life. ”Blaze, we have a situation at the front door,” Jett Sylvan”s deep voice comes through. He’s manning the bank of video screens today. ”A woman”s trying to get in. She seems to be requesting help.”

My brow furrows as I click on the security camera feed for the front door. There on the screen is a woman with long dark hair, tugging frantically at the door handle.

I listen in as Jett goes through the standard protocol. ”Ma”am, please state the nature of your emergency,” he asks calmly through the intercom.

”Please, I need help. I don”t know where else to go,” the woman pleads, her voice laced with urgency. ”Someone in town told me you might be able to help me. Please!”

Something in her tone compels me to act. This isn’t how we operate, but protocol be damned. ”Let her into the lobby and I’ll be there in a minute.”

My senses are on high alert, trained instincts kicking in as I mentally prepare to assess and handle the trouble this woman is facing.

The elevator dings and the doors slide open. I step out into the lobby, my eyes immediately locking onto the woman standing next to Jett. As I get closer, I”m struck by her appearance. Beneath the smudged makeup and disheveled dark hair, her exotic beauty is undeniable. High cheekbones, full lips, almond-shaped eyes that are wide with fear. And she’s small, barely five feet tall by my quick estimate. But it”s the evident distress, the traces of tears streaking her face, that really gets to me.

”I”ve got it from here,” I say with a nod of dismissal toward Jett. He looks surprised, but doesn’t question me as he heads back to the bank of screens in the next room. Then I turn my full attention to her. ”I”m Mitch Blaze. Most people call me Blaze. Why don”t you come with me to my office and you can tell me what”s going on. You’re safe here.”

She nods, visibly trying to collect herself. ”Thank you. I”m Brooke... Brooke Phillips.”

Brooke. The name suits her. I lead her towards the elevators resisting I the urge to guide her with a hand on her back. I”ve promised her she”s safe and I won”t do anything to break that promise. Knowing she’s so vulnerable stirs something fiercely protective inside me, an almost primal need to shield her from whatever she”s running from.

We ride up in silence. I sneak glances at her profile, noticing the way she bites nervously on her bottom lip, how her hands tremble as she clutches her purse. If she”s acting, she”s doing a bang up job of reeling me in.

Reaching my office, I gesture her to one of the chairs across from my desk. I leave the door open hoping that will help her feel safe. ”Please, have a seat.”

I take my seat behind my desk, another effort to reassure her. ”Okay, Brooke, why don”t you start by telling me what kind of trouble you”re in?”

She takes a shuddering breath, finally meeting my gaze. Up close, her eyes are a startling shade of deep emerald green. ”Thank you. Um, it”s my ex-boyfriend,” she says quietly.

I nod, encouraging her to continue. She wrings her hands as she takes a breath before sharing the details.

”We had another big fight. This time I thought he was going to hit me, but he stopped.” Her eyes fill with tears as she tries to keep her composure.

White hot anger surges through my veins at the thought of a man laying a hand on her. There”s almost nothing I hate more than a man who hits a woman. But I keep my expression neutral. Me showing anger will hurt more than help. ”Has he hit you or anything physical before?”

She shakes her head but doesn”t elaborate.

”Does he live around here?”

She shakes her head again. “In Billings. I grew up here, though.”

I nod. “Alright, then. So do you think he’ll be coming here to look for you?”

”I don”t know. Maybe.” She pauses for a moment looking at her hands clenching in her lap then looks up at me again. ”I told him I was leaving and he laughed. He said he”d never let me leave.”

I nod again if only confirming to myself that I”m tracking with her story.

”I waited for him to go to bed and then I left.” She closes her eyes for a moment and lets out a long breath.

I want to offer her all sorts of encouragement, but I need to keep things professional. ”That takes courage.”

She offers me a watery smile, shrugging. ”I just don”t know what to do now. He has money. I”m afraid nowhere is safe. One of my friends said this is a security company and that maybe you can help me.” Her last words came out as almost a whisper.

”Well, your friend is right that we’re a security company,” I say. ”We don’t typically handle cases like yours, but I’ll do what I can to help.”

Relief floods her features and for the first time I catch a glimpse of the strong, resilient woman beneath the fear. ”I... I don”t know how to thank you. I can pay you. I have a little bit of money saved up.”

I wave off her gratitude and her offer of payment, my mind already churning with the beginnings of a plan. ”Don”t mention it. And I”m not taking your money. Now, let”s focus on keeping you safe from that dirtbag ex of yours. What”s his name?”

Her answering smile is genuine this time, transforming her face from merely pretty to breathtaking. It stirs an unfamiliar flutter in my chest. Maybe it”s just my protective instincts in overdrive but I feel an inexplicably strong pull towards this woman I”ve only just met.

”His name is Vince. Vince Richards.”

I don”t care how well-connected or determined this guy is. I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure Brooke”s safety and give her back her peace of mind. Her well-being has suddenly become the most important goal in my life.

So as I sit back and think about Brooke”s story, I feel the electric tingle of attraction mingling with the iron-clad drive to protect. I have an inkling she”s probably going to break my heart. I”ve never been that great with women, so the Beautiful Brooke Phillips may be just the one to break me completely.

One thought rises above the rest - this damn Vince Richards character better watch his back.

”Don”t worry, Brooke,” I say softly but with steel in my voice. ”You”re with me now. And I promise, I won”t let anything happen to you.”