Laying Claim to the Mountain Man (Valor In The Mountains #7)

Chapter 1

one

Milie

“Has Hunter been here yet?” I slip my arms out of my winter coat and toss it behind the nearest counter. My family owns the town's only grocery and outdoor sporting goods store, Trail Mart, in Temptation Ridge, Montana.

The outfit is also outside my usual blue-jeans-and-T-shirt wheelhouse.

I bought the soft dark gray sweater dress with an ivory lace skirt that barely peeks out beneath the short hem online, the first day I met Hunter, knowing I needed something other than my usual clothes to get his attention.

The matching thigh-high boots were an impulse buy and definitely not practical for Montana's late winters.

Hunter is new to town, and for the past three weeks, he’s been stopping by the grocery store every Thursday morning at 11 am sharp.

The first week, when I tried to get him to talk as I rang up his groceries, he grunted his responses.

The following week, he spoke in one-word sentences.

I almost jumped for joy when he spoke in full sentences last week.

Asking him out for coffee is the most logical next step.

“Sorry, Millie. He called in his order about twenty minutes ago and asked for Matt to deliver it.” Nora gives me a sad smile. As my best friend, of course, I’ve told Nora all about my infatuation with Hunter.

Not only is Nora my best friend, but she’s also worked with me at the grocery store while putting herself through nursing school.

She still picks up shifts at the grocery store on her days off from the hospital.

She says it’s because she loves the customers so much.

But I know the truth—she’s in love with my brother, Matt.

Another man who can’t get his head out of his ass and ask her out on a date.

At thirty-three, Matt is twelve years older than Nora and me.

He joined the military right out of high school, following in our father’s footsteps.

He returned home a little over two years ago and took over the store’s management so our parents could retire.

Since then, he’s made many improvements to the store, except for his latest idea—home grocery delivery.

That’s it. I’ll deliver Hunter’s groceries to his cabin.

“I’ll do it. I’ll deliver Hunter’s groceries to him.” It’s perfect. Even better than my coffee date plan.

“Matt’s not going to like that. You know, he said he would be the one to make the deliveries that far up in the mountains.”

“What Matt doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” I love my brother, but I’m willing to face his wrath for the chance to be with Hunter alone.

“You want me to lie to your brother?” The shocked look on Nora’s face makes me feel guilty. I can’t bring her into my deceit.

“You don’t have to lie to him, but could you at least distract him if it comes to that?” I know I’m asking a lot of my best friend, but I can’t pass up this opportunity. For some reason, Hunter doesn’t want to come to the grocery store today, and I need to know why.

The minutes tick by as I wait for Nora’s answer. “Fine, but you’d better hurry. There’s a snowstorm predicted for later today.”

I nod, holding back a grin. A snowstorm. Even better. If I’m lucky, I’ll be stranded in Hunter’s cabin with him. “I promise.”

“Here.” Nora thrusts a piece of paper at me, her eyes sweeping from my boots to the top of my head. “Nice outfit, by the way.”

“Do you think Hunter will like it?” I twirl in a circle, giving Nora a 360-degree view of my outfit.

“If he doesn’t swallow his tongue first.”

“He’d better not. I have plans for that tongue.” I might not have had the chance to go to nursing school like Nora, since taking over the family business meant taking business classes at the local community college. But that doesn't mean I haven’t been studying the human body.

At twenty-one, Nora and I are still virgins. We’re best friends, so of course we’ve shared that information with each other. But we’ve been studying everything from the Kama Sutra to online porn for women.

“I’m sure you do.” Her laugh echoes through the nearly empty grocery store.

Right before lunch is our slowest time of day.

“You might want to hurry and gather Hunter’s order, then head up the mountain before Matt gets back.

He was making a few deliveries and checking on some of the older ladies in town before the storm hits.

” The dreamy look in Nora’s eyes reminds me that my brother is a complete softy when it comes to the town’s older widows.

He’s definitely husband material. I just wish he would open his eyes and see that Nora is a catch, too.

“Right. I’d better get on that.” I wave the lengthy list in Nora’s direction, wondering for the first time how long Hunter plans to avoid coming into the grocery store.

Forty-five minutes later, my SUV is packed with everything Hunter requested on his list, and I’m headed up the mountain as the first snowflakes begin to fall.