Lonely Heart (Heart of the Mountain #3)

1. Lyra

one

Lyra

“Okay, sexy mountain man, do your worst,” I say to the screen of my e-reader and to my fictional book boyfriend, since that’s the only kind of boyfriend I have.

I downloaded the mountain man romance last month, but thanks to two of my siblings finding love and then one of them losing it, my twin sister Liv and I have had to take on extra responsibilities at the family winery.

Now that I finally have a day to myself, thanks to a fake illness I don’t regret inventing, I can relax and read all about the sexy, stern mountain man pleasuring the woman who broke into his cabin.

I roll onto my stomach, feeling the slightly scratchy flannel blanket against my bare skin—my only clothing a tiny bikini that fit me perfectly three years ago.

But now that I’ve gotten older and filled out, my hips are wider, and my breasts are bigger.

The poor polyester-spandex fabric is stretched to its limits.

It’s a good thing I picked a secluded spot by the river.

There’s a cabin nearby, but no one has lived there for years.

With a quick glance around to make sure I’m alone, I reach behind my back and untie the ties of my bikini top. “I don’t want any tan lines, do I?” I say to a passing squirrel as he scurries by, carrying a nut, more concerned with his nut than with my tan lines.

Not fazed by the indifferent squirrel, I toss my bikini top onto the nearby grass, the scratchy blanket fabric grazing my breasts.

I gasp as the rough texture presses against my rapidly hardening nipples and squeeze my thighs together, chasing the throbbing in my core.

I haven’t even started reading my book, and I’m already turned on.

I glance around, taking one more look at my surroundings, contemplating slipping my hand down my bikini bottoms and letting my fingers take the edge of the need running through my body when my eyes land on the squirrel who is now looking at me with what I’m sure is a raised eyebrow, judging my life choices.

“What? You probably have a squirrel wife at home who helps you out in situations like this. I, on the other hand, am a desperate single virgin who hasn’t had a free moment in a month to satisfy my cravings.

” If on cue, another squirrel, who I can only assume is his wife, runs down from the nearest tree and begins chattering to both of us.

“See. Even squirrels have mates. What am I doing wrong?”

“Well, maybe for starters, you should stop talking to forest creatures unless you’re really a Disney Princess.” A rough, sexy voice says from above me. “And secondly, you shouldn’t be trespassing where you don’t belong.”

With a yelp of surprise, I roll onto my back, then push myself to my feet, ready to do battle with the stranger who is disrupting my peaceful day.

“This is private property. You’re the one trespassing.

” I know I'm trespassing, too, but I don’t recognize this sexy stranger as any of the guys who live in or around Temptation Ridge.

And believe me, I would definitely remember his thick brown hair, cropped short on the sides, with a matching beard and those deep, dark brown eyes.

I could definitely get lost in them—not to mention how his T-shirt stretches across his chest, outlining every muscle.

The odds of him knowing I’m trespassing are slim to none.

“Yeah, my private property. I just closed the deal this morning.”

Well shoot. I was not expecting that.

I take a closer look at him and at the set of his jaw as he grinds his teeth.

His eyes stay locked on mine, but it’s almost as if he’s struggling to hold my gaze.

I cross my arms over my chest and give him my best glare.

When I touch bare skin, I freeze. “What the…?” I glance down midsentence, only to realize I’m standing topless in front of a stranger.

My eyes dart around, searching for my bikini top, but in my panic I can't find it. My brain is spiraling at the thought of being caught half-naked by the new property owner, so much so I don’t even think about picking up the blanket and wrapping it around myself.

“Here.” Before I can react, he pulls off his T-shirt and places it over my head. I instinctively put my arms through the armholes as he steps back, letting the hem of the shirt float around my thighs. “Now get off my property.”

Mortified not only by trespassing but by trespassing half-naked in front of the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. My eyes travel down his muscular naked chest as my tongue darts out wetting my suddenly dry lips.

Coming to my senses, I scramble to gather my things, then think better of it. How do I know for sure he’s telling the truth about owning the property? Plus, I didn’t lie to my twin sister for a desperately needed day off just to have him ruin it.

“No.” I drop the blanket back onto the grass and cross my arms over my chest, which pushes the hem of the shirt up higher on my thighs but I ignore it. But I don’t miss the flicker of interest in his eyes as he takes in the sight. “How do I know you’re telling the truth about owning this property?”

“You’re a stubborn little thing, aren’t you?” He runs his hand through his beard, making my own hands itch to touch it and see if it’s soft or rough.

“You don’t know the half of it.” I square my shoulders, ready for battle, when my phone rings. I reach down into the grass and pick it up. “Hello,” I say as I answer.

“Thank goodness you answered.” Liv’s panicked voice comes through the receiver. “Lana forgot to record a reservation for a singles wine tour booked through the Forever Yours Mail Order Bride Company for tonight.”

Lana has been a mess since returning from her week-long booty call, as Liv and I refer to it as, because nothing came of it. Lana ran away with a groom but came back a week later with a broken heart.

“I'm sick, remember.” I force out a pathetic-sounding cough that sounds more like a dying duck than a cough. I glance at my sexy stranger, just in time to see him roll his eyes at my poor acting skills.

“I know you’re faking, Lyra. We’re twins, remember—we have that weird secret twin psychic power.”

“We do not.”

“Fine, I’ll prove it to you. You sound distracted and a little breathy.” Liv is way too good at reading me even through the phone.

“I do not.” I insist, causing her to laugh.

“Right. But if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were having a booty call of your own.”

“Well, I’m not,” I say a little too quickly.

“You are, aren’t you? Tell me all the details—unless you’re doing it right now. Eww, you’re not talking to me on the phone while you’re having sex, are you? Because that would be gross.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and turn away from the sexy stranger, praying he can’t hear Liv’s side of the phone call. “No, I’m not, and that would be super gross if I were talking to you while I’m doing it.” I cup my hand over the phone and whisper the last part.

“Alright, since you just admitted you’re alone, I need you back at the winery by five. The singles wine tour starts at six. Bye.” She hangs up before I can plead my case for not coming in today.

“Problem there, Snow?”

“What did you call me?” I spin to face the handsome giant. I’m a tall woman at five feet ten inches, but he still towers over me. He must be about six-six or six-seven. I could actually wear high heels if we were dating.

“Snow, like Snow White. You’re half-naked in the woods, talking to furry little creatures.”

“I don’t remember Snow White being half naked.”

“In my version, she was.” He wiggles his eyebrows, and I almost fall over. How can he go from the grumpy, stern mountain man one second to a sexy, charming ladies' man the next?

“Well, if I’m Snow White, then you’re all the dwarves rolled into one.” I inwardly cringe at the worst possible comeback ever.

“No, I’m more of the Huntsman type.” He flashes me a smile, and this time I do lose my balance, as the ground tilts beneath me. I windmill my arms, dropping my phone in the grass as I try to right myself. “I got you, Snow.” He wraps his large arms around me, holding me steady.

Once I come to my senses, I shove his chest and break free of his grip. “I can stand by myself.” I take a step back, needing to put some space between us.

“If you say so.” He shrugs, letting his hands drop to his sides. “Not a good call, I take it.”

I’m not sure what possesses me, but I find myself telling a complete stranger about all my world problems from my siblings' love lives and breakups to the extra work at the winery.

“So now my identical twin sister is demanding that I go back to the winery to help her with some stupid singles-dating wine tour, when all I want to do is sit by the river and relax.”

“Wow, there are actually two of you?” His teasing tone surprises me.

“I’m the nicer one of the two of us,” I joke, making him laugh. The deep baritone vibrates through my body, landing between my thighs. I have to bite my lip to keep from moaning at the intensity.

His laughter fades as his face grows serious. “I bet you’re the prettier of the two.” He reaches out a hand as if to touch me, then pulls it back abruptly.

“Don’t tell Liv that. She’s won beauty pageants,” I say, trying to lighten the mood, but instead of laughing, his eyes bore into mine, making me want to melt into him.

“Were you ever in them?” His eyes flick to my lips.

“No.” My voice comes out huskier than I expected.

“Then that’s why she won—she didn’t have you as competition.” This time, he touches me. His fingers graze my cheek as he tucks a lock of hair that fell out of my messy bun behind my ear.

He’s certainly a charmer, and if I’m not careful, he might charm me out of what little clothing I have on before even telling me his name. “I’ve got to run home, shower, and change before going to the winery.” He doesn’t try to stop me as I scurry around, gathering my phone, e-reader, and blanket.

I’m halfway down the trail to where I parked my car when I realize I forgot my bikini top by the river and that I’m still wearing his t-shirt, giving me the perfect excuse to see him again—because we need to exchange tops.