My Mountain Man’s Seduction (Rock Creek #3)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Mia

Iexpected Rock Creek to be a small town, but I was not expecting it to be this small.

The bus dropped me off in front of a little general store.

Beyond that, there are a few other shop fronts, and someplace called the Den.

It looks like it’s either a bar or a diner, or maybe both.

Either way, it seems to be my best chance to find someone who knows my big brother.

I didn’t tell Jamie I was coming to visit.

I knew he’d say no. He prefers me to be tucked away in my dorm room in the big city, where it’s “safe.” According to Jamie, the small town in the middle of the mountains that he called home was “no place for a young woman” and full of “wild and unpredictable men.”

He really wouldn’t want me here if he knew that was a big draw for me to come visit.

I’ve missed my big bro and obviously he’s the main reason I came to Rock Creek.

Jamie is fifteen years older than me, and for all intents and purposes, more of a father figure than a big brother. Our parents died when I was only four, and he’s given up everything to raise me and make sure I had all the opportunities he never did.

It’s exhausting trying to be everything for him. I need a break.

And that’s the other reason I’m in Rock Creek.

I take a second to adjust my denim mini skirt and shrug my cardigan off my shoulders to expose a cleavage-revealing crop top before tugging my hair out of the elastic that held it out of the way for the long bus ride. I fluff my long locks over my shoulders.

There. Now I’m ready.

Now, where are all those wild and unpredictable men?

A chill runs through me as I lift my backpack onto my shoulder and start a slow walk down the sidewalk toward the Den.

I know what I’m doing is risky, but after four years of nursing school, where I’ve spent every free minute studying and reading and studying some more, I’m beyond ready for a little fun.

Especially considering my recent acceptance into med school means another four years of celibacy and focus.

At least.

The truth is, I’m not a natural student.

Despite how many times Jamie tells me how smart I am, I have to really focus and cut out all types of social distractions—including boys—if I want to get good grades.

Which I do. Because if I don’t, my big brother will be disappointed and I just can’t bear the idea of letting him down.

This is my window. I only have a few days off from my serving job, which I need to help pay for school, so I’m going to make the most of it. I’m twenty-two, and still a virgin. But not for long.

Jamie always tells me that the reason he’s still single is because in Rock Creek the men wildly outnumber the women. That means the odds are in my favor to find a willing young man to help me with my whole virginity problem. Plus, I’ll be able to visit my favorite brother while I’m here.

It’s a two-birds, one-stone kind of situation.

As long as I ignore the fact that my brother will likely murder any man who puts his hands on me, everything should be fine. But with such limited time off, I don’t have another option. Besides, I’ll deal with that problem when the time comes.

For the moment, I’m going to focus on—

“Hello there, little darling. I don’t think I’ve seen you in town before.”

It’s happening.

A thrill shoots through me. I straighten my shoulders and, with a bravado I don’t feel, I spin around to meet my potential suitor.

Briggs

It’s early afternoon when I finally finish going over floor plans at Timberwolf Log Homes head office in town. Between the five of us, my brothers and I run pretty much all aspects of the log home business, as well as our newest venture, Wolf’s Wild Wilderness Lodge, an adventure tour business.

We’re about to open the main lodge at WWW and start welcoming guests just in time for the upcoming winter season.

A trip into town means a visit to my parents at the Den, Rock Creek’s favorite gathering place. I’m starving, and I could use a bowl of Ma’s famous chili. It’s a warm fall day, so I leave the truck at the far end of Main Street and walk the short distance to the bar.

Nothing is too far in a town the size of Rock Creek.

Like the rest of my brothers, I live in the mountains, not in town. I like the privacy and the solitude of being just a few miles out. Truthfully, my cabin isn’t too far out, close enough to walk on a nice day. But it’s just far enough to be quiet.

Unlike some of my more reclusive brothers, however, I enjoy the human contact that coming into town periodically affords me.

Mostly.

I wave at the same familiar faces I normally do, only stopping to talk to my new sister-in-law outside the general store.

“Can I help you with those, Sophie?” I reach for her bags before she can answer. “You probably shouldn’t be carrying these in your condition.”

“I’m pregnant, Briggs. Not disabled.” She rolls her eyes but flashes me a thankful smile.

“You know as well as I do that Griff would kick my ass if I let you carry your own bags.”

It was true, and she didn’t deny it. My big brother was extremely protective of his young bride.

“I appreciate the help, Briggs.” Sophie rests her hand on my arm when I finish loading her bags in the back seat of her vehicle. “I’ll be sure to let Griffin know how helpful you were.”

“Ha! I appreciate that, but I—”

The sweet tinkle of female laughter distracts me from what I’m about to say next. I turn to see where the sound is coming from when I hear it again, only this time there’s the slightest change in tone. Sophie hears it too.

“She sounds nervous.”

“She does,” I agree.

I see the her in question a moment later. Half a block away, standing in front of the hardware store, is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. And she’s surrounded by men.

“Who is that?”

I shake my head at Sophie’s question. “I’ve never seen her before.” I’d remember.

“She doesn’t look like she’s from around here.”

She certainly doesn’t. No one from Rock Creek wears clothes that short or tight. Never mind high heels.

No. She’s definitely not from around here.

Again, there’s a high-pitched trill of nervous laughter, and I see one of the men, Joey Cartwright, lean in closer to her.

Something deep inside me snaps. My fists clench at my sides and every muscle in my body tenses.

“Oh.” Sophie puts her hand to her mouth, recognizing the situation at the same time. Joey has a reputation, and it’s not a good one. “Briggs, that girl…she…”

“I know.”

I don’t say another word to my sister-in-law before making my way down the sidewalk. The other men have fallen back by the time I get there. I should pound them all for letting a predator like Joey anywhere near a woman so obviously innocent and young.

The girl’s long, dark hair falls in glossy waves over her bare shoulders, just grazing the top of her ample cleavage that’s on full display in her tight top.

She’s backed up, pressed against the brick wall of the hardware store. She still has a smile on her face, but it doesn’t take a genius to see she’s scared as hell. Joey Cartwright has caged her in with both arms, effectively trapping her.

“Hey there, Joey.” I work hard to keep my voice casual, but my rage is only barely contained. I cannot stand this man and his reputation for taking advantage of women in my town. He never crosses a line—not one that will land him in front of a judge, anyway—so there’s nothing that can be done.

Not legally anyway.

However, my brothers and I have shown him the door to the Den on more than one occasion, and we’re far from gentle about it.

“Back off, Wolf,” the other man throws over his shoulder, hardly even sparing me a glance. “I saw her first.”

The girl swallows hard, her brave facade slipping a little. She’s fucking gorgeous. And way too innocent for this place.

“Mia and I are just getting to know each other,” Joey says, his attention focused directly on the young woman—Mia. And that’s when he makes his first mistake.

The moment he reaches out his grubby paw to touch her smooth, soft cheek, I lunge into action.

I’m faster and stronger than Joey, and I have his hand in my fist in a flash. I don’t hold back as I squeeze it, crushing his bones as I yank him backward and away from his victim.

“What the fuck, Wolf!”

“You’re going to leave Mia alone, Joey. Aren’t you?

” My voice is only barely constrained. Joey knows exactly what kind of damage I can do.

At six-five, I’m at least half a foot taller than he is.

Never mind the weight difference. I’m two hundred and forty pounds of solid muscle.

He stands no chance against me, and he knows it.

When he doesn’t respond immediately, I squeeze his hand a little tighter until he squeals.

“Fine.”

The moment he utters the word, I release him.

Joey staggers backward and clutches his hand to his chest. “Asshole.” He spits in my direction, moments before he makes his second mistake. “The slut is all—”

He doesn’t have a chance to finish his sentence before my fist connects with his jaw.