My Mountain Man’s Surrender (Rock Creek #4)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Ryder

There are a lot of perks when it comes to working with my four brothers in our little out-of-the-way town of Rock Creek. We get to live in a beautiful, wild remote town, set our own hours and make a damn good living between our two businesses.

When I’m working with TimberWolf Log Homes, the physical work of building the cabins is better than any gym could ever be at keeping me in shape, and I love the feel of working with my hands.

But Wolf’s Wild Wilderness Lodge holds its own set of perks. Like the two young ladies who are currently enjoying a glass of wine in the dining room.

“Ladies.” I put my arm over the backs of their chairs. “How are you this evening? I hope you’re enjoying your stay with us.”

The blonde with the big tits bats her eyelashes and straightens her shoulders to press her very generous breasts out even further. “It’s been so relaxing,” she purrs. “But maybe a little lonely, if you know what I mean?”

Oh, I know what she means, and I’m more than happy to help her out with her loneliness problem. “I think maybe we could do something about—”

“Ryder!”

I suck in a breath and shake my head with a little chuckle at the sound of my brother’s voice. Briggs may be the youngest of the five of us, but he is definitely the biggest cock block.

“Excuse me for a moment, ladies.” I give them each a wink and gesture to our bartender to send them another round before joining Briggs, and Jaxon, our middle brother, in the main lobby.

“You gotta back off the female guests, Ryder.”

“I can’t say I agree with that, Briggs.” I shake my head but keep the mood light with a laugh.

“She was just telling me how her stay would be so much more enjoyable if only she weren’t so lonely.

” I glance over my shoulder at the blonde and blow her a kiss before Jaxon grabs me by the arm and tugs me away.

“He’s right,” Jaxon says. “It’s only a matter of time before it blows up in your face.”

He’s not wrong, but that doesn’t mean I want to hear it. What I want is to get back to that blonde and her friend and—

“Before it blows up in all of our faces,” Briggs clarifies. “Remember, this is a family business. Your bullshit antics affect all of us.”

He’s not wrong either. With a sigh, I take one last look at the blonde and her tits and lead the way across the lobby to the front desk.

“Just because you’re happily shacked up doesn’t mean the rest of us want that,” I say to Briggs.

Three out of the five of us have found partners and I, for one, am tired of hearing about how it’s my turn next and how I’ll know when I know.

And not just from my brothers, but our parents, too. Just because they all fell in love at first sight doesn’t mean it will happen to me.

Or that I even want it.

“You don’t even know what you’re missing,” Briggs says. “With Mia, it was—”

“I know, I know. Love at first sight.” I cut him off. “And don’t get me wrong. That’s great. For you. But it’s not my style. I like playing the field and exploring my options.”

I don’t need to look in their direction to know that both of them are rolling their eyes.

“Just don’t explore your options around here,” Jaxon says. “Especially with the reporter who’s showing up this afternoon. This piece in Weekend Warrior will be huge for us.”

“If it’s favorable,” Briggs adds. “So don’t screw it up by getting her into bed.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “I’ve never had an unfavorable review of my performance in bed.”

I know I’m pushing my luck, so I rein it in. “Don’t worry, guys. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior. Besides, nerdy reporters aren’t my type. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Every woman is your type.” Jaxon doesn’t look convinced.

But he’s going to have to try—they both are—because I’m the one on duty tonight. We have great staff in place at the lodge, but we still prefer to have one of us on-site as much as possible. Especially with the reporter coming.

“I’ve got this.” I flash them my most convincing smile. “I promise I won’t seduce the reporter. You have my word.”

My word counts for something. My brothers know I would never do anything on purpose to put our livelihood in jeopardy. They can trust me.

“Okay.” Briggs slaps me on the back, and Jaxon nods. “Thanks, Ryder.”

“It’s nothing. Besides, like I said…reporter chicks aren’t my—”

The words die on my lips as I turn at the sound of the front door opening to see a petite woman drowning in a huge parka.

When she pulls the hood down and shakes her chestnut hair free, I’m speechless because the little slip of a woman shouldn’t be my type.

She looks to be at least ten to fifteen years younger than me.

And sweet. Way too sweet for me. Like a kitten with a wolf.

I like my women to be experienced and more…well, let’s just say the blonde in the bar with the big tits and the enthusiasm to have me in her bed is a whole lot more of my type than this innocent-looking little thing.

But then why did my dick get hard the moment she walked in? And why is my heart racing?

“Ryder?”

I clear my throat as I realize I’ve been staring at the woman and turn back to my brothers. “See?” I say. “Not my type at all. There’s nothing to worry about here.”

Chloe

I’m not new to winter, but somehow winter in the mountains is different. There is way more snow up here at Wolf’s Wild Wilderness Lodge than back in the city. Judging by the sky, it looks like there’ll be more soon.

Not that it matters to me. In fact, I wouldn’t mind a little snowstorm to block the roads and keep me stranded up here for a few extra days so I can get some writing done, undisturbed.

I’m probably not lucky enough to get snowed in, but that’s okay. I have a plan.

If I write the article I’ve been assigned as quickly as possible, I’ll still have time to work on my novel. As long as my editor Lisa is happy with my work, she never needs to know.

But if I’m going to do that, I need to check into my room and get started on the list of activities she told me to report on.

The snow is deep as I pick my way through the small parking lot to the big stone steps of the lodge. From the outside, the log building is impressive, but I expected that.

My preliminary research told me that the Wolf brothers, who also own a very successful log home construction company, built the ten-bedroom lodge, complete with a gourmet restaurant, gathering rooms, and outdoor wood-fired hot tubs and saunas themselves.

Stepping inside, I’m greeted at once by the warmth of the huge stone fireplace at one end of the massive room. With the vaulted wood beam ceilings, slate floors, and giant overstuffed couches in front of the hearth, I’m drawn in immediately.

Almost by instinct, I begin walking straight to the big easy chair, where I can picture myself curling up with my notebook to write my next story. It’s not until I hear a deep voice that I’m yanked out of my spell.

“How can I help you?”

When I turn to see the huge mountain man standing behind the reception desk, I have to do a quick double take. Men like this don’t really exist in real life, do they? He’s huge!

He’s got to be at least a full foot taller than my five foot five.

And those muscles… I have to check myself to be sure I’m not drooling.

I need to remain as professional as possible so I can write up an unbiased review to keep Lisa happy.

Besides, it’s not like a gruff, lumberjack mountain man who is at least ten years older than me would even bother to take a second look at a shy, little mousy girl like me.

There’s a reason I stick to reading and writing romance novels.

And it’s not because I’m so busy with my own real-life experience.

Quite the opposite.

It takes me a moment to realize I’m still standing like an idiot in the middle of the lobby, staring at the sexy man instead of actually checking in and getting started on my assignment.

With as much composure as possible, I straighten my shoulders and step toward the desk.

“Hi.” My voice shakes just speaking to this beast of a man, and I silently berate myself and try again. “I’m Chloe Sullivan. I’m checking in.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Chloe. I’m Ryder Wolf. We’ve been expecting you.”

“You have?” Something about the smooth way he speaks to me has a very new kind of heat racing through me, and suddenly I’m way too hot in my parka and boots.

“Of course. You’re writing a piece about the lodge, aren’t you?”

All of a sudden, it’s clear. He’s only flirting with me because I’m writing the review piece. Of course. I’m glad I figured that out before I made a fool of myself.

“We’re very happy to have you here at Wolf’s Wild Wilderness. And we’ve set aside our best room for you this weekend.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that. I don’t want any special treatment.”

He leans across the desk a little and whispers, “It’s the only room with a claw-foot bathtub.”

I don’t know how he knows that a bathtub is my weak spot, or whether it was a lucky guess, but I’m a total sucker for a bubble bath.

It’s just about my favorite thing, because my crappy apartment only has a tiny shower stall.

Whenever I get the chance, I love to indulge in a good long soak with my favorite book.

With a nod, I accept the key he hands me. “Thank you. That will be a welcome treat after my snowshoe tonight.”

“Snowshoe?” Ryder laughs. “Oh no. Not this evening.” He shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest.

I try not to stare at his bare forearms, exposed from his rolled-up flannel sleeves, especially because he’s telling me no. That’s not an option.

“Oh, yes. In order to properly write my article, I have a few activities that I plan to take part in while I’m here, including the evening snowshoe around the grounds.” I pull out the printed list, as if he cares about my assignment, and put it on the counter.

“Well, it’s not going to happen tonight,” Ryder says as his lips twitch up into a grin that I would find incredibly sexy if I wasn’t so aggravated by him telling me no. “Didn’t you notice those storm clouds rolling in? We’re in for a storm tonight. You’re not going anywhere.”