Protective Mountain Man (Dangerous Devotion #15)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Paisley

“Thank you. Have a great day.” I handed the customer her bag of pastries and a honey lavender tea, one of the bakery’s specialties.

“You too, dear. And be careful getting home, now. The storm is coming in fast.” She took her items and turned towards the door.

I glanced out the window. The sky had gotten darker over the course of the morning, and it looked like more storm clouds were on the way.

“Looking pretty dark out there, hmm?” Ruby, my boss and owner of the bakery I currently worked at, Appleridge Sweets, appeared beside me. “Good thing we have a generator. Thanks to my wonderful husband.”

I smiled warmly at her. I loved my boss and my job here. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I made the drinks and served the customers as a backup when we were busy. But a big part of me wanted to try my hand at baking. I’ve always liked it.

Ah, well. It didn’t matter.

I couldn’t ask Ruby if I could bake here.

It was her bakery, her and her grandmother’s recipes, and she did all the baking, besides the cakes.

Stella, the cake decorator, handled all the cakes and decorating, along with the custom and specialty orders.

She was a peach, just like Ruby, and the other two ladies who worked the counter.

A shy, quiet girl named Tia and an older, sweet woman named Barb. I couldn’t have asked for a better job.

At first, I wasn’t sure I’d like it here, having grown up in the city. But time and again, the small town proved me wrong. Although my apartment wasn’t the best, mostly because of the size, I got up every day smiling.

“You do have a wonderful husband. You are one lucky girl, Ruby.” I smiled at my boss and wondered how she handled it all. A husband, two kids, and her bakery. It was like the woman never stopped.

“Ah, finally a lull.” Barb said as she strolled up beside us, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Busy morning. Everyone’s grabbing their sweets before they hunker down.”

“Is the storm going to be that bad?” I chewed on the side of my fingernail. My car had seen better days. I doubted it would handle the mud well. The last thing I needed was to get stuck.

“A lot of rain, which causes a lot of mud. Especially this time of year, as spring blooms and all the snow melts.” Ruby explained.

“Crap. My car sucks.”

“Don’t worry, sweetie.” Ruby patted me on the back. “When we close up, if it’s bad outside, Austin and I will give you a ride home, okay?”

“Thank you.” I released the air from my lungs. Phew. “That would be great.”

“Barry and I can, too. Just say the word, toots.” Barb said before she walked off, wiping the counter and smiling at the customer who walked in.

“One day, you’ll have a man who will come pick you up, rain or shine. And you’ll be madly in love.” Ruby smiled wistfully.

I chuckled. Unlikely. “Probably not. I’m not into dating for the time being. Focusing on myself right now.”

Ruby shot me a look before she burst out laughing. “Oh, sweet girl, that is what I thought, too. Just you wait.”

“What do you mean? Wait for what?” My curiosity got the better of me.

“You haven’t heard about it yet, have you?” Ruby smiled, her eyes lighting up. “Of course not. You’re new in town. I’m talking about the Appleridge lovebug.”

“A love bug? You can’t be serious.” I snickered and studied her quizzically.

“Yes. It’s true. It sounds crazy, but it’s not. Stella knows about it too.” Ruby tilted her head to the side and motioned with her eyes to Stella entering through the back door. I glanced behind me and Stella walked slowly towards us, a large cake in her hands.

“Stella knows about what?” She asked as she placed the cake on the counter. It was gorgeous, with an array of wildflowers made of frosting and the words Happy Birthday Mom written below them. Stella made beautiful cakes.

“The Appleridge lovebug.” Ruby replied.

“Yep. Happens to all of us. Hard to believe at first but trust me. It bites hard.” Stella said. “Julian became impossible to resist.”

Ruby grinned at me. “There’s plenty of handsome mountain men lingering around. When you see him for the first time, you’ll know.”

I eyed them skeptically and raised my eyebrows.

Both Ruby and Stella laughed.

“It’s true, P.” Stella grabbed a cake box. “It’s hard to describe it, but it’s like a twist in your gut, as if he has knocked all the air from your lungs, and you just know…he’s the one. And then the amazing sex part comes, know what I’m saying?” Stella winked and elbowed me playfully in the side.

“Let’s let her be surprised on some things, Stel.” Ruby’s cheeks were pink and she fanned herself with an oven mitt. “Damn. Is it hot in here or is it just me?”

“What’s got you ladies all hot and bothered?” Barb jumped into the conversation once again.

“Our men,” Stella and Ruby answered at the same time and we all laughed.

“Barry really gets me going too.” Barb winked and scampered off before saying another word.

As we all got back to work, the Appleridge lovebug talk wouldn’t leave my head. Maybe I’d meet someone…a handsome mountain man like Austin or Julian, who will sweep me off my feet.

I couldn’t help being skeptical.

Maybe I was hopeless at love.

Or maybe it’s just pure luck to find your other half.

The storm rolled in and the skies opened up, rain pouring down. Thunder crashed in the distance and the clouds lit up with lightening.

Once the rain started, the customers stopped flowing in. Ten minutes later, the power went out. All the lights went dark in the bakery until several seconds later, it all powered back on.

“There’s the generator.” Ruby said. “We won’t be able to run the ovens, and the lights are dimmer, but the fridge and freezer run, along with our cases out front.”

I nodded. “Good, all the food is safe.”

“Yes. I doubt any customers will come in, so I’m going to send Barb home and have you close up the front.”

“Got it.”

An hour later, Ruby walked over to the window. “How’s it looking out there?”

“The rain slowed down. Hopefully it’ll stop soon.”

Lights pulled into the parking lot, a large truck with ladders, the town’s electricity company’s logo on the side.

“That must be the power line workers. Let’s brew them a pot of coffee and put together a box of sandwiches and one of muffins. Would you mind bringing it to them?”

“Sure.” I got the items together and set up a tray with cups of coffee with lids, sugar, creamer, and the boxes of sandwiches and sweets. Ruby’s apple cinnamon muffins were on top and they smelled so good, my mouth watered.

I headed outside, holding onto the tray tightly. The rain was a light drizzle now, the air thick and humid. As I got closer to the truck, I saw two men working. One up at the top of the pole and one on the ground.

Damn. I definitely brought too much. What was I thinking? That a whole crew of ten people would show up? Oh well, too late now. They’d have extra.

I smiled as I approached. But as I got closer and the man came into view, I almost tripped, catching myself in time before the tray flew out of my hands

Shit!

I squeezed the tray harder.

“Whoa, you okay there?” His scent hit me first.

Then his voice.

And then…him.

He was so handsome, his jawline sharp, his features dark, and his lips so smooth and so damn kissable.

His work gear was like the cherry on top. Rugged, sexy, and downright deliciously dirty.

Hot, hot, hot.

What was happening?

No…no…it can’t be.

“When you see him, you’ll know. A twist in your gut.” Ruby and Stella’s words replayed in my head.

“Hi.” I breathed.

“Hi.” He smiled, a lopsided grin that turned my insides into mush.

I shook my head but then laughed at myself, thrusting the tray into his hands. “I…I brought you some sandwiches and muffins. Oh, and coffee. There’s coffee, too.” I pointed at the tray like an idiot. What was I even saying?

“Thank you…?” He trailed off.

He looked at me expectantly, and it hit me after a few moments. “Oh, shit, sorry. Paisley. I’m Paisley. I work over at the bakery. If you need more coffee or anything, feel free to come over.” I rambled on. I’m such a fool.

A wide smile stretched across his handsome face, his pearly whites on display. Dammit, could he get any more handsome? This man couldn’t be real. “Nice to meet you, Paisley. I’m Isaiah. Thanks for the goodies. We sure could use them.”

His smile rendered me useless. Utterly useless.

I smiled, nodded, and waved before walking off. Ugh. I waved? Cringey.

Whatever. There was no such thing as a love bug. It was silly to even entertain the idea.

Yet as I walked back to the bakery, his eyes burning into my backside, I had a feeling I wasn’t the same person I was when I walked over there.

And I had no fucking clue what that meant.