Snowy Date with the Mountain Man (Date Night In The Mountains #13)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Wilde

“Yes, sir. I’ll have the reports done for you by mid-week. I’m waiting on a few more audits.” I clicked over to a new screen on my computer, and my eyes scanned the words, the back of my eyelids burning.

I couldn’t wait to close them later.

“Perfect. Have a great weekend, Colonel Simmons. It’s going to be a snowy one.”

I chuckled. “Now General Manley, why did you have to remind of that?”

“Make sure you gas up that snowmobile!”

“Oh, I will. Otis is already barking at me to get out in the snow.”

“As Goldies do. Over and out.”

I hung up the phone on my desk and clicked out of the report screen.

Grabbing my phone, I pulled up the weather app and sure enough, a major storm was developing, a few feet of snow possible.

I swear, sometimes these storms come out of nowhere.

Good thing I was always prepared come winter, something the military instilled in me from a young age.

After cleaning up my desk, I scrolled social media, killing the time until I could leave.

I was looking forward to a quiet weekend of snow, my dog, Otis, and maybe some snowmobiling, weather permitting.

When the snow came down hard and fast and the wind whipped around, it wasn’t ideal riding. I’d learned that lesson the hard way.

My cell phone buzzed on my desk, and my sister’s name and face filled the screen. “Hey Elena, what’s up?”

“Wilde. My eldest brother. How do you do?”

I chuckled. “Your favorite brother, you mean? I’m doing just fine, and yourself?”

“Good. Ready for a quiet weekend with myself and my book. But I wanted to check in. We haven’t spoken in a bit.”

“I know. It’s been crazy at work. All the beginning of the year crap, with taxes and reports coming out of my ass. Fun stuff. I was hoping we could catch up over dinner. I’ll cook.”

“Perfect. How’s tonight?”

“Are you missing me that much, sis?”

“Sure am. Just figured I’m free tonight. Why not?”

“Okay. I have a pot roast in the crock pot. Does that work?”

“Look at you being all domesticated and shit. Since when do you own a crock pot?”

“Since forever. It saves a ton of time.”

“I’ll be there for six. And there better be mashed potatoes.”

“What’s pot roast without mashed potatoes?”

Later that night, after a run with Otis and a hot shower, I boiled some potatoes and prepped broccoli, sprinkling it with oil and seasonings.

I didn’t always know how to cook well, but after living on my own and getting sick of takeout food and how expensive it was, I learned by watching YouTube videos, and now I cooked more than I ate out.

My parents taught me a few things, but they were busy with jobs and raising children, like my sister, fourteen years younger than me and needing a lot of care still.

After high school, I quickly joined the military, and I had no choice but to grow up and learn how to care for myself.

It was one of the best things I ever did.

“Woof, woof.” Otis barked and spun in circles by the front door, his signal someone was here.

Less than a minute later, my sister walked through the door, a tray in one hand. Her warm smile filled my cabin, and I pulled her into a hug while Otis danced at our feet.

“I feel like you’re taller every time I see you,” Elena said as she handed me a chocolate cream pie. “Can’t show up without dessert, bro.”

“Last I checked, I hadn’t grown an inch since high school. Come on, dinner is just about done.” I led her into the kitchen, the smell of beef filling the air.

My stomach rumbled, and my mouth watered. Damn, I was hungrier than I thought.

“Wow, it smells so yummy in here. I’m ready to eat now.” Elena hung her jacket on the back of a chair and slipped off her boots, placing them by the stove. “I’m still so obsessed with your cabin.”

“Thanks, sis. I love it, too.” After settling into an office job in the military, I built myself a secluded cabin, working tirelessly on nights and weekends, while camping out in my sister’s basement.

I hired help where I needed it, as I was lost when it came to HVAC and electrical work.

Two years later, and I moved in and adopted Otis a month later as a gift to myself.

We caught up over dinner, the usual life bullshit, and when we made it to dessert, Elena shot me a look, one I knew very well from her. She needed a favor.

“What is it?” I asked her before she had the chance to ask me.

“Wipe that grumpy look off your face. I don’t need anything.”

I smirked. “Yes, you do. I see it.”

“No, I don’t. Just hear me out. There’s a woman I’ve become close to at work and she reminds me a lot of you.”

“Reminds you of me? A grumpy loner?”

“You’re not grumpy.”

“To you. But if you passed me on the street, would I look like a friendly approachable guy?”

Elena laughed. “Okay, I see your point. But hear me out. She loves old movies like you, you know the black and white classics, and she loves dogs. She has one, well technically, she lives at her parents because her landlord hates dogs, but it’s still her dog.

And she’s adorable. I think you’ll really like her.

Get this, too. You both have painful pasts and know what it’s like to grieve.

” My sister said the last part softly, gently like placing a sleeping baby down, but it still stung.

I pushed it away and shook my head. “Thanks, but I’m good. I like it here, just me and Otis.” I said, my dog lifting his head at the sound of his name.

“I know, but wouldn’t it be nice to come home to someone? And I think the two of you will really hit it off. It’s been years. Maybe try one date? Nothing more. I promise.”

It had been years since I went on a date. But I liked it that way. I wanted it that way. I didn’t do love and that wasn’t changing anytime soon. “Thanks, but I’m good. I like my life the way it is.”

“Well, I kind of…sort of…already told her you would.”

I groaned. “Elena! What the hell?”

My sister’s shoulders fell, and she covered her face with her hands peaking between her fingers. “Ugh, I know, I’m sorry! But she’s so sweet and cute and I couldn’t help myself. I’ll cancel it. I’ll tell her you’re sick or you went out of town.”

“Did you set this date up for me or for yourself?” I took the last bite of chocolate pie, enjoying the rich creaminess in my mouth. “Sounds like you want her as a sister-in-law.”

“So, what if I do? Reagan’s the best.”

“Reagan?” The name rolled off my tongue in a way I didn’t expect. It’s just a name, you fool.

“Yes. C’mon, say yes. I’ll pay for your dinner. You’ve got nothing to lose.”

“Wow, you really like this girl, hmm? So much you’ll pay for dinner?” I studied my sister, a calm, relaxed look on her face. She was being dead serious.

Elena eyed me playfully. “I know you’re going to have a good time and it’s money well spent.”

“You’re so confident.”

“I know. So go.”

“Fine. But tell Reagan, it’s one date. Nothing more.”

“Deal.” Elena clapped her hands and wiggled in her seat. “Meet at Mountain Eats at six tomorrow night. Got it?”

“Spending the big bucks. I like it, sis.”

“Yeah, yeah. Call me after the date.”

Despite the impending snowstorm, I showered and shaved, cleaning myself up for the date.

What am I doing?

Why did I let Elena convince me?

While I didn’t expect anything, I couldn’t show up looking like I just rolled out of bed, so I dressed in a pair of nice jeans and a button-down shirt. I debated on a tie or jacket, deciding not to use either, and instead opened the top buttons, going for a more casual, relaxed look.

I arrived at the mountaintop restaurant ten minutes early, grabbing a table in a back corner and ordering a round of waters. I sipped on it, my eyes flicking towards the door every second, my heart rate increasing beat for beat.

This was a dumb idea. I should just order a to-go meal and head home. Share it with Otis and call it a night.

Relax. Five more minutes and you can go.

“Wilde?”

The sweetest voice landed on my ears, and I froze in place. My eyes searched for the sound and found the source instantly in the form of the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen before.

Oh…my…God

I swallowed hard, a sudden lump in my throat.

“I’m Reagan.”

In that moment, I became certain- my life changed forever.