Summer for the Mountain Man (Mountain Man Summer 2026 #1)

Chapter 1

Summer

I look out the window and smile. It’s raining.

Like a last little gift from the nature gods.

One last rain shower before the summer season really kicks off.

Personally, I like the rain. And I especially like it here in my Aunt’s Boathouse Cafe where the windows look out over the lake.

It can get as dark as it likes out there.

In here there is always a soft orange glow from the many lamps reflecting off polished wood and unpolished antiques.

The floor creaks. The door lets in a draft.

And currently there is a leak in the roof dripping down into a metal bucket on the bar.

But this cafe, and the small rooms above it, has always been where I most feel at home.

“Urgh, I can’t believe it’s raining.”

There are three girls sitting in one of the booths. All sitting on the same side so they can look out towards the front door and the jetty that stretches back towards the land. I go over to wipe down their table and take the waitress pad out of my apron pocket.

“What can I get for you?” I ask politely.

They’re townies. All with blonde hair and wearing bikini tops that aren’t really weather appropriate today.

The taller one lets out a dramatic sigh. “There is only one thing I want.”

Her statement makes me look over to what has captured their attention. The reason they are all sitting on the same side of the booth.

Ridge Kingsley. He is standing half way up the jetty talking to two women.

I know him. Of course I know him. Everybody knows the Kingsley family.

Just last night I was waitressing at one of their parties.

Waitressing. I’ve never been an invited guest. While my Aunt’s cafe on the lake might feel like home to me, I’ve always felt like a bit of an outsider looking in at all the other people enjoying their summer holidays.

Particularly a family as well off and well known as the Kingsleys.

The girls in the booth were probably invited.

They have the right look, the clothes that indicate a sizable bank account.

They have that friendship girls here at the lake seem to have.

Always seen together. Laying out, laughing, drinking cocktails on the beach together.

I have red, frizzy hair, a size eighteen ass and I work all summer. I currently live above the cafe. And the few summers I spent here as a kid, I kept to myself. Never quite knowing how to talk to kids my own age. Always on the outside looking in.

“You know he is finally looking to settle down.” The blondes draw my attention back to the table.

“Of course I know it.” The prettier one flicks her hair over her tanned shoulder. “It’s why I convinced mommy that we should come here instead of Europe this year.”

They sit there staring and while I stand there waiting. I clear my throat with annoyance. “Coffee? Tea? Milkshakes? A slice of cake?”

All three of them make a face like I had just suggested they set themselves on fire.

With a little shrug I leave them to it and walk over to the bar.

We’re a small cafe. And we usually cater mostly to the locals.

The Boathouse is a ten minute walk from the main part of the lake, The Cove.

That’s where the general store is, where you can get everything from fishing bait to flip flops.

There is a cafe/restaurant there. There is also space for food vans that come in every summer and on the other side of The Cove is a caravan park.

I start polishing some silver as I watch the girls.

I was raised by a single mom who loved me but she worked all the time in an aged care facility.

Sometimes she would take me with her and I would sit and read or listen to the old folk tell me stories.

They would tell me fairy tales about princesses who were rescued by a handsome prince.

And then my mom would tell me that the princess should have made her own way in the world and not have to rely on a prince to come rescue her.

The blondes were waiting for their prince.

I glance out toward Ridge Kingsley, standing in the rain.

He looks like he could be a fairy tale prince.

All of the Kingsley men are good looking.

All tall, dark and handsome. Broad shoulders.

Chiseled jawlines. And they all have a reputation of being wild.

But Ridge always struck me as being a little more reserved. He was a serious kid. Not that I knew him. But I used to sit out on the jetty or climb up in trees and pretend that I was a member of the pack of kids who came here every summer.

They would all swim together, boat together, play together. Later they would have crushes on each other. Maybe sneak off somewhere and have their first sexual experiences together. Fall in love with each other. Stay together. Laugh together.

“Are they ordering anything?” My Aunt Ava comes out from the back. “Or are they just going to sit there gawking?”

I chuckle. My Aunt has about as much patience for outsiders as I do. We need the summer season to get us through the rest of the year. But we both prefer when the lake is quiet and peaceful.

“They seem happy to just sit there. I think I’ll go up and see if I can fix the leak in our roof.” I take off my apron.

“It’s raining!”

“It’s fine. It’s easing off. I’ll be careful. And I’d rather look at a leak in the roof than sit here and watch that lot drooling over some rich guy who is probably spoiled, arrogant and rude.”