Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 95(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 95(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 63(@300wpm)
This is wild, fertile land, where the men are ready to whisk their women to bed.
No hook-ups or one-night stands.
Here in the Evergreen Mountains, the men are fiercely loyal.
Here, love lasts a lifetime.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
ONE
char
The gas gauge needle inches lower and lower, leaving me anxious that at any moment, my car is going to sputter out and die, leaving me stranded on the side of this rural backwater road.
I am grateful Savvy and Hunter insisted I come out here as I make a new plan for my life. The old diner where Savvy used to work, with me as the manager, just went out of business. Without family to fall back on, I feel like Savvy and her new husband are my guardian angels.
I reach the end of the road, and the car’s engine is turned off, thankfully because I wanted it to, not because I’m out of gas. Hunter says he has a jerry can full of fuel for me to help me get to the next gas station, when I texted showing my concern about how I couldn’t even afford an extra gallon at the nearest filling station.
The sun shines on my face as I step out of the car and take in the fresh forest air. I’m incredibly jealous of what Savvy has up here. I’d never let her know it, but her whole fairy tale of getting swept up by a hot, sexy mountain man is something I wished would happen to me. But lightning never strikes twice. I’ll have to find my own, one way or another.
Hunter and Savvy have this lovely little cabin in Evergreen Valley, one that’s rapidly expanding. Hunter has talent as a carpenter and is putting it to use on their home, and the growing little family they have going: something I’m reminded of as Savvy comes out onto the porch, a spring in her step, and a bit messy herself. Being a new mother will do that to anyone.
I’m then hit with the sweet smell of barbecue, my stomach rumbling. A diet consisting of ramen and peanut butter sandwiches will do that to you. I’m feeling a craving for meat at that moment.
“Char, you made it. Your car didn’t break down!”
Savvy rushes out, not too fast, and wraps her arms around me.
“Thankfully. Although, I think making even one wrong turn could have changed that.”
She looks me over, likely seeing my tired eyes and complete lack of makeup. “You look rough as hell, girl.”
“Thanks, I didn’t need you to point that out.”
She shakes her head, giving me that usual sassy glare.
I pause. “Sorry, it’s been really hard. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I know you mean well.”
Savvy and I have a lot in common. We come from broken homes with controlling parents who expected respect while never doing anything to earn it. I tried to look out for her when she first started at the diner, and I think I may have come off as slightly abrasive. But that’s in the past now, and she’s quickly become my best friend.
“Don’t worry about it. I know everything’s been rough for you, Char.” She smiles, giving me a sisterly side hug. “Hunter’s out back. As I’m sure you can smell, he’s got some brisket smoking.”
“Oh Lord, I can definitely smell it. How much longer do I have to wait? It reminded me of how hungry I am.”
She pulls out her phone briefly. “From when he last told me, it’ll be ready in about an hour. Got some macaroni and potato salad if you really can’t wait.”
I smirk. “Taking the diner’s secret recipe with you, huh?”
“A good recipe is a good recipe. No matter if it comes from a greasy spoon or a five-star restaurant.”
I hear another vehicle rumbling up behind me. Savvy's made a lot more friends besides me since she’s moved out to Evergreen Valley, mostly through Hunter, but I wasn’t expecting to meet any of them today.
My eyes roll over the big green pickup truck behind me. It’s taken a lot of off-road wear and tear, from what I can gather, but hearing its engine suggests that it's taken care of where it truly counts. Not that I was any sort of truck aficionado or anything, but anyone who rolled up to the diner in a pickup that was looking pristine and off the lot usually ended up being a problem customer, so I’d developed a bit of prejudice against that type.
When I see who steps out from the driver's side, prejudice is the last thing on my mind. A chestnut-haired, barrel-bodied individual steps out—and man, what a man. He’s got those big blue eyes, a soft gaze, and a square jaw with a sexy little bit of stubble. I’m smitten as I see him, and suddenly wish I'd went all out and gotten made up.
“You didn’t tell me there would be company,” I whisper to Savvy.
“I didn’t say there wouldn’t. Bear’s good people. Don’t worry about it so much.”
Bear? If I was left alone in the woods with either a man or a bear, one look at this sexy fella and I know what I would choose.