by Sara Hazel
Mountain Dreams
Mountain Man Curvy Romance Bundle #1
by
Sara Hazel
Copyright 2020 Sara Hazel
Cover designed by Sara Hazel
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Sara Hazel
Visit my website at https://www.sarahazel.com
Sugar Baby Sweetie Pie
The debut novel from Amazon best selling short romance author Sara Hazel -- the Queen of Curves.
Juliann “Sweetie Pie” Addison has grown up hating her nickname. But when her new mentor – famous Pastry Chef Zack Elliott – calls her “sweetie pie” it has a whole new ring to it. But Zack has a reputation for breaking HEARTS, and it seems Juliann is next on his list.
What if the handsome pastry chef has decided the curvy Juliann is the one woman that he just can’t take his eyes off? What if he’s decided he wants to have BABIES – with HER?
Juliann’s life is about to get SUPER SWEET, and more than a little sticky...
Sugar Baby Sweetie Pie is an older man younger curvy woman pastry chef romance from Sara Hazel – the Queen of Curves!
This is standalone full-length novel #1 in the Sugar & Extra Spice series. A series that effortlessly blends sappy sweetness with that extra Sara Hazel spice you’ve grown to love. <3
On Amazon Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.
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XOXO
Sara Hazel
Sweet Mountain Valentine
Elyse
*
I knew this day was coming.
But I still wasn’t prepared for it.
My phone buzzes, and I look down to see a text from my boyfriend Chase. It just says “We need to talk.”
I’m in the middle of staring at a blank word document that is supposed to be my romance novel. I guess someday it will be one, but for now the words just won’t come. I’ve been so worried about me and Chase that I haven’t been able to get much done the past few months. I caught him at a party with another girl about six months ago — a party he was supposed to take me to but cancelled out on me. But I went with my friend Jasmine instead, and that’s where I accidentally walked into one of the bedrooms to find Chase on top of this skinny blonde chick giving her everything he had — which admittedly didn’t look to be much.
Chase apologized to me — his curvy virgin girlfriend — and promised to never do it again. I should have known he wouldn’t be able to wait till marriage, but I guess the hopeless romantic in me didn’t want to admit it.
My hands shake as I type my reply to Chase:
“You can come over now if you want.”
His reply comes through quickly. “I can’t come over. We’ll just talk right now — via text.”
“Ok,” I reply.
A few minutes pass and I don’t get a response from Chase. So, I set my phone down and go back to staring at my computer screen in hopes that I might be able to will the words I need into being.
It takes almost an hour for another text to come through. This text is long, rambling, and full of hate. It says that our relationship is over and it’s all my fault. If only I had slept with him, then he wouldn’t have to look for sex with other women. He also tells me that he thinks I’m fat and will be alone for the rest of my life. Those are the major takeaways. Basically, it’s my fault that he can’t control himself and the failure of our relationship is my fault too.
I know he’s wrong. I want to argue with him. I want to see him in person and shout at him. But I know that even if I did see him, I wouldn’t be able to get the words out. I’m not a fighter. I’ve never stood up for myself against him once. He does the shouting, blames the whole fight on me, and all I do is stand there and take it.
But today hurts worse than most of our fights. I’m done being a victim for Chase. Part of me wonders if he just gets off on doing this to me. My final text to him as tears stream down my face is a simple “Ok.”
Chase sends back another vitriolic rant listing all my perceived flaws. I won’t respond this time. I whisper a quiet vow to myself that I will no longer allow him to treat me this way. I won’t accept the things that he’s saying about me. None of them are true. He really doesn’t know me at all and that’s what he’s proving right now.
My heart wasn’t ready for this. But perhaps my spirit was. I find my well of inner strength and tap into it as I block Chase’s phone number. I then go onto all of my social media accounts and immediately block him on every one of those as well.
This is it. A clean break.
I can’t stop him from showing up here in an attempt to continue the battle, but if that happens, I’ll call the police and have him dragged off. I won’t let him in. Chase will no longer be given space in my mind or heart.
I slam the lid of my computer shut and head for my closet. I need to get out of here — now. Piles of clothes are stacked up in my closet. I’ve been meaning to donate some and move closer to my goal of becoming a minimalist this year, but I haven’t found the time yet.
I dig my suitcase out and shove as many of my comfy clothes into it as possible. Where I’m going, I won’t need fancy clothes to impress anyone. I’ve got three weeks of vacation that my boss has been trying to get me to use, so now seems like a good time to use all of it.
Once my bag is packed, I fire off a quick email to my boss Jared explaining that. I’ve finally reached the point where I need to take time off for my mental health. To my surprise, I get a response back twenty minutes later. Things have been slow at our company for a while now, and Jared is fine with me taking a break before our busy spring season begins.
I think the best place for me right now is my grandpa’s mountain cabin in Idaho. He told me I can come anytime and use it. The spare key is always kept under a rock near the door. I’m pretty sure no one else is using it right now — not my grandpa or anyone else. They usually only visit it in the summer.
Since I’m driving to Idaho by myself, I call my best friend Jasmine to let her know my whole crazy plan.
“I’m gonna take a trip across the country and forget that Chase Bell even exists.”
“Sweetie, it’s a good idea to forget about him, but you don’t have to disappear on some mountain to make it happen. Maybe get a hotel room here in the city and just cry it out for a few days. Work on your novel and then start over. Or better yet — come out drinking with me tonight and we’ll find you a new guy. And if we don’t find one, we’ll just have a girl’s week acting like tourists all over Chicago. It will be fun, and I guarantee you won’t think about Chase once.”
“I don’t want just any new guy, Jasmine. I want the right guy. And I’m not gonna find him in a bar in Chicago. It’s sweet of you to want to look out for me right now, but I feel like I need to do this on my own.”
“Damn, you’re stubborn. Well, don’t get attacked by any Idaho mountain men. I need you to come ba
ck to the city.”
“Mountain men? Is that even an actual thing?”
“I saw a documentary on Netflix about them. These guys are crazy — just giving up society and spending all their time on a mountain. Can you imagine actually choosing that sort of life? I can’t.”
“Alright, I’m sure I’ll be fine, Jasmine.”
“Ok, sweetie. Call me when you get there safe, ok?”
“I will.”
I hang up the phone and sigh. Maybe I’m crazy. Or maybe I really do need this. Chase has finally pushed me over the edge. For a second, I even contemplate quitting my job and staying on the mountain. Yeah, I can definitely imagine that lifestyle.
Once my car is loaded up and ready to go, I slide into the driver’s seat and the tears are unleashed. But I dry my eyes on my sleeve and begin the long drive. I’m tougher than I think I am. I can do this. I will discover myself and forget all about Chase Bell. Screw him.
Aidan
*
I’m out hunting when I see her.
She’s all bundled up with a big fluffy coat concealing her body, and she’s hiking up the road through the thick snow. I wonder where she could be going, but the mountain is no place for a girl to be alone during a snowstorm. All she’s got with her is a small backpack.
All of my protective instincts kick in at once. I run towards her through the snow. When she notices me, she screams. I hold up my hands as a gesture of peace.
“I’m not gonna hurt you,” I shout. “I want to help you. Where are you trying to go?”
She brushes herself off and blows on her foggy glasses. Blonde curls peek out from beneath her tightly cinched hood. I move in closer and she takes a step back.
“I’m sorry I screamed. I’ve just been—ahhh—it feels like I’ve been walking forever. My car stopped about two miles south of here, I’m guessing. My family’s cabin is up this road a few miles more, I think. I can’t tell. Nothing looks the same as when I was last here.”
“Sweetie, where are you from?”
“Chicago,” she whispers.
“Well, you should have checked the weather before you came up here. We’ve been having bad snowstorms all winter. Your car is as good as stuck for a while.”
“Don’t tell me that. I need to get back home in a few weeks at the latest.”
She collapses to her knees in the snow and starts sobbing.
“I can’t believe my life. I’m such a screwup!”
“I’m sure that’s not true at all. Let’s just get you to your family’s cabin, ok?”
I don’t encounter many people up this way during the winter months. I can sometimes go four months before I even see another soul. I’m not sure what possessed this girl to come here now, but it feels like my job to take care of her, so that’s what I’ll do.
I offer my hand to her, and she looks at it for a moment, but pushes herself back on her feet.
“I—I think it’s not too far from here,” she says. “I can make it on my own. You can get back to whatever you were doing.”
“So, you just came up here with just about nothing, huh?” I ask.
“No—I have another bag in the car, and a cooler. I just figured it would slow me down right now. I thought I could go back for it in the morning.”
“Do you have any food with you?”
“My grandpa usually leaves the cabin fully stocked with canned goods and a freezer full of meat. So, I should be fine. Thank you for your concern though.”
“I don’t believe you. I’ll bring you to my cabin instead and take care of you. I’ll reheat some stew I made last night.”
“Really, mister, I’ll be fine, ok? It’s sweet of you, but I don’t even know you, and I didn’t come up here to be taken prisoner by some Idaho mountain man.”
I roar with laughter. “I’m not taking you prisoner. I just don’t think you can take care of yourself out here.”
“Well, I don’t think you know what you’re talking about,” she says.
What a stubborn girl.
She trudges through the snow and I follow close beside her.
“Please don’t follow me,” she says.
“I won’t leave you alone till we get you inside all warm and safe. The storm is gonna pick up later. I can tell.”
“Fine. I’ll let you walk me there, but after that you have to promise me that you’ll leave me alone. Ok?”
“I’ll leave you alone once we get there. Scout’s honor.”
I fully intend to check on her tomorrow morning and help her haul the stuff up from the car.
She stumbles in the snow, and winds up falling flat on her face. “Oh my God,” she cries. “This is the worst day of my life.”
I lift her up with ease and set her right once more. Something tells me this girl needs me bad right now.
We head up the road in silence, and as we walk past my new cabin, she stops in front of it.
“Ok, we’re here. I’ll just find the key and go inside. Thank you for your help, mister.”
“You can call me Aidan,” I reply.
I just bought this cabin about four months ago. It’s bigger than my previous one, and the old man who sold it to me gave me a great deal on it. This girl must be one of his relatives though, and I’m guessing he didn’t tell her that he sold it. But I don’t say anything just yet. Maybe I’m wrong, and she’ll soon realize this is not her family cabin. Maybe she’s on the wrong mountain, because I can’t think of any other houses up here that could belong to her. I know everyone on this mountain, and I don’t remember seeing this girl before.
She searches the front of the cabin and frantically digs in the snow.
“My grandfather keeps a spare key somewhere around here.”
“You sure you don’t want to just come to my cabin and rest for a while?”
“No, I’ve got it. It used to be under a rock around here, but he must have moved it for the winter.”
“That would be the smart thing to do,” I reply as I watch her search.
She turns her head to look at me. “You don’t have to stand there and watch me, mister. I promise I’ll be ok. Thank you so much for helping me get here.”
I take my first really good look at her face, and I’m struck by how beautiful she is. Her face is rounded with big blue eyes, and a small perfectly positioned nose. I can tell the smile she currently has on her face is a hard fought one that she’s summoned just for my benefit. But it’s still perfect to me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful girl in my life.
“Look, sweetie. I’ve got a confession to make. This is my cabin. Your grandfather sold it to me a few months ago.”
“What?”
Her jaw drops and her bottom lip quivers. She looks like she’s about to cry.
“Let’s just go inside, all right?”
She nods. She gets up and stands out of the way of the door as I swing it open. I have no real reason to lock it right now, so I leave it unlocked most of the time.
I step inside and the girl follows me. Once in the cabin, I get my coat off and the girl plops into a chair, and sobs.
“I can’t believe this. He sold it to you. Are you for real?”
“I’m afraid I am. But don’t worry — I’m not kicking you out. Why don’t you take your coat off and I’ll get the fire going, alright?”
“He would have told us. Maybe I just—I’ve been so scattered the last few months. He must have said something about it, and I didn’t pay any attention. I can’t believe he’d do that…”
“Must have had a good reason, I’m sure. But like I said — you’re welcome here. I can’t very well send you back out into the cold.”
She gets up. “I better leave now. I’ll walk back to town.”
“It’s too cold out, sweetheart,” I growl. “And if your car is having trouble, there is no one gonna come up here right now to fix it. You’re stuck with me for a little while, anyway.”
“This is exactly what Jasmine warned me about,”
she says.
“Jasmine, huh?”
“My best friend. She told me not to get killed or taken captive up here by some crazy mountain man.”
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” I ask as I stare into those big beautiful eyes. She looks away from me. But my cock stretches and slams against my pants. I take a deep breath and try to control myself, but I can’t. I can tell already that it’s going to be hard to do around this girl.
“Elyse Somersby,” she replies.
“That’s a beautiful name, Elyse Somersby. Rolls right off the tongue.”
“Aidan, right?”
“Yes, sweetie.”
“Um, please don’t call me sweetie or sweetheart or whatever else you’re thinking of. I don’t think I can handle it right now. And you don’t know me, so maybe I’m not very sweet at all.”
“Oh, I think I know enough about you to tell that you’re a sweet girl. I may not see too many people up here, but I’ve learned to read them pretty well when I do.”
“Fine, whatever. Just—I don’t know.”
I get started on the fire, and then I heat up some water on the stove.
“Elyse, come by the fire,” I command. “You must be frozen.”
“I’m fine,” she says softly.
She pulls her phone out, stares at it, and then tosses it onto the couch in frustration.
“Yeah, cell service is pretty rough up here, or so people tell me. I don’t have one, but that’s what people say.”
“Great. No cell service, no car, and no cabin. And I’m stuck here with you.”
She stands up and takes her backpack and coat off. She kicks them over to the side.
Neither of us says a word for a long time. I make her a cup of tea and hand it to her.