by Lana Dash
“It’s somewhere over there.” Alden points towards the line of trees just west of us.
“Is it coming this way?”
"I don't think it's too interested in us, but I don't think we should stick around and take a chance."
We grab our clothes and pull them on as quickly as we can. Alden jumps down off the side of the truck bed and reaches up to help me. I jump down, and he gets me in the cab of the truck quickly.
I don’t take a breath until he’s safely in the driver’s seat next to me. He gives me a wide grin, and we both start chuckling. All the nervous energy coursing through our veins sends us both into a laughing fit.
“It probably heard all the noises we were making and thought it wanted to check out what was going on,” Alden laughs.
“That was way too close for my comfort,” I chuckle.
“It’s going to be a while before I convince you to have outdoor sex again, isn't it?"
It’s at this moment whatever animal is outside gets closer and gives out another scream making us both jump again.
“Yeah, that’s a safe bet,” I answer dryly.
Alden turns the key in the ignition, and his engine roars to life. The headlights turn on, and we are met with glowing eyes watching us off in the distance.
7
ALDEN
The following day I wake to the feeling of Jada moving in the bed next to me. I don’t open my eyes, but I reach out and loop my arm around her waist, pulling her back towards me. She laughs as she struggles to free herself from my grip.
“I need coffee.”
“I need you.” I kiss a trail up her neck to just below her ear before I let her go so she can get up.
It’s only now that I notice that she’s fully dressed.
“You need all those clothes to go downstairs and make coffee?”
She laughs. “I ran out yesterday, so I have to run into the shop to get some more.”
“I’ll go with you,” I offer.
She presses her palm again on my chest and pushes me back down onto the bed. "You stay. Keep the bed warm for when I get back."
I smile and rest my hands behind my head. “You drive a hard bargain.”
“I didn’t think you’d fight me too hard after hearing that." She leans down to kiss me. "What do you want? A half-caf, skinny, soy vanilla chai latte?"
I cup her face in my hands and pull her back in for another kiss. “Just black coffee, please.”
She shakes her head. “You don’t know what you’re missing out on drinking only hot bean water.”
Jada leaves after a few more failed attempts to get her to stay. I lay back on the bed, thinking about how much my life has changed so quickly for the better. I'm not sure I would have believed it if someone had told me that the girl of my dreams would send me a love letter, and I’d find myself waking up next to her today.
After a few minutes, there is a knock at the door. I grab my jeans off the floor and tug them on before heading down the steps.
“Did you forget your key—?" I ask as I swing open the door but stop abruptly.
It’s not Jada that I find standing there, but her ex, Brad. He’s wearing mirrored aviator glasses, so I can't see his eyes, but the tight thin line of his mouth tells me that he wasn’t expecting to find me here opening the door with no shirt on.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
"I think it's pretty clear why I'm here. The real question is, what are you doing here?” I rest my elbow up on the door frame, making it clear that I’m not about to let him inside.
“I’m here to see Jada,” he answers.
“She’s not here.”
“Where is she?”
“Not here.”
He takes off his sunglasses, narrows his eyes, and takes a threatening step towards me. It's a familiar move of his that he'd do when we were still in school, and he wanted to try and intimidate someone into submission. But I'm not that skinny kid anymore. I could wipe the floor with this city boy without breaking a sweat. But I know that's not what Jada would want me to do in this situation, so instead, I stand my ground, unflinching.
“I need to talk to her. Can you tell her I’m here?”
“I’m not sure what you’re hearing me say, but I’ll only say it one more time. She’s not here.”
The sound of a car door slams. We both turn to see Jada walking up to the front walk with a coffee tray with two to-go cups in her hand. The unhappy expression on her face tells me all I need to know about how she feels about Brad’s unexpected arrival.
“What are you doing here? I thought you moved to Charlotte.”
"I did. But I'm in town, and I wanted to see you but—” he turns back to me. “This guy wouldn’t let me in.”
Jada looks at me and then back at Brad. “I don’t think you should be here.”
“Can we talk later?”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
"I have some things I'd like to discuss with you, without an audience."
She sighs and gives me an apologetic look. I want to tell her that she’s got nothing to feel sorry about. She didn’t invite him here.
“I know why you’re here. And I don’t want to hear it. You’ve tried to do this to me before, but I’m done. I’ve been done with this behavior from you. I’ve moved on with my life. I’m happy.” Jada steps up onto the porch and takes my hand in hers. “And I don’t need you trying to come back into my life every time you hear that I’m moving on. Did Ashley call you?”
Brad looks away and flares his nostrils in frustration. “It doesn’t matter how I heard.”
“We can agree on that.” Jada nods. “But you need to know that I’m finally happy and in love.”
“He’ll never love you like I do.”
"If your definition of love is dumping someone and messing with their broken heart for sport afterward, then yes, I know that Alden will never love me like you do."
With that, Jada takes my hand and pulls me back into the house, and closes the door in Brad's shocked face.
“I hope you do know that I will never break your heart," I say, cupping her face in my hands. "It took so long for me to get it. I won't ever do anything to jeopardize that."
Jada rests her hands over mine. “I know that.”
“I love you.”
“I know that too.” She chuckles. “But it wouldn’t hurt to get that in writing. Maybe in the form of a letter?”
I laugh. “I will get right on that, but first—” I lean down and give her the first of a lifetime full of kisses.
Epilogue
JADA
It’s been an amazing ride this last year with Alden. And despite his attempts to get me to go stargazing with him again, those glowing eyes in the darkness still freak me out. But other than that, it’s been smooth sailing, until today—
After finally getting the shop back open, business picked up almost immediately. It’s like the town of Knight’s Ridge having had the taste of gourmet coffee suddenly taken away from them made them appreciate it all the more when we returned.
"Thank you, and have a wonderful day," I say to the last customers of my afternoon rush.
I watch them walk out and notice Grandma Etta and Alden sitting at her usual spot outside the coffee shop with their heads together talking about something. I strain my ears to try and hear what they are saying through the open window, but they are talking too low.
Alden’s brow is furrowed, and he glances back at me in concern. He smiles when he notices me watching him, but it doesn't reach his eyes. My interest is piqued, and I'm about to walk out there to find out what is going on when he stands up and walks slowly into the coffee shop.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
He nods and glances back at the window where Grandma Etta is watching him.
This behavior between the two of them is concerning. They hit it off immediately when I introduced him officially as my boyfriend to her after our last run-in with Brad las
t year. She tested him and tried to get him to sneak her a cup of coffee, but he was not able to be swayed by her charms. I think it was a little test that she was giving him, and he passed—thank goodness. I didn’t want there to be issues between the two most important people in my life.
“Babe?” I ask again, and Alden turns back to me.
“Do you trust me?” he asks.
I narrow my eyes at him. “What kind of question is that?”
“Just answer.”
I sigh. “Of course, I do.”
“Okay, remember that when I ask you this next question.” He rubs his palms down the front of his jeans. “Can I have two cups of coffee?”
My gaze shifts to the window and catches the smile on Grandma Etta's face before she turns away, trying to look casually out towards the street.
“Are you serious?” I ask, realizing instantly what is going on.
“Yes.” He nods once. “Two cups of coffee, please.”
“We both know that I’m not going to let you give that woman coffee—”
“Hey!” Grandma Etta yells from the front porch.
“So why don’t you really tell me what is going on with you?” I continue.
Alden’s shoulders slump in defeat, and he turns towards the window. "She said no."
“Didn’t sound like you wanted it bad enough to get it.” Grandma Etta calls back.
“Will someone please tell me what is going on?” I hold up my hands to stop the craziness. “Alden, you’ve never tried to sneak her coffee.”
“She said that I couldn’t get her blessing to ask you to marry me if I didn’t get her a cup of coffee.”
I turn to the window at my grandmother. “You told him that?”
She starts laughing. “It seemed like the only real chance in years I had to get someone to convince you to let me have coffee.”
“You are unbelievable." I shake my head at her, but deep down, it's kind of funny. I'll laugh at it later, but not right now.
Alden is asking me to marry him?
"I've been trying to get you to go out and see the stars to do this, but you've been pretty adamant about avoiding that spot at all costs now. So, here it goes." He gets down on one knee and pulls out a letter, and hands it over to me. "You can skip the part about being under the stars."
I open the envelope and pull out the letter.
Dear Jada,
It’s been a while since we’ve been back here, but I think it is only fitting that it's here, under the stars that first brought us together, that I ask you this important question. I've loved you most of my life, and I thought that's all I would get in this life. But you shocked me when you gave me a letter that answered the countless wishes I made in this spot to have more of you. You made me feel seen when it felt like everyone else looked through me. You make me feel hope with your smile, your laugh, and your kind words of encouragement. You are a good person, which may have just seemed to you something everyone does for everyone else, but I can say with a degree of certainty that it’s not the case. It was so easy to fall in love with you, but I promise I will never fall out of love. I’ve made one last wish on these stars for a chance to spend the rest of my life with you. But it’s up to you if that dream comes true.
Will you marry me?
I look up and see Alden with a small velvet box, cracked open with a diamond ring resting inside.
“Will you?”
“Yes!”
Alden jumps up and sweeps me up into his arms, and spins me around. Our lips find each other, and I couldn’t be happier.
If you enjoyed DEAR MOUNTAIN MAN and the small town of Knight’s Ridge, check out more stories set in this town.
WILD KNIGHT’S RIDGE MOUNTAIN MEN
A Curvy Woman & Mountain Man Small Town Romance
BRIDGER
BEAUDEN
BRYANT
BRODIE
LINCOLN
WILD KNIGHT’S RIDGE MOUNTAIN MEN:
The Complete Five-Book Collection
A KNIGHT’S RIDGE MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS
And don’t miss the rest of the Sincerely Yours series for more letters to fall in love with!
SINCERELY YOURS
A Sweet & Steamy Curvy Girl Contemporary Romance
DEAR BILLIONAIRE BOSS
DEAR BRITISH PROFESSOR
DEAR BAD BOY NEXT DOOR
DEAR BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND
DEAR BROODING BODYGUARD
DEAR HANDY SILVER FOX
DEAR ONE NIGHT STAND
DEAR KILTED SCOTSMAN
DEAR MOUNTAIN MAN
DEAR ALASKAN BUSH PILOT
DEAR BLUE JEAN COWBOY
DEAR FIREFIGHTER HERO
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DEAR KILTED SCOTSMAN
DEAR MOUNTAIN MAN
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DEAR FIREFIGHTER HERO
THE NICE GIRLS’ NAUGHTY BOOK CLUB
A Sweet & Steamy Curvy Girl Romantic Comedy
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About the Author
LANA DASH is the author of short, sexy, and funny romances. When she isn’t dreaming up her latest sexy couple’s adventure, you can find her watching true crime documentaries, drinking Bloody Marys, and eating movie theater popcorn. Not necessarily at the same time. She loves to hear from readers!