Mountain Man's Virgin: A Mountain Man Romance

by Claire Angel

  “He’d probably want you with a good man like Colton.”

  “You don’t know him. How can you saw how he is?” I asked as Bri dropped back to my pillows.

  “I observed. I have all along. Underneath that gorgeous exterior is a man with a heart. He moved here to help his grandparents, Hallie. He left a city for that. Hell, he left his mom for that and she was all that he had.” Bri smiled as I nodded. “I see the way that he looks at you. It’s with that sexy sense of control and need that bad boys should have, but he cares for you. It’s more than a hook-up or a fling.”

  “I’m going home. It can’t be more than that.” I reminded her as she shrugged.

  “How much do you really miss New York in this moment? Tell me the truth.”

  I considered my answer. I missed it less with every day.

  “Chester has grown on me. I’ll admit that. I have a job there, Bri. I have a life.” I tried to convince myself as much as I did her, moving down to my pillows as I sighed.

  “Just look around. Think about what you want.” She advised me as I nodded. We slept in the room together though I was restless until the sun started to come up. I was tired and felt like I needed more sleep. I also wanted to get everything ready for Dad and rushing to the shop to get my Colton fix again. It was overwhelming, and I brewed coffee, looking out of the windows at the endless beauty.

  Dad woke up, and I got his yogurt and antibiotics. I held off on his coffee but drank two cups myself as I tried to eat some oatmeal to soothe my tense stomach. I hadn’t eaten anything substantial since dinner last night. When I took the container from him and handed him coffee, Dad took a close look at me.

  “Are you okay, Hallie? You look tired. Bri said that you were going out, so it must have been late.” I could see curiosity in his gaze, but Dad wanted to appreciate the fact that I was an adult.

  “I was for a while. Just remembering places those I loved here.” I smiled at him and sank down on the couch.

  “It’s nice to see that. You left so quickly the last time. Not that I didn’t get that, but it stung a little. I won’t lie.” I smiled weakly as he spoke. “What happened to Micah was awful, Hallie. Nobody should have to go through that, but it wasn’t your fault. He was just in that car at the wrong time.”

  I felt a tear slide down my cheek. Micah’s accident eleven years ago wasn’t anyone’s fault but perhaps his for driving too fast. He took that turn too hard. I just felt guilty that he was coming to see me behind Cora’s back. They were dating but Micah knew that he had feelings for me. We were going to make the decision to keep it at friendship or move further.

  We never did. He wrapped his car around an old oak tree.

  I went to college a year after that. I’d already withdrawn at school and Bri was the only person that I talked to. Everyone chalked it up to losing my best friend just like they assumed Cora was ripped apart with her own grief. She and I knew the truth. She’d known for a couple of months that I had feelings for Micah after four years of friendship and that there was something there for him as well. She’d hated me ever since and I only felt pain when I thought of her.

  “I know, daddy. It just hurt so much.” I admitted as I dropped my head.

  “Let that go. There’s still a lot here for you.” Bri walked into the room and poured coffee before sitting down. She looked closely at me before gazing at Dad. “Here’s one of the best things.” Bri smiled and raised her eyebrows.

  “What are we talking about?” She asked as I looked at her for a moment.

  “The past.” I replied simply before taking another drink of coffee. I made sure that Dad was okay before I told him I was going to work at the shop. I’d explained the spreadsheets to him and urged him to update the computer there. He groaned in response. Dad was like Colton, a great hand on kind of worker but not into the numbers.

  “Thanks, Hallie. Maybe we can go shopping for another computer and you can train me on that sheet you told me about.” Dad said.

  I chuckled as I walked back to my room to shower and get ready to leave. Once I was out and my hair was braided over my shoulder, I pulled on another pair of jeans and a fitted green shirt today. I looked in the mirror for a moment as I heard someone knock on my door.

  “Come in,” I called out’

  Bri entered the room. “Are you okay staying here? The finances really do need to be cleaned up. I’m not going for Colton.” My face flushed as she laughed and walked forward. I didn’t do a lot of make-up but Bri loved to make me her guinea pig.

  “Uh huh.” She teased me as she brushed some powder on my face. I smiled and let her, feeling brushes on my brows and lids. She asked me to apply mascara, and I did, impressed by what I saw. It wasn’t heavy, but I looked good. I didn’t look like I was trying too hard. Bri handed me a lipstick, and I lined my full lips with it, looking in the mirror. “He’s going to love it, assuming it stays on your face.”

  “Bri! I am not going down there to screw someone in my dad’s office!” I hissed as she giggled. “I’ll be home later this afternoon. I’ll help with dinner.” I hugged her, thanking her for helping so much again. With that, I told Dad to take it easy, kissing his cheek before I left the house.

  I was nervous driving down to the shop. I didn’t know what to expect from Colton this morning. I didn’t think it was a fling, but I was horrible at dating and the surrounding rules. I pulled to the side and noted that Colton was already working on a car. I got out and stepped into the shadowed bay with a nervous smile.

  “Good morning,” I said softly, wondering if he could even hear me over the music. Colton raised his head and a smile spread across his face.

  “You’re here,” he said as our eyes locked.

  “Of course. I want to help you.” I replied, watching as he stalked towards me, his eyes scanning the front of the garage. He grabbed my hand and pulled me around the corner to a private spot as I gasped. I held tight to my messenger bag and watched as he pressed me against the wall.

  “I’ve missed these lips,” he told me, cupping my face. “I’ve missed your taste.” I blushed as he kissed me slowly, remembering how much of me he’d tasted last night. It was amazing. I found my arms sliding around his neck to return the kiss, lost in it immediately. He lowered his hands down to cup my ass, squeezing as I moaned softly.

  What was that I said about not screwing someone at my dad’s shop? I was lost to that now as we pressed together. I wanted him. I’d want him every time that I saw him.

  We were moving further back into the building when a voice called out. Colton pulled away from me and I wiped his lips to get the soft pink color off his face. He licked them and headed out front and I dropped my head back. Holy shit. Colton was doing things to me that I couldn’t explain.

  He helped the customer as I made my way casually into the main building after fixing my face. I got some coffee and settled in the office to finish some more of the spreadsheet. I clicked on Spotify and shuffled through my song list, smiling as I thought about Colton. He is so hot and for right now, he is mine.

  He came into ask about lunch again and we decided to eat at the deli today. We could close the shop up for an hour in this town. I locked the office and side door, leaving through the front while he closed the bay doors. We headed down the street together and I smiled shyly. I’d already slept with this man, but I felt like a teenager around him.

  We ultimately ended up getting lost on the way to find a private grove of fruit trees. He pulled me back and kissed me, not taking too much time to strip me and take me again on the grass. We made quick work of it, sliding together easily as I clawed at his back. By the time we hit the street again, we had enough time to take the food back to the shop and inhale what we could before we opened again.

  I stayed through the afternoon, taking looks at him out there. Colton was a sexy, masculine man that had a hint of control about him. He’d been subtle with it, but I knew that as time went on, we’d get that much more intense.

 
I was packing up to keep my promise to Bri when he walked back into the office. I smiled at him as I slid the laptop into the bag.

  “Hi.” I was still giddy from earlier as he stepped forward to kiss me.

  “Can you get out later tonight?” He asked huskily before claiming my lips again with his full mouth.

  “I should be able to.” I replied as he smiled. We exchanged phone numbers, and I told him that I’d call him when I thought that I could meet him.

  Chapter 10

  Colton

  Two weeks later

  I was used to Hallie being in the shop now. I loved it and the time we spent together after work. I’d been to her place for dinner and we downplayed it to her father, but Bri was grinning like a fool. I was certain that he would pick up on something, but so far so good.

  I wanted him to pick up on something. I’d been rolling an idea around for a few days now. I even had her over to dinner with my family. They instantly remembered her and welcomed her with hugs. Gramps chatted with her throughout the meal, but Gram gave me a few soft smiles. She knew something.

  We went for a walk after that and I held her hand as I led us over to the swing that overlooked the hills. I pulled her down and kissed her as she leaned her head towards me.

  “I have a proposition for you, Hallie.” She kissed me again, her lips hungry on mine as I smiled.

  “What’s that? Sex out on this swing?” She asked as I chuckled. It wasn’t out of the question, but I needed to ask her something else.

  “I have an idea.” Hallie leaned back and pulled her knees to her chest. She rested her head on my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around her.

  “I want you to stay here, Hallie. I don’t want you to go back to New York.” I watched as she turned her head to stare at me, pressing forward. “I feel different about you than I have anyone else. It’s only been a few days, but I don’t want to let you go. I want to see where this can go.”

  “Colton, I have a job back there.” She murmured as I stroked her hair. We’d spent a lot of time talking after hours. She knew about my break up with Mindy and I now understood what the beef was with Cora. It was merely a tragic situation, and nobody was to blame. Hallie lost a friend and perhaps more that night, but she’d never know.

  “You could work here. You could help at the shop. You could freelance a bit. There’s a lot of possibilities.” I assured her.

  “My dad has been asking the same thing. He wants me to stay with him for the time being until I get on my feet.” She sighed. “He might not be able to come back to work full time. He’s still recovering. I am the only one that could run the shop full time. It’s the family business and I hate the idea of letting it go.”

  “I could help you. We could do it together and Brian can be there when he’s up to it.”

  Hallie looked at me and said “You own a lumberyard.”

  “I’ll be the owner that lets the staff run it. There are people that have been there for years, Hallie. They know what they’re doing. I like working on cars.” I insisted as she looked into my eyes. “I love working with you.”

  “If I stay, we just keep dating?” She asked as I smiled.

  “I’ve already spoken to your dad. He gave us his blessing.” Her eyes lit up. “We move slow. Well, as slow as we can. I just don’t want you to walk out of my life. You made me live again.” I stroked her cheek and smiled at her.

  “Once I got to talking to Dad, I called the magazine. They’re willing to let me work remotely on articles as well as some editing. I might go back to New York now and then to attend events, but you could come with me. I’d love to show you the city.”

  “What?” I teased her as she laughed.

  “I also have a friend willing to rent my apartment. I can stay in a hotel when I go there.” I kissed her hard, feeling her suck in her breath.

  “I can’t believe that you thought about this,” I whispered as I looked into her eyes.

  “I did when I got back. I miss Dad and this town is so beautiful. It’s quiet. Bri is here. You’re here.” She blushed.

  “This is happening?” I asked as I stared into her eyes.

  Hallie nodded.

  I slipped my arm around her and pulled her against me as she smiled.

  I didn’t know how this would go but I needed to get to know her more. I needed the chance to fall for her the way that I was certain was already happening. I couldn’t turn away this opportunity.

  We watched the sun set on that swing, pressed together as we talked softly about our future. I hoped that Mom would come out here if I was in this relationship, but that was looking good. She started talking to her parents on the phone and they were working through their past issues. They were rebuilding something new.

  “Want to take my rental car back to the airport with me? I guess I’ll use one of Dad’s cars until I buy one, or make you drive me everywhere.”

  “Gladly,” I assured her as she pressed her mouth to mine as the sky darkened. We did christen the swing and the surrounding grass, making sure that we were alone. I knew that my grandparents adored her, but I didn’t think that they wanted to find us out here naked.

  We held each other and looked at the stars when we were finished.

  I wanted to promise her the world, but I’d settle for taking this day by day.

  THE END

  ENJOY STEAMY BONUS READS

  BUSSINESS AFFAIR

  A BAD BOY OFFICE ROMANCE

  BY

  CLAIRE ANGEL

  BLURB:

  I had everything. Then it was gone. I didn’t know what to do.

  It was time for something drastic. I wasn’t expecting anything.

  Roman had me where he wanted me. I protested. It wasn’t enough.

  His body and tone of voice were addictive. I was hooked.

  One touch was all that it took. One touch and I was his.

  The job was nothing. It was to make money. I found something more.

  Roman was bad. I wanted him to be bad. I needed to feel his body.

  She was supposed to be a temp.

  One look and I was fantasizing.

  Her body was made for sin.

  She was going to be my guilty pleasure.

  I was never a one-woman man. I was beginning to change my mind.

  Tantalizing is one word. It’s not enough to describe August.

  Her name invokes heated nights. I was already sweating.

  The office was going to become our playground. I couldn’t’ wait to explore…

  *****

  BUSSINESS AFFAIR: A BAD BOY OFFICE ROMANCE

  Chapter 1

  August

  I thought I had it figured out, but life had a tendency to be cruel when you least expected it. I had the world by the tail and then the bottom fell out. I was on the fast track to the big office overlooking the city. I was counting the days and then the company filed for bankruptcy.

  I stood in front of the building with the other employees completely shocked by this betrayal. There was nothing to indicate anything was wrong. We came in and found the place locked without even a severance package to hold us over for a rainy day. I wanted to punch somebody, but I had my suspicions that the owners had skipped town without a forwarding address.

  “August, I’m going to have to depend on my lover until I get back on my feet. He won’t care.” Yvonne was a black-haired temptress and I knew that she would bounce back on her feet quickly.

  The cold March wind was a biting reminder spring was still a couple of months away. Old man winter had taken one last shot with a blizzard that dumped almost a foot of snow overnight. I was already depressed and then this happened.

  I took off my winter hat and ran my hands through my short blond hair. The white parka was like a warm embrace from a lover. The chill couldn’t penetrate the layers. The scarf around my neck kept the shiver from running down my spine.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I’ve been meaning to save, but I have this
guilty pleasure of buying shoes. I have a sickness. It’s a monkey that I can’t seem to get off my back.” My rent was due and I was depending on my pay check to come through in a pinch.

  “I might be able to help you. There is a temp agency I go to when I’m running low on funds. You can’t be picky when the wolves are barking at your door. Your pride is only going to get in the way. I know you had everything mapped out, but these are circumstances beyond your control.” She scribbled the name of the agency on a piece of paper and I stuck it in my pocket. I was hoping that I wasn’t going to have to use it.

  “I was an executive living the high life and enjoying the finer things like caviar and expensive meals in fancy restaurants. I had dreams and they are shattered beyond repair. I’m almost 30 and my experience should be able to land me a cushy job. I’ll make some phone calls to other companies who have expressed interest in bringing me aboard.” That was two years ago and my constant decline had left me with egg on my face.

  The Chicago winters made it almost impossible to show off my girlish figure. In the office, I was known to be a consummate flirt, but I never made any inclinations about doing anything nasty. It was all a bit of fun to liven up the day and make people smile with this guilt for undressing me with their eyes.

  My body was all natural including my prominent assets which entered a room before I did. There was no point in trying to hide them. It didn’t matter what I wore. They had the tendency to bust out of whatever prison I put them in.