Page 1 of Falling for the Mountain Man

Ryder

Enjoying the soft tunes coming from the speakers, my attempt at relaxing while working is interrupted by a heavy knock against the door separating me from the rest of the department before the captain of my team appears.

He looks oddly pleased.

Diego drops a box at the foot at my desk. Sifting through the product inside, he sets down the first of the calendars delivering a catalog of my men wearing hardly anything. They smell like they’re freshly printed.

“The photos turned out great. No surprise there.” He flips through the months, a proud look in his eyes.

Might have something to do with him running the fundraising project smoothly to get the final product here. Or, it could have something to do with the young woman behind the camera.

I swallow down the urge to groan at the thought of their age difference.

Hits a little too close to home with my own issues happening.

“You sure you want to handle the distribution?” He flicks his gaze toward my work, just as he always does. “I don’t mind updating the website. Addie is good with technology. I’m sure she’d be willing to help.”

“I’ll be just fine, thanks.” Taking the calendar and setting it on top of my to-do list, we both watch the pile shiver with more additional weight. At this rate, the mountain of tasks is going to cascade off the desk, creating such a disorganized mess that not even I could survive.

I should really address some of the stuff inside. From the looks of things, I’m self-sabotaging myself for failure.

“Need anything else while I’m here?” Diego lingers, as if he hopes I’ll give him some administrative work. I should. It would give me time to get out of this office.

Instead, I grunt and shake my head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll have this all caught up by the end of the week.” I always do, even if I do push everything to the last minute.

He gives me this worried look that lasts for an instant before he’s nodding. He’s a good man, and I’m sure he’ll intervene if he truly gets worried.

“Let me know if you change your mind. I’m here for anything.” Giving me his back, he heads back out toward the sound of the other men chatting on the other side of the thin walls.

Once I’m alone, I look at the calendar once more before sighing through my nose.

I’ve written off all my stress as job-related, but the truth is…

Being Chief of this fire department is just my latest excuse. A distraction. Something to bury myself in so I don’t have to face what’s really eating at me.

Kallie’s returning home. My little girl—not so little anymore—back under my roof for a few precious days. Two years into college, and every visit feels like unwrapping a gift. She’s sharper now, more sure of herself. The kind of woman her mother would’ve been proud of.

The problem isn’t Kallie.

It’s Zaria, Kallie’s roommate.

The shadow she drags back with her every time. Because, like her old man, my girl’s got a soft spot for strays, and Zaria? No family, nowhere to go during these festive times—so Kallie opens our doors, our table, our lives to her without a second thought.

Shame I don’t see Zaria as a daughter.

If I did, maybe I wouldn’t be holed up in my office right now, drowning in paperwork I’ve ignored for weeks. Maybe I wouldn’t feel my pulse kick up every time I hear that laugh of hers ringing through the cabin.

I still remember the first time Kallie introduced her, practically pushing the shy woman in my direction.

She’d stumbled on her words, cheeks so hot, mumbling her thanks like letting her stay seemed more like a bother than a treat. Taking care of her was like bringing a wounded stray out of the shadows.

Once she opened up, Zaria lit up bright . Her smile blinded me, two dimples welcoming me with open arms. That’s when I felt it, the first stir in my chest.

A sensation a forty-three-year-old man shouldn’t be feeling for an eighteen-year-old.

Two years later, the feelings haven’t disappeared. Instead, they’ve grown.

I drag my hands down my face, exhaling hard.

Three days. That’s all. I’ve survived months with this woman under my roof. Months of forced small talk, of catching her watching me when she thinks I don’t notice. Months of pretending I don’t want to close the space between us whenever Kallie leaves the room.

I can handle this.

All I have to do is keep my head down. Give them a place to sleep. Cook a meal big enough to feed an army—leftovers to last the week, so I don’t have to share air with her any longer than necessary.

Easy.

So why does it feel like walking into a burning building? My heart thrashes every time I picture her in my head.

Is college still going well? Is she eating enough?

Questions that should be aimed toward Kallie. Thankfully, my daughter is happy to blow up my phone any time something exciting happens.

Like she’s a mindreader, the screen of my phone lights up before rattling against my desk; it’s Kallie’s contact that pops up. If I have to guess, she’s probably telling me that they’re just now reaching Willowbrook Ridge.

I told them to come here, that way they wouldn’t run into any issues heading up to the mountain to reach my cabin.

I don’t feel like I’m ready to see them. How long has it been since they were here last? Right before summer ended, if I remember right. Too many months have passed since then.

Setting my phone down after typing away a short message, I groan softly and sit back in my chair.

Can’t let my thoughts run wild and wonder what kind of clothes she’ll be wearing. It’s cold as hell here, so I hope they kept a few long-sleeve shirts.

My knee bounces as I crack open my unread emails and listen back to any voicemails.

Focus, Ryder.

After mastering using these tasks as a distraction, I lose myself in knocking off a few more, one at a time. The less I have waiting for me here, the less I have to be worried about spending my time here during the holidays.

How much time passes before I hit my next disruption, twenty minutes? Seems like a lifetime of peace to not have the blaring weight of my problems filling my thoughts.

Another knock on my door. It’s Wyatt popping his head in. “Kallie is here asking for you.”

My heart launches into my throat on its own, and my gut clenches automatically. Zaria isn’t even mentioned, but just knowing she’ll be there right at Kallie’s side is enough.

Working hard to keep my face straight, I thank him and prepare to leave.

Powering off my desktop and grabbing my bag, I take a couple of inches of paperwork from my leaning tower and shove it inside. Can’t hurt to take my work home if I need to extend my need for distractions.

Feeling a knot form with my next swallow, I clear my throat.

I hear my daughter’s voice as soon as I enter the garage. Next to one of the engines, she’s talking off Walker’s ear about who knows what.

He’s clearly had enough, because he’s quick to point toward me the moment he notices my arrival.

Kallie’s eyes grow bright when seeing me.

She’s always been glued to my hip growing up, so the distance is always rough on her.

As her smile stretches across her face, she doesn’t bother saying her relief or properly ending her conversation with Walker.

Instead, she launches herself in my direction and throws herself into my barely-ready arms.

She’s got a tan despite it being November. She is a fan of complaining about the high temperatures over in Arizona.

As she pulls away, she’s overworrying about me, taking in my features like she’s expecting to see a chunk of my body missing. Once I see relief filling her gaze, I know she’s satisfied.

“Missed you, Kal.” Petting her hair, my eyes drift next to her.

Zaria’s got a matching brightness to her, but her smile is more contained, like she’s trying to keep her excitement inside. Just as Kallie steps out of my arms, she steps forward.

Act normal, Ryder.

Words I’ll have to be playing on repeat over and over.

“Glad you two made it here in one piece.” Murmuring the words as the blonde-haired woman hugs me, I wrap one arm around her and try not to squeeze her too tight to my chest.

If I’m not careful, she’ll hear the knocking happening in my chest. She’ll ask if something is wrong, and I’ll have to figure out what I’d use as an excuse for my racing pulse.

“Good to see you, Ryder.” Murmuring my name, she doesn’t let go immediately. Like she needs this as much as I do, her breath tickles my throat as she speaks. “Thanks for having me, as always.”

Grunting, I breathe in deep and immediately regret it. She’s wearing something that makes my mouth water instantly. Makes me have to swallow down the start of a groan.

Three days. I can do this.