Page 12 of My Mountain Man Valentine

Behind the locked doors, I tore open the envelope. My skin prickled when I read the note:

Tessa,

I can’t stop thinking about you. But it’s not enough just to watch you. I want more.

Soon—very soon—we will happen.

—Your Secret Admirer

We will happen. The phrase felt bold, almost demanding. My previous flush of curiosity morphed into unease. Even if this was meant to be seductive, something about the tone set my nerves on edge.Watch you. Did that mean whoever wrote this had been…following me?

A lump formed in my throat. This definitely didn’t sound like Ryder. The first note had been flattering, a little forward—but this one walked the line between ardent and menacing. No way was this his style. I didn’t suspect Angelique, either. She was brash and attention-seeking, not the type to pose as an amorous secret admirer. And if she wanted to rattle me, she’d probably do it on camera, not with a pair of pink envelopes.

Then who? A flicker of paranoia gripped me. Could it be some lonely customer? A stranger passing through town who’d spied me at Skyline last night? A different local I’d known for years but never noticed?

I tucked the note into my bag and tried to calm the storm in my chest. A few minutes later, I pulled my coat on, locked up the bookstore, and headed to my car. The back of my neck tingled with the feeling of being watched, but I saw no one. Just a swirl of snow under the streetlights.

I debated going straight home but found myself behind the wheel, thumbing a text to Ryder:

Hey. Are you at your place? I need to talk.

A minute later, his response arrived:

Ryder: Just got home from the hike. Come by. Everything okay?

Not sure…I’ll explain in person.

My heart wouldn’t stop pounding as I drove toward Ryder’s small, rustic cabin on the outskirts of Hope Peak. Wind rattled the tree branches overhead, and the night sky gleamed with faint stars. I tried to breathe steadily, but each time I thought ofthat second note—Soon—very soon—we will happen—my pulse kicked up again. Then again, I was an avid reader of mystery and crime fiction, so my overactive imagination was probably running away with me.

Ryder’s cabin lights glowed invitingly as I parked. The porch lamp revealed footprints leading up to his door, presumably from his truck to the front step. My nerves twanged when I climbed out, clutching my bag with both Valentines inside.

He opened the door before I could knock, concern etched across his handsome features. “Tessa. You okay?” He reached for my elbow, gently guiding me inside. The warmth hit me immediately, along with the scent of burning wood from his fireplace.

I swallowed, nodding a shy greeting. “Hey. Sorry to just…show up.”

“Don’t apologize.” He closed the door behind me, eyes scanning my face. “Come sit. Want something hot to drink?”

I managed a shaky laugh. “Tea, if you have it. My nerves are kind of… on alert.”

His frown deepened. “You want to tell me what happened?”

We moved to the living area, the low crackle of logs in the fireplace lending a soft glow to the cabin. I eased onto his worn leather couch, setting my bag down. “I got two… Valentines today,” I explained. “The first one seemed sweet—flirty. But the second—” I pulled them out, hesitating before handing them over. “It’s more intense. Feels… off.”

Ryder perched beside me, skimming the notes under the flickering lamplight. His expression darkened, jaw tightening. “This is…definitely not me.”

“I know,” I murmured. “But that leaves a bigger question: who?”

He shook his head, carefully returning the envelopes to my bag as though not wanting to damage any evidence. “I don’t like the vibe of that second note,” he said grimly. “Could be somebody fixating on you—someone who saw us together last night and got jealous, or just some creep.”

My stomach twisted at the thought. “I hate feeling paranoid, but I do. I’m not sure what to do. Show them to Levi? Or the cops? That might be too much if this is just…misguided flirting.”

Ryder set a hand over mine. The warmth of his palm steadied me more than I wanted to admit. “Let me handle the ‘who,’ okay? I’ll keep my eyes open. If you see anything suspicious, you call me. Day or night.”

I nodded, swallowing a lump in my throat. “Thanks. I know we said this was all for show, but… I’m really glad you’re here.”

His gaze softened. “Me too.” He slid closer, still holding my hand. “Tessa, I’m sorry. I hope I haven’t led you into a bad situation.”

A wave of emotion surged in my chest. “I just…I don’t want to feel watched,” I whispered. He shifted, lifting his free hand to cup my cheek, and my breath caught at the soft graze of his calloused palm against my skin. In the gentle lamplight of the cabin, his eyes glowed dark and intent, as if he wanted to chase away every trace of fear. Just a moment ago, I’d been trembling over ominous letters and secret admirers, but now all I could focus on was the warmth of his body and the quiet authority in his gaze.

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