Page 2 of My Mountain Man Valentine

She laughed, setting her purse down on the counter. “Not quite. But the kids had a delayed start this morning. I thought I’d stop by and see if you had any new reads for my advanced English class. I’m also looking for something fun to read over theweekend. Plus, I might be avoiding the rowdiness at the cafeteria for another half hour.”

I chuckled, leading her toward the “New Arrivals” area. “I can only imagine the Valentine’s fever at a middle school.”

She rolled her eyes in a good-natured way. “It’s ridiculous—little cut-out hearts taped to every locker, candy-grams ready to be delivered. But the kids love it, so I’m happy to play along. How are you doing? I saw Levi leaving, and he didn’t exactly look thrilled.”

“He’s worried about Angelique,” I explained, bending to grab a few middle-grade novels from a lower shelf. “Apparently she’s back in town, flaunting her influencer lifestyle. He thinks it might drag Ryder into some fiasco.”

Caroline made a small “huh” sound. “I saw her filming something near the school—some kind of ‘snow day fashion tips.’” She shook her head as though baffled. “I guess not everyone can handle our frosty Montana winters gracefully.”

I handed her the stack of books. “These might be good for your advanced students. They’re compelling but still age-appropriate. And if you need something with a bit more romance for yourself, I have a new shipment that came in yesterday, right over here.”

She followed me to the romance section, skimming titles. Then her blue eyes lit up. “Did I tell you who else is back in town? Knox Slater.”

A memory flickered in my mind: Knox Slater, the resident “bad boy” when we were in high school. “Yes, Levi mentioned it in passing,” I replied. “I heard Knox returned to look after his younger sister.”

Caroline nodded, lowering her voice. “I ran into him. He seems different now—still has that edgy vibe, but he’s clearlystepped up for Linzie, which is a good thing. She’s in my class. I know things have been tough for her at home, so at least Knox is trying to be a responsible guardian.”

I gave a thoughtful hum. “That’s… actually kind of sweet. I remember you used to have a massive crush on him, right?”

A flush colored her cheeks. “Okay, maybe I did. The dangerous allure or whatever. My parents were always like, ‘Stay away from that Slater boy.’” She laughed, though there was a note of nostalgia in it. “But talking to him now, I can tell he’s really trying. And he’s not half-bad to look at, either.”

I smirked. “Well, you might be in for a surprise, Miss Belle.” I picked a romance novel off the shelf and handed it to her. “Speaking of second chances, you might like this one.”

She glanced down at the book and gave a rueful grin. “Thanks. You know, maybe you’re the one who needs a second-chance romance more than I do. Or better yet, a first-chance one. When was the last time you went on a date?”

I hesitated, cheeks warming. “Caroline…”

She set the book against her hip. “Come on, Tessa. Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Don’t let Levi’s overprotective streak hold you back. And don’t let your own fears hold you back, either.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “But it’s…complicated.”

She sighed gently and changed the subject. “Well, if you do decide to be adventurous and break out of these four walls for a change, let me know. Meanwhile, I’ll take these books for my class—and this one for me.” She held up the romance novel with a playful wiggle of her eyebrows.

I led her back to the register, scanning her books and slipping them into a paper bag. “I appreciate your concern,” I told her softly. “You’re probably right that I shouldn’t let fearstop me. It’s just that… I don’t know. The bookstore is my main priority. I have to make sure that our accounts stay out of the red zone. It wasn’t easy to find out after Mom and Dad passed that they weren’t the best at record-keeping.”

She reached out to squeeze my hand briefly. “I know. Take your time. But remember, you deserve a real-life love story too.”

After Caroline departed, a handful of regular customers filled the store during the lunch rush—buying thriller novels, browsing cookbooks, or checking out the romance display. I chatted with each of them, feeling increasingly grateful for the sense of community that existed in Hope Peak. Even though it was a small town (or maybe because of it), we all felt connected.

By early afternoon, I found a quiet moment and made myself a cup of tea. Standing behind the counter, I gazed out the window as the snowfall picked up, tiny crystals fluttering down and swirling in the wind. My mind drifted to the last conversation I’d had with Ryder. We had bumped into each other at the local grocery store a couple of weeks back, and he had teased me about stocking up on “emergency chocolate.” Somehow, what should have been a mundane exchange had left me smiling for the rest of the day.

I reminded myself that Levi considered Ryder’s wild streak a liability, something that might endanger me emotionally—or even physically. Yet, a small part of me found Ryder’s risk-taking exhilarating, as if he lived life in Technicolor while I was still in black and white. I took a sip of tea, wishing I had the courage to ignore the what-ifs and explore those sparks.

Right then, the bell jingled again. I quickly swallowed my tea and straightened, expecting another regular. Instead, a tall, broad-shouldered man in a ski jacket stood at the threshold. For a split second, my heart lurched—dark hair, confident stance—but upon closer inspection, I realized it wasn’t Ryder. The manremoved his knit cap, revealing close-cropped dark hair and a chiseled face I recognized: Knox Slater.

“Hi,” I greeted, forcing myself to sound natural. “Welcome to The Velvet Book.”

His eyes flicked across the store before settling on me. “Hey, Tessa, right?” His voice had a low, rough edge to it that matched his tough-guy persona from high school. “I was in here a few times, back when your parents were around.”

I tried not to let the mention of my parents pinch my heart. “Yes, that’s me. Good to see you again, Knox. How can I help you?”

He cleared his throat, looking somewhat uncomfortable. “Well, my younger sister, Linzie—she’s at the middle school—told me she’s not a big fan of the library selection there. Caroline Belle suggested I pick up some books. Linzie used to love fantasy, but lately she’s been…moody.”

I nodded, stepping out from behind the counter. “I can imagine it’s been an adjustment for her. Let’s see what might spark her interest.”

Knox followed as I led him to a shelf of middle-grade novels that ranged from whimsical fantasy to humorous adventures. He scanned the spines with a thoughtful crease in his brow. I selected a few that had been popular with kids in town—lighthearted but with plenty of action.

He tucked the books under his arm. “Thanks,” he said gruffly. “I appreciate the help. I’m not exactly the best person to pick out…you know…teenage-friendly reads.”

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