Page 23 of My Mountain Man Valentine

Levi exhaled, still holding Angelique’s phone. “I’ll hand this to the sheriff,” he muttered. “If she’s as unhinged as she seems, at least we have evidence of her confession on camera.”

“I don’t want to see her locked up,” I said softly, voice trembling, “unless she pushes it further. I just…don’t want this to continue. She needs help.”

Levi nodded, expression still grim. “We’ll handle it. I promise.” He handed the phone off to one of the bar staff to keep safe until the cops arrived. Then he turned back to me, guilt clouding his eyes. “Tessa… I’m sorry I doubted you earlier. Sorry I made it harder by not believing you could handle your life—and handle Ryder.”

My heart squeezed. Everything that Angelique had flung in our faces—the fakeness, the deception—only proved how real our relationship had become. “You were just worried,” I murmured. “But you see now that I’m okay, right? That we’re okay?”

Levi’s gaze flicked to Ryder. “Yeah,” he said, voice rough. “I see it.” A few beats passed before he cleared his throat. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy.”

Warmth bloomed in my chest. I reached for him, pulling him into a hug. He held on tight, muttering something about being proud of me, which only made the tears I’d held back threaten to spill.

The rest of the bar slowly returned to an uneasy chatter. Caroline hurried over, her expression torn between relief and fury. “You all right?” she demanded, hands hovering near my shoulders as if ready to shield me from further drama.

“I think so,” I answered, voice shaky. “It’s a lot. But… it’s done.”

Ryder’s arm remained firmly around my waist. “Yeah,” he agreed softly, brushing his lips across my temple. “It’s over.”

And for the first time all evening, I believed it. Angelique had revealed herself as the writer of those Valentines out of herfeelings of jealousy and betrayal. Now the entire town knew, and though I’d never wanted such a spectacle, I felt a profound sense of relief. No more pink envelopes. No more anonymous threats.

Levi escorted us to a back booth, away from prying eyes, and brought us water. I sipped, my nerves still jangling, while Ryder kept a protective arm around me. Caroline stationed herself nearby, glaring at any onlookers who dared approach. Eventually, local law enforcement arrived, took our statements, and confirmed they’d follow up with Angelique—especially given the recorded confession on her phone.

By the time the crowd dispersed, my limbs felt heavy with exhaustion. Yet through the haze of adrenaline, a steady warmth from Ryder anchored me. He guided me outside, where the night air stung my cheeks.

“Let’s get you home,” he murmured, pressing a light kiss to my forehead. “We’ve had enough excitement for one Valentine’s Day.”

I nodded, leaning into him. The swirl of relief and lingering shock made my knees weak. “I’d like that,” I whispered. “And… thank you. For being here every step of the way.”

His eyes shone. “Always.”

We climbed into his truck, headlights cutting through flurries of softly falling snow. As he pulled away from Skyline, I gazed at the darkened streets of Hope Peak. Though the night had been hijacked by Angelique’s twisted revenge, I felt an unexpected sense of closure. I’d chosen to stand by Ryder, no matter how our relationship began. And now we could move forward—honestly, without fear.

He laced his fingers with mine as we drove. “You doing okay?” he asked for the hundredth time that night, eyes flicking over.

My heart twisted at his concern. “Better than okay,” I admitted, squeezing his hand. “Because we’re still together, no matter what she tried to pull.”

A gentle smile curved his mouth. “No matter what,” he agreed. “Nothing’s fake about us anymore.”

The warmth of that promise carried me through the cold night, straight into the next chapter of our lives—Angelique or no Angelique, I planned on holding tight to the love we’d discovered behind the lies.

Epilogue

TESSA

Two Weeks Later

After the chaos at Skyline, Angelique vanished from town for a solid week—no ominous texts, no confrontations. Word spread that she was staying at the High Country Lodge, but she stopped posting lavish influencer videos in public spaces. The sheriff’s office confirmed she’d been questioned. I could have pressed charges for harassment, but for the sake of my own peace, I decided against it—provided she left me in peace.

Eventually, she released a tearful social-

media “apology,” claiming stress and heartbreak had driven her to lash out. The post gained her some sympathy, but most of Hope Peak rolled their eyes at the melodrama. Soon after, she packed up and left, trailing her entourage of camera equipment behind. The rumor mill said she’d be filming in California next, but who knew if that would pan out. At least she wasn’t here.

Levi and Ryder spoke more freely now, easing back into a friendship that had frayed after our parents’ death. Levi apologized for trying to control my life. Though he still had reservations about risk-taking stunts, he saw Ryder was more than a daredevil. In return, Ryder softened some of his wilder edges, making an effort to plan quieter outings—snowshoe treks, not death-defying climbs—inviting Levi along whenever possible. I joined them once, smiling at how naturally they fell into old camaraderie.

As for me and Ryder, we didn’t bother pretending anymore. He spent nights at my place almost as often as I stayed at his cabin. We made future plans—small things at first, like expansions to The Velvet Book, improvements to his tour office. But deeper conversations cropped up: the possibility of traveling together in the off-season, maybe hosting summer reading sessions for kids near the mountain trails. Big dreams that felt all too real in the best way.

On an early Sunday morning, I found myself curled beside him on my sofa, a cozy blanket draped over our legs. The bookstore was closed for the day, and the mid-February sun streamed through frosted windows. We nursed mugs of coffee, quietly discussing the next steps for our lives—an idea that once would have terrified me but now made my pulse flutter with excitement.

“You’re sure you want to keep up this double life?” I teased, taking a sip. “Leading wilderness tours and stocking romance novels in your spare time?”

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